A lion is one of the larger species of feline. A large carnivorous predator, lions are native to sub-Saharan Africa and a small forest in India. Male lions are known for their distinctive manes. Lions tend to form groups called prides, with a single dominant male and several females and young. Many cultures of Europe, Asia and Africa saw the lion as a symbol of strength, bravery, and nobility.
Adventures with lions[]
The Temple of the Sun had statues of lions.[1]
In 1909, Indiana Jones encountered several lions while in the Kirinyaga region of British East Africa. When they arrived at the Kirinyaga safari camp, Frederick Selous remarked that he and Theodore Roosevelt had shot a lioness, but only wounded its mate. Roosevelt went on to recount the unfortunate fate of Johnson, another hunter who had only wounded a lion. Later that night, Jones thought he heard lions, but it was actually his father making the sounds to his mother. While watching animals with his new friend Meto, Jones spied one lion on the hunt near the watering hole. One night, the wounded lion returned and attacked the camp but it was killed by Selous.[2]
Whiskey, Lafayette Escadrille mascot.
In 1912, while on a Boy Scout trip, young Indiana Jones faced down a male[1] African[3] lion aboard the Dunn & Duffy Combined Circus train before being rescued by the man known as Fedora. During the encounter, Jones tried using a bullwhip for the first time, and ended up with a scar on his chin.[1]
In November 1916, during World War I, Indy, Remy Baudouin and Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck came across a pack of lions in German East Africa after crashing their Air balloon. The lions were in between them and their weapons. Von Lettow and Remy shouted at the lions to scare them off as they tried to eat their weapons. It surprisingly worked, with Indy remarking that he could have done that.[4]
During World War I, Lafayette Escadrille kept a lion cub as a mascot called Whiskey who growled at Indiana Jones when he arrived at the squadron's airfield in 1917. Raoul Lufbery interpreted the cub's growls at Jones as him simply saying hello.[5]
In 1935, while they were leaving Shanghai with a plane, Willie Scott asked Indiana Jones if he was a lion tamer, due to his use of a whip.[6]
In 1939, Indy saw statues of lion heads in the Sudan Temple while looking for the Gold Ram's Head.[7]
Behind the scenes[]
In the storyboards for the young Indiana Jones sequence of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, multiple lions were considered for Indy to face aboard the wagon of the Dunn & Duffy Combined Circus train. Only one lion appeared in the final production. It was conceptualized to stand on top of the Cross of Cortez (the Cross of Coronado of the final film), requiring Jones to use the bullwhip to drive the beast back to reach the Cross.[8]
Concept Art of Lions in Cages from Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
In Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings for the PS2 and Wii, concept art shows that lions were going to be in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.[7]
Appearances[]
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "British East Africa, September 1909" → Passion for Life
- Safari Sleuth
- Safari in Africa
- British East Africa, September 1909 comic
- The Mata Hari Affair (Mentioned only)
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Young Indiana Jones and the Phantom Train of Doom" → Phantom Train of Doom
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Young Indiana Jones and the Attack of the Hawkmen" → Attack of the Hawkmen
- Indiana Jones Adventures: Volume 2: Curse of the Invincible Ruby (Statue only)
- Indiana Jones Adventure World
- Indiana Jones and the Shrine of the Sea Devil (Decoration only)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Mentioned only)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom comic (Mentioned only)
The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones – "The Cuban Connection!"
The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones – "The Secret of the Deep" (Mentioned only)- The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones – "Double Play!" (Statue only)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 junior novel
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Storybook
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade comic
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure (Statue only)
- Indiana Jones: The Search For Buried Treasure (Picture only)
- Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (PS2/Wii versions) (Statue only)
- Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis comic (Statue only)
- Indiana Jones and the Spear of Destiny (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (Non-canonical appearance)
- LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Non-canonical appearance)
Sources[]
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: The Illustrated Screenplay
- The Byzantine Crusader game documentation
- Birth of a Nation (Non-fiction source)
- From Star Wars To Indiana Jones - The Best of the Lucasfilm Archives
- The World of Indiana Jones
- Indiana Jones Magic & Mysticism: The Dark Continent
- Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
- Indiana Jones Heritage trading cards (Card: Origin of a Snake Fear)
- Grail Diary (prop replica) (Picture only) (Statue)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- ↑ The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "British East Africa, September 1909" → Passion for Life
- ↑ Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 junior novel
- ↑ The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Young Indiana Jones and the Phantom Train of Doom" → Phantom Train of Doom
- ↑ The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Young Indiana Jones and the Attack of the Hawkmen" → Attack of the Hawkmen
- ↑ Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings PS2/Wii versions
- ↑ Young Indy Sequence storyboards at The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
