False Grail

"You must choose. But choose wisely. For as the true Grail will bring you life, a false Grail will take it from you."

The False Grail was a golden chalice found at the inner sanctuary of the Temple of the Sun in 1938.

History[]

Origins[]

A large drinking vessel, made of gold, and encrusted with jewels, was taken from Constantinople by the Knights Templar and eventually ended up in the Grail sanctuary of the Temple of the Sun, where it sat near the Holy Grail, along with dozens of other false grails that sat upon the altar, all guarded by the Grail Knight.^[2]^[3]

The final test to prove one's worthiness to find the Holy Grail was to be able to correctly identify the real Holy Grail among the collection of other chalices and bowls set out as decoys. Once a seeker selected a grail, they would have to fill it from a font in the chamber and then drink from it. Water from any of the false grails would cause death to the poor crusader, while water from the true cup would grant eternal life.^[1]

Donovan with false grail — Donovan examines the chalice, which would turn out to be false.

Last Crusade[]

In 1938, Indiana Jones was forced to enter the Temple to find the Grail in order to save his father, shot by Walter Donovan. Jones made it past the assorted traps and tests to enter the inner sanctum where he encountered the Grail Knight. After making it through, Donovan and Elsa Schneider followed into the chamber. Donovan asked the Austrian doctor which vessel was the true Holy Grail and Schneider purposely selected the most beautiful, bright and princely false grail for him.^[1]

After assuring himself that the false Grail was in fact the cup of the King of Kings, Donovan filled it with water and took a drink, expecting eternal life.^[1] Jones briefly considered tackling Donovan and wrestling for the false Grail, initially thinking the Grail must have been the true one, but he was soon proved wrong.^[4] To Donovan's horror, he instead began to age instantly; even his clothing began to disintegrate. Dropping the chalice, he raised his arms and, decomposing before her eyes, tried to attack Schneider. Jones shoved him away and Donovan shattered against a wall, leaving nothing but bones, dust, and his Nazi pin. The Knight then observed that Donovan had chosen poorly.^[1]

Donovan death — The result of choosing poorly.

Recognizing that the true Grail would be the cup of a carpenter, Jones then selected the most humble of chalices and proved its authenticity by drinking from it and surviving. Needing the real Grail to save his dying father, Jones and Schneider ignored the golden chalice cast off to the side and returned to the entrance area of the temple.^[1]

Legacy[]

Years after the search for the Holy Grail, Jock Lindsey homaged the False Grail and its role in Walter Donovan's death through his cocktail Donovan's Dilemma, which he served in his Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar establishment, including a note mocking how Donovan chose the wrong goblet and explaining humorously the origins of the drink's name.^[5]