Belloq's Model Mosaic Baseline

A precise mosaic pattern marks the baseline on Belloq's detailed scale model of the map room area. Indy leans close to examine it, tracking sunlight's slow slide across the miniature tiles and structures. The etched lines align with a red-painted marker and taut white tape stretching to a tiny building, revealing the Nazis' exact calculations for the staff placement.

1 appearances

Purpose

Aligns the staff's headpiece with sunlight beams to pinpoint the Ark's location on the scale model

Significance

Confirms Belloq and the Nazis solved the map room puzzle ahead of Indy, heightening his urgency to reach Tanis first and raising the stakes in the race for the Ark

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

1 moments

S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Indy Decodes Belloq's Model — Nazi Calculations Revealed

The model's mosaic baseline provides the alignment geometry for the staff. Indy examines the baselines while sunlight moves across the miniature, using the shifting illumination to validate how solar position and the baseline intersect with the tape and painted marker to reveal the staff's true placement.

Before: Integrated into the diorama as the mosaic baseline on the miniature map-room floor.

After: Remains part of the model but has become a verified alignment clue due to the sunlight's progress and Indy's reading of it.

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