The Well of Souls is a location from the film Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Description[]
The Well of Souls is a subterranean structure in Tanis, Egypt. The well was a vault used by ancient Egyptians to keep mummies of late soldiers, treasures and supernatural artifacts. Most notable of these treasures was the cursed Treasure of the Gods and the biblical Ark of the Covenant. Holding up the structure from within were four statues of the Egyptian god of mummification, Anubis made to ward of grave-robbers.
History[]
Background[]
The Well of Souls was constructed by Pharaoh Shishak around 980 BC. The tomb would honour the pharaoh's fallen soldiers and hold the Ark of the Covenant, stolen from the Israelites. The well's location was detailed via a model map of Egypt which when used by the Staff of Ra at a certain point in the day would direct the user to the Well of Souls.
Around the late-July of 1936, the ark was sought after by American archaeologist Indiana Jones in competition with the Nazi party and rival archaeologist René Belloq. Due to Belloq and the nazis having only read half of the Staff of Ra's inscription, they dug in the wrong place while Jones and excavator ally Sallah found the Well of Souls. After recovering the Ark, the nazis stole the object before leaving Indy in the well to die along with partner Marion Ravenwood.
Marion and Indy were attacked by various snakes that inhabited the vault. However, the two were able to escape by breaking through a wall into the tombs of the soldiers where they found an exit.
Jungle Cruise connections[]
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye[]
This attraction takes place directly before Indy's search for the Well of Souls. The Lost Delta Archaeological Expedition is also lead by both Indiana Jones and Sallah.
Jungle Cruise[]
During Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries, the crate containing the Ark of the Covenant was located in the Congo, nearby Kejo.
Skipper Canteen[]
One of the books in the library of the Skipper Canteen is titled, " Temple Tours: The Well of Souls" by Paco. However, this most likely references a feature of the Temple of the Crystal Skull in the Lost River Delta of Peru, rather than that of Egypt.
Other appearances[]
The Great Movie Ride[]
The Well of Souls was passed through in this attraction with guests passing by Indiana Jones and Sallah excavating the Lost Ark. The guests then witnessed mobster Mugsy Toccatta attempting to steal the well's, "Treasure of the Gods" before being killed and left as a skeleton. The vehicles proceeded past several undead mummies before shifting into the world from the Wizard of Oz (1939).
Indiana Jones: Den of Destiny[]
An Anubis head sculpture from the Great Movie Ride's Well of Souls scene appeared at this service.[1]
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar[]
There are assorted references to the well in this bar.
Trivia[]
- In both Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Great Movie Ride, the vault contained hieroglyphics of R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Star Wars film series interacting with ancient Egyptians while another showed Princess Leia inserting the plans for the Death Star into R2-D2. Specific to the Great Movie Ride, the tomb contained hieroglyphics of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
- Incidentally to the Well of Souls referencing Star Wars, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland references the Well of Souls via having the stone foot of an Anubis statue outside of Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities.[2] Said shop also contains the Ark of the Covenant and Mola Ram's headdress.
- One of the mummies scene in the Great Movie Ride dressed near identical to the pharaoh from Spaceship Earth.
Gallery[]
