Ark of the Covenant

The Ark itself is not present but is invoked by Sallah as an existential object of dread; its mention reframes the headpiece from a mere locator into the instrument that could disturb a deadly, otherworldly power at Tanis.

The Ark is referenced as the object of the Tanis excavation and the source of supernatural peril; it functions here as the abstract threat that reframes the headpiece's value and provokes Sallah’s fearful prophecy that human contact brings death.

The Ark is spoken of directly as Belloq reveals its true nature—'a transmitter'—elevating it from treasure to geopolitical instrument and providing the scene's primary exposition about stakes.

The Ark is discussed verbally as the central MacGuffin—Belloq reframes it as a 'transmitter' to speak to God, transforming the fight from personal vendetta to geopolitical/ideological warfare and raising the story’s stakes beyond the bar.

The Ark is spoken of (Belloq calls it a 'transmitter') and becomes the ideological object of desire that reframes the confrontation from personal to existential, motivating Belloq's calm ambition and Indy's urgency.

The Ark is verbally invoked as the mission objective that drives Indy's decision: the knowledge of its location forces him to prioritize retrieval over immediate rescue, turning a personal scene into a pivot for the larger plot.

The Ark functions as the implied prize around which all dispute orbits—the drawings and maps in the tent reference it, and the failure to locate it intensifies political pressure that turns to abusive tactics.

Drawings/representations of the Ark in the tent provide the prize around which the argument orbits: they visualize the goal and make the stakes concrete, turning academic debate into pressure to produce the object itself.

The Ark sits sealed inside the wooden crate near the command tent entrance and functions as the focal prize around which officers, guards, and onlookers congregate. Its presence motivates the officers' frantic packing and Shliemann's urgent guard orders, symbolizing strategic value and ideological obsession.

The Ark sits secured inside a wooden crate near the command-tent entrance and becomes the explicit focus of Shliemann’s command; its custody defines the officers' priorities when the camp is otherwise distracted by the fireball.

The Ark is the central MacGuffin discussed and ordered for immediate removal; it motivates Shliemann’s commands, Gobler’s mobilization, and Sallah’s revelation that it is being loaded onto a truck to be taken to Cairo, changing the protagonists’ immediate plan of action.

The Ark is the central MacGuffin: its imminent removal drives Shliemann's orders and Belloq's urgency. It is explicitly described as being put on a truck to be flown out via Cairo, turning the reunion moment into a point of immediate tactical consequence and a pivot to pursuit.

The Ark is the focal artifact: already unloaded from the U-boat and placed on a cart, it becomes the object of Belloq’s ceremonial claim and the procession’s logistical center, marking the moment where ideology and military logistics intersect.

The Ark, placed on a cart at the dock, is the operation's focus; its unloading and planned procession toward the tents provide the event's stakes and distract personnel, enabling the near-miss with Indy's whip.

The Ark is the ritual focal point: Belloq approaches it to perform an invocation and nearly insert the rod under its lid; Indy targets the Ark with a bazooka to prevent its ritualized transfer to Nazi hands, making the box both sacred object and bargaining chip.

The Ark serves as the sacred focal point that Indy threatens with the bazooka — its presence transforms a private seizure into a public, ritualized confrontation. Belloq's invocation centers on it; Shliemann defers to ritual claims because the Ark's sanctity and symbolic power demand procedural respect.