How Did Indiana Jones Know to Close His Eyes When the Ark Was Opened?

[Amused]

He Told Marion to do the same. How did he know?

 

[Whisper]

He's an archaeologist...he just knows these things.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Whisper
He's an archaeologist...he just knows these things.

HA! Not good enough!

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Whisper
He's an archaeologist...he just knows these things.

HA! Not good enough!

 

[Lonyo]

Because he read up on it more than the evil Nazis?
(Disclaimer: not all Germans are evil, but the Nazis depicted in this film WERE evil, the comment was made ref. the film, not all Germans (if any) are Nazi's either).

 

[Chebago]

He read the script before hand, I think the real question should be: how did George Lucas know?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Because he read up on it more than the evil Nazis?
(Disclaimer: not all Germans are evil, but the Nazis depicted in this film WERE evil, the comment was made ref. the film, not all Germans (if any) are Nazi's either).

Bull! All Germans ARE evil. I should know, I'm part German. :evil:

 

[Grey]

There was a hint in the movie. I think it was something like if you view the evil with your own eyes it will eat your soul or something.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Because he read up on it more than the evil Nazis?
(Disclaimer: not all Germans are evil, but the Nazis depicted in this film WERE evil, the comment was made ref. the film, not all Germans (if any) are Nazi's either).

Way to tuck your tail between your legs there.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Grey
There was a hint in the movie. I think it was something like if you view the evil with your own eyes it will eat your soul or something.

I just watched it again on my HT and I saw or heard no hint like that.

 

[DAGTA]

The answer is simple. He had respect for the power of God as referenced in his studies of the ancient world. He saw enough to make him believe the power was real, so he knew to be humble (close your eyes). Same way he knew which cup was the correct one in the third movie.

 

[Raincity]

Because Indy did not want to meet the same fate of the Philistines. There is alot of jewish lore about the ark.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Grey
There was a hint in the movie. I think it was something like if you view the evil with your own eyes it will eat your soul or something.

I just watched it again on my HT and I saw or heard no hint like that.

I remember that part in the movie too, unfortunately maybe that part was cut out for a TV version to get more Commercials in??? :thumbsdown:

 

[Schadenfroh]

well, in the bible, allot of the people in it when they see god, they say that they will surely die because they have seen god.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Grey
There was a hint in the movie. I think it was something like if you view the evil with your own eyes it will eat your soul or something.

I just watched it again on my HT and I saw or heard no hint like that.

I remember that part in the movie too, unfortunately maybe that part was cut out for a TV version to get more Commercials in??? :thumbsdown:

I have the DVD. There's nothing cut out of it.

 

[Insane3D]

My guess is that in his previous studies of the ark, he had seen warnings about looking into it, or something to that effect...

*shrug*

 

[Lorax]

that's like asking how short round knew to tell indy to cover his heart in Temple of Doom.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Lorax
that's like asking how short round knew to tell indy to cover his heart in Temple of Doom.

No, we saw earlier that Short Round and Indy had seen the Priest take out the heart of another guy, so he knew.

 

[her209]

He closed his eyes so as not to get dust in them.

 

[Steve]

To look upon the power of God is to give up one's soul, or something like that.

 

[aplefka]

I dunno about you, but I'd be damn scared of something like that was opened right in front of me. It was probably just common sense.

 

[PingSpike]

Chewbacca told him. You just didn't notice because you don't speak wookie like Harrison Ford.

 

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Chewbacca told him. You just didn't notice because you don't speak wookie like Harrison Ford.

This answers the mystery perfectly.

 

[Isla]

Originally posted by: DAGTA
The answer is simple. He had respect for the power of God as referenced in his studies of the ancient world. He saw enough to make him believe the power was real, so he knew to be humble (close your eyes). Same way he knew which cup was the correct one in the third movie.

I agree.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Think back to the beginning of the movie where the government guys were enlisting him to go after the Ark. They show a drawing of people being skewered by beams of light from the Ark. There may be some dialog too; I don't remember.

Anyway, the bible also talked some about the Ark. Here's one site.. Qouting now:

Attached to the Ark's covering lid were two Cherubim. God's presence did not dwell inside the box, but remained over the Ark, in between the two Cherubim. Here God dwelt "in unapproachable light" (I Timothy 6:16 Psalm 104:2). The high priest had to shield his eyes, because "no man shall see Me and live" (Exodus 33:20). This was where God met with Moses (Exodus 25:21-22 Leviticus 16:14-15). The glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle on the day it was reared up and anointed (Exodus 40:9,18,34-35), exactly fourteen days short of one year since the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 40:2; 12:6,31). The two Cherubim on the Mercy Seat represented God's glory (Hebrews 9:5).

So it's not unreasonable to think that Indy had enough background to know not to look into the light.