René Emile Belloq is the main-antagonist of the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark.
History[]
Biography[]
Background[]
René Emile Belloq was born in Marseilles, France around the 1890s. He attended the University of Paris where he studied archaeology alongside friend-turned-rival Indiana Jones. After being a suspect in a grave-robbing case, Belloq was unable to further his career and turned to the life of a mercenary archaeologist, grave-robber and black-market dealer. Jones and Belloq were frequent enemies with Belloq considering himself to be a, "Shadowy reflection" of Indiana Jones whom Jones was only one bad day away from becoming morally identical to.
Temple of the Forbidden Eye[]
In the June of 1935, Indiana Jones discovered the location of the legendary Temple of the Forbidden Eye in the Lost Delta of India. Not long after, Belloq manipulated Jones' acquaintance Professor Kauffman of the Universitatis Sigillium into revealing the temple's location to him by pretending to be Jones' friend. Belloq is believed to have been active in the Lost Delta during the Lost Delta Archaeological Expedition and his presence was feared by Jones though his actual activities there remain unknown.
Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors[]
In the late July of 1936, Belloq travelled to Peru in search of the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors, containing the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol. Using his ability to speak Chachapoyan, Belloq manipulated the local tribe into helping him steal the idol from them. On the July 20th of 1936, he had the warriors attack Indiana who traversed the temple in search of the idol before sicking them on Jones and Jones' aviator Jock Lindsey while making off with the idol for himself. Belloq later sold the idol on the black-market, resulting in it finding its way to wealthy antiques-dealer Saad Hassim in Marrakesh.
Raiders of the Lost Ark[]
After selling the fertility idol, Belloq was hired by the Nazi Party of Germany and their leader Adolph Hitler. Hitler was planning on assembling an armoury of magical artifacts and wanted Belloq to seek after the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Belloq agreed as he believed the ark to be a channel to speak with God which would enlighten him. The archaeological expedition proceeded to Cairo and Tanis in Egypt where they unknowingly recruited the services of Jones' close ally and excavator Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir.
As the nazis did not have access to the headpiece to the Staff of Ra needed to find the Well of Souls containing the ark, Belloq's crew was digging in the wrong place. Meanwhile, Jones and Sallah managed to track down the ark only for Belloq and his men to confiscate it from them. After a fight, the nazis managed to steal the ark and take it to Tabernacle, Geheimhaven in the Aegean Sea. Here, Belloq performed the simulacrum of a jewish ritual to try and communicate with God, only for the crimes of the Nazi party to upset the being channeled and kill them all. Belloq spent his last moments screaming and surrounded by fire before his head erupted into a bloody pulp.
Jungle Cruise appearances[]
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye[]
Belloq is mentioned in two of the messages which can be found in the queue as the attraction takes place directly before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark. One is from Prof. Kauffman of the Universitatis Sigillium who believed Belloq and Jones to be friends, resulting in him directing Belloq to the Temple of the Forbidden Eye's location in the Lost Delta near the beginning of Jones' expedition. Another message is sent from Jones to Sallah, warning him to keep an eye out for Belloq in his absence.
Other appearances[]
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar[]
Jock Lindsey makes various references to Belloq in his flight-log, with parts even detailing the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark.[1] There is also a post-card to Jock from a man named, "Diego" prior to the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark where he warns Jock and Jones to beware both the Hovitos, and, "the French".
Trivia[]
- In Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is a white Panama hat, potentially referencing Belloq though it could also be referencing several other characters.
- Belloq may have influenced or inspired the character of Professor Garrett Reed from Jungle River Cruise: Curse of the Emerald Trinity as both are similar characters who fought Indiana Jones for golden idols.
- In Raiders of the Lost Ark while Belloq negotiates with Jones for the safety of the ark, a bug can be seen crawling into his mouth.
- In expanded materials, Belloq claims to be a descendant of historic smuggler and privateer Jean Lafitte who is a recurring figure in New Orleans Square, the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Gallery[]
