Tabernacle

The Tabernacle was where René Belloq opened the Ark of the Covenant. It was a narrow, shallow canyon located on the Nazis' secret island base north of Crete. It consisted of a natural altar, with natural stone steps leading up to it. The entrance was a natural archway which, for the ceremony, the Nazis covered with a silk curtain. The Tabernacle is where Belloq, Colonel Dietrich and Toht all died when the power of the Ark was unleashed.

Behind the Scenes

 * The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan and is a real part of Jewish religious tradition. It was a portable dwelling place for the divine presence, from the time of the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt to Canaan. It was later built into Temple in Jerusalem. The Nazis' Tabernacle is a recreation and despite not resembling the Biblican Tabernacle, it is possible that "Tabernacle" was just what they decided to call the enclave for the purposes of the ceremony.

Appearances

 * Raiders of the Lost Ark novel
 * Raiders of the Lost Ark
 * Raiders of the Lost Ark comic