Ophidiophobia

"I hate snakes, Jock! I hate 'em!"

―Indiana Jones regarding his fear of snakes

A young Indy falls into a snake pen on a circus train.

Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. Indiana Jones was one known victim of ophidiophobia.

History

Although he had disliked snakes since at least 1909 back when grave robbing bothered him most, it was a traumatic encounter on a circus train in 1912 that triggered Indiana Jones's ophidiophobia. He considered snakes, from all animals, the only one he truly feared. He couldn't stand snakes even in movies he was watching. Unfortunately for him, his adult lifestyle took him into contact with legless reptiles on a regular basis.

Other people close to Indy, like Willie Scott and his son Mutt Williams, were not afraid of snakes.

Behind the scenes

During the early development of the fourth Indiana Jones film, Frank Darabont's script Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods included a gag which showed Indiana Jones as having seemingly recovered from his ophidiophobia. Jones casually throws a snake that approaches both him and Marion Ravenwood into nearby foliage, and even deals comfortably with being eaten by a giant variant of the serpent. However, when the archaeologist returns to his tent and spies a tiny snake slithering over his pillow his fears are re-triggered.

Appearances

• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "British East Africa, September 1909" → Passion for Life
• British East Africa, September 1909 comic
• Safari Sleuth
• Young Indiana Jones and the Lost Gold of Durango
• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Young Indiana Jones and the Hollywood Follies" → Hollywood Follies
• Indiana Jones und die Gefiederte Schlange
• Indiana Jones Adventure World
• Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom novel
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom comic
• Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Stone Tiger
• Raiders of the Lost Ark novel (First appearance)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Raiders of the Lost Ark comic
•  The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones – "The Secret of the Deep"
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade novel
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade comic
• Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
• Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings novel (Mentioned only) (Cancelled)
• Indiana Jones and the Army of the Dead
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comic
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Non-canon appearances

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
• LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues

Sources

• The Adventures of Indiana Jones
• Raiders of the Lost Ark Sourcebook
•  The Last Crusade: Ophidiophobia 101 on IndianaJones.com (backup link on Archive.org)
•  Indiana Jones Movie Photo Cards (Card: The Unsinkable Dr. Jones?)
• Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
• "The Thrill of the Chase!" - Indiana Jones: The Official Magazine 4
• "Indy's Top 10 Funniest Moments" - Indiana Jones: The Official Magazine 6
• The Indiana Jones Handbook
•  The Real Indiana Jones: Fear & Humility on Lucasfilm.com (backup link on Archive.org)

External links

• Ophidiophobia on Wikipedia