Indiana Jones and folklore’s hidden role in Raiders of the Lost Ark
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George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan drew inspiration for the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark from a 1954 Uncle Scrooge comic, which itself originated from 16th-century Colonial Mexican folklore about the “seven cities of gold” known as Cíbola. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, a conquistador, led an expedition in 1540 to find these cities, becoming the first European to see the Grand Canyon but ultimately failing to find gold.
Lucas and Kasdan adapted this story by setting the film’s booby-trapped temple in South America, specifically the territory of the Chachapoyan Warriors, though this culture did not actually build such temples. The film’s golden idol was modeled after the Dumbarton Oaks birthing figure, a pre-Columbian artwork whose authenticity is debated. It may be a 19th-century European forgery. The filmmakers chose a South American setting partly because of the villain, Dr.
René Belloq, who was based on Jacques de Mahieu, a French anthropologist who theorized Vikings brought civilization to South America. This theory stemmed from observations about the Chachapoyas people having lighter skin, though the concept of “white” as a race did not exist in pre-Columbian America. Indiana Jones’ character foreshadows the plot early in the film by discussing how folklore often leads to archaeological discoveries.
The film also incorporates elements from the Book of Samuel, detailing the Ark of the Covenant’s power, including accounts of those who looked inside being struck down and the statue of Dagon falling before it. The film’s depiction of the Ark’s power aligns with interpretations found in Talmudic literature, which describe the Ark flying and emitting fiery energy.
