Raiders of the Lost Ark, part 5 - the Nazi Flag

Indiana Jones being rescued by a Nazi Flag?

Raiders of the Lost 1981 was an epic movie that enshrined some of the best elements of American Cinema. The hero of the story is an Archaeologist who has the amazing ability to over come the odds with wit and grit - Dr. Indiana Jones played by Harrison Ford.

The time frame of Raiders of the Lost Ark is set in the late 1930s during rise of the Third Reich. In this scene Indiana Jones is dressed as an Arab in order to infiltrate an Egyptian map room. His partner - Sallah - was supposed to use a regular rope to rescue him back out, but it was confiscated. Since Sallah didn't have access to a proper rope, Sallah rescues Indiana Jones with a makeshift rope made partly from a Nazi Flag.

Indiana Jones dressed in a Nazi Uniform

In this scene Indiana Jones has taken on the dress of a German Military Officer in order to infiltrate the secret military base. His objectives are to recover the Lost Ark and rescue his true love - Marion.

The Nazi Flag is considered an inflammatory symbol and banned by various communities. However in the context of Raiders of the Lost Ark, it became a not so offensive yet essential movie set prop.

Raiders of the Lost Ark, part 4 - Flag of Kriegsmarine

Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
Flag of the Kriegsmarine

In Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 Harrison Ford plays as the dashing and heroic archaeologist in pursuit of the biblical treasures. He travels the world from Asia to Arabia on his quest.

Upon his grand discovery of the Lost Ark, he takes a life and death chance to get it back. He secretly boards a German Sub and puts his faith in the unknown. The pic above shows Indy boarding the German Sub. Luckily for Indy, the sub does not submerge before arriving at its secret location in the Greek Isles. In the far distance his allied shipmates are cheering him to save Marion and to protect the Lost Ark.

Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981

Kriegsmarine Nazi Flag as it appeared from the obverse

The WWII Kriegsmarine flag appears from the obverse side in this movie. The flag of the German Navy during WWII featured a black and white Scandinavian cross centered on a swastika on a red field.

Hollywood is one of the few places where you can get people to pay you money to wave a Nazi Flag in front of your face - but remember context is key. In 1981 G. Lucas and S. Spielberg were successful in waving the Nazi flag and in the same work of art at great profit, burn the American Flag.

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