Raiders of the Lost Ark, part 3 - the Staff of Ra and the Hebew High Preist

Indiana Jones with a vexilloid - the Staff of Ra

Vexillology is mostly the study of flags, but it also encompasses objects that act in a similar manner to flags - especially staffs, maces, or sacred poles. In Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981, the Staff of Ra is not a flag but is a vexilloid. The headpiece features an ornamental design with a red crystal. The headpiece or finial was given to Indy from his true love sweet heart, Marion.

When the Staff of Ra is put in the proper place at the right time in an ancient Egyptian map room, it reflects the light of the sun to reveal the hidden location of the Lost Ark.

Notice Ancient Egyptian Vexilloids on the Wall
the crook and other staff - denoting rank and power

In this scene Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is disguised as an Egyptian worker in native Islamic dress in order to get access to the map room. Indy has additional information that the Nazi's are unaware of, this allows him to find the Lost Ark before the Nazis.

The 'Hebrew' Ram Staff
Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981

Later in the movie they open the ark on a secret inland in the Mediterranean Sea. Before opening the Lost Ark they decided to follow proper Old Testament ritual in order to see its contents. The man on the left Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman) is dressed as the Hebrew High Priest. Rene is holding a vexilloid. Its finial is a multi-faced golden ram head. The High Priest also has the breastplate of the 12 tribes of Israel with its assigned crystal.

Raiders of the Lost Ark flags - part 2, The Egyptian Kingdom Flag

Egyptian Kingdom Flag

1922-1953

In Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 Steven Spielberg and George Lucas did their vexillological homework and had the proper Egyptian flag flying in the background. The Green Kingdom Flag of Egypt consisted of a green field with a crescent moon and three five pointed stars in between the horns. Although it may seem like a dominantly Islamic flag - the three stars represented the three major branches of Abraham - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Gun versus Sword, its no match

The flag is barely visible during the famous gunslinger vs swordsman fight. Although it gives the impression that firearms technology was new to the Middle East - they had been using gun powder since the 1400s in concert with Europe.

Best Image of Egyptian Kingdom Flag

Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981

The best image of the Green Egyptian flag takes place after the Indy amazingly captures the Lost Ark and is able to hide it at the town bazaar where he had previously fought the swordsman.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark flags, part 1 - Burning the American Flag

Notice Burning American Flag
behind the Nepalese Thug

Usually, burning the American Flag is an inflammatory action that is offensive to most Americans.

Burning the flag in protest, art, or for the sake of expression is especially controversial. But doing it for profit is highly inappropriate. However in 1981, audiences across America applauded makers of Raiders of the Lost Ark and sent one third of a billion dollars to Hollywood to watch or at least subliminally watch the American Flag burn under the direction of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

Close up of burning US Flag - Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981

The burning of the American flag happens during the fight scene in Nepal.  A 48 starred US flag burns in Marion's Bar. During the melee the fire gets out of control and consumes the establishment and everything in it - including the American Flag.

Burning the American Flag was only a minor background component for the film. It was certainly not the intention of the directors to prove they could tastefully burn the flag without controversy. Nor was in anyway a part of the plot.  However it was an unsanctioned artful burning of the American Flag, that did not displease audiences or anyone who noticed. Audiences didn't react to negatively since it only appeared for a moment, also within the context of the story it really didn't matter.

US Flag in upper left corner before the fight and fire
Marion is center front

British Indian Ocean Territory Flag and the Mosquito Coast Flag - Fraternal Twins

Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory
also B.I.O.T.

The flag of British Indian Ocean Territory seems to be in a league of its own. This crumb of 'India' is last the remnant of the forlorn British Indian and African Empire. It is a tiny group of Islands located in the virtual middle between Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Its more popular name is Diego Garcia. And it is a strategic post for the US Military with the War on Terror.

The flag is a rare British Ensign design that does not conform to the typical red, blue, or white field. Rather the field consists of wavy stripes - three long blue and three short blue. Bordered by seven white wavy stripes - two long, two short, one long - missing half its bottom, one long that that is 3/4ths complete and finally one short 1/2 that is missing its top. In total there are thirteen blue and white wavy stripes that are reflective of the Indian Ocean. The charge on the field consists of a British Royal Crown and a eight branched palm tree.

Flag of the forlorn Mosquito Coast
1834-1894

Its unique design would indicate it probably wouldn't have a fraternal partner, but alas it does. Its partner is outside of the official 'now' but nonetheless is congruent with the flag of the Mosquito Coast.

The design of the Mosquito Coast has nine stripes - five blue and four white. There is no charge on the field of stripes.

The flag of the no longer existent Mosquito Coast is the fraternal twin to British Indian Ocean Territory. The Mosquito Coast existed partly as constitutional monarchy for 60 years from 1834 unto 1894. It was located on the eastern shore of Nicaragua and a wee bit of Honduras. In a way the Mosquito Coast belongs in the same category of the Confederacy as English Speaking 'American' Nations that are no more. Although not as big as the C.S.A. the Mosquito Coast existed for nearly 12 times longer.

The Mosquito Coast and BIOT semi-nations that have their own 'mexican' or 'mextizo' or 'metis' kind of people. From the Mosquito Coast there is the Miskito Ethnic who are mostly a mix of African and Native American Indian. On the other side of the world from BIOT we have the Chagossians who are a mix of African and India peoples.

Outside of time from the Atlantic to the Pacific
these blue and white stripes merge under a Queen and King














US Military Welcome Video about BIOT or Diego Garcia


Lonely Planet Video about the 'modern' Mosquito Coast

The last part of the United States to celebrate New Years - Howland and Baker Island

The last part of the United States - and the world for that matter - to celebrate the new year are Howland and Baker Islands. They are 12 hours behind Greenwich Time in London. Amazingly they are also 26 hours behind Tokelau! This means that in Tokelau and Eastern Kirabati when it was January 2, 2012 at 1:11am it was still December 31, 2011 at 11:11pm!

What this means is that America gets last dibs on the new year.

Also the last moon of 2011 will keep shining until January 24, 2012! So that means we have three more virtual weeknights of 2011 - keep it a secret!

Proposed Flags for Howland and Baker Island
the tail time gunners of America and the world
both islands are in the LAST time zone of the earth minus 12 GMT