Object

Indy and Sallah's Hauling Ropes

Sturdy ropes lashed to the wooden crate encasing the Ark of the Covenant. Indy and Sallah rig them to hoist the crate up through the Well of the Souls' opening amid surging snakes. Indy tugs his designated exit rope first, but it slips free and plunges into a writhing mass of asps, stranding them below as torches dim.

2 appearances

Purpose

Haul the crated Ark upward for extraction and provide Indy an escape route from the snake-filled pit

Significance

Enable the Ark's recovery from the depths, but the fallen exit rope traps Indy and Sallah, shifting victory into vulnerability as Nazis loom above

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Ark Revealed — Awe, Fear, and the Rim's Mockery

Ropes are lashed to the wooden crate to hoist the Ark; Sallah takes one rope and climbs out while others are used to pull the crate up. They form the primary mechanical means of escape and elevating the cargo.

Before: Coiled and ready below the rim for hauling the crate.

After: Attached to the crate and actively used to hoist it; one rope remains secure, another (Indy's exit rope) has been lost to the snakes.

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S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Stranded in the Serpent Pit

The hauling ropes are lashed to the wooden crate and used to pull the crated Ark toward the rim; Sallah takes one rope to climb out, showing the ropes' dual role as both lifting mechanism and escape path for the diggers.

Before: Prepared and attached to the wooden crate for hoisting.

After: One rope successfully used by Sallah to climb out; other ropes are engaged in hoisting the crate upward.

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