Object

Miniature Stone Model of Tanis (Map Room)

A carved stone miniature of the ancient city of Tanis embedded in the Map Room floor. The relief contains a detailed, scaled city layout and an elaborate mosaic line with slots and seasonal symbols for the Staff of Ra; when the Staff is placed and the headpiece oriented, a shaft of sunlight focuses across the model to pinpoint the Well of the Souls (the Ark's hiding place).

4 appearances

Purpose

Functions as a physical map of Tanis; sunlight beam traces its features to reveal the Well of the Souls when the Staff of Ra occupies the mosaic slots.

Significance

Delivers the revelation Indy needs to locate the Ark, igniting a time-sensitive race against Belloq and the Nazis.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments

S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Sunlight Reveals the Map — Staff Alignment

The miniature stone model of Tanis, carved into the chamber floor, functions as a literal map: sunlight crossing its surface pinpoints the alignment path and directs attention to the mosaic line and seasonal slots that accept the staff base and headpiece.

Before: Undisturbed and integrated into the map room floor, awaiting sunlight alignment.

After: Being traced by the shaft of sunlight and actively used as the alignment surface for the headpiece/staff procedure.

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S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Sunbeam Confirms the Ark's True Location

The miniature stone model of Tanis is the receptive map: carved with precise streets and buildings, it physically records the sweep of sunlight. The model acts as the interface between ancient architectural knowledge and modern interpretation, receiving the beam that distinguishes the correct structure.

Before: Unlit, inert miniature carved into the Map Room floor with Belloq’s and others’ notations confronting it.

After: Marked functionally by a focused beam that highlights one specific building as the Ark's site.

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S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Measure, Sabotage, Escape

The miniature stone model functions as the evidentiary map: Indy kneels at its surface, uses the tape measure across its streets and mosaics, and thereby demonstrates Belloq's error — the model is the physical locus of the intellectual victory.

Before: Intact in the center of the Map Room serving as the reference model.

After: Remains intact and in place after Indy's measurement.

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S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Flag Rope: A Last‑Minute Lifeline

The miniature stone model of Tanis is the diagnostic surface Indy reads with his tape measure; it exposes Belloq's error and is the immediate reason Indy must act — both to claim the headpiece and to sabotage the staff.

Before: Intact on the Map Room floor with Indy's tape measure aligned across it.

After: Undisturbed physically but now the site of Indy's confirmation and resulting sabotage actions; remains in the Map Room.

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