:up: :up: :up: Ναιαιαιαιαι!!!

Indeed. I was lucky to get out alive. Considering the amount of security the compound had, it was more difficult getting out than it was getting in!:eek:
Ha!:D No, the reason wasn't Amway (nor Tupperware nor Avon nor Mary K Cosmetics)!:p
You're absolutely correct, Zorg. (Pale Horse is wrong.) It's north of Crete and the closest that resembles it in the real world is the tiny island called, Christiani Nisida.

Now that I watched this scene from Riders again, you can also clearly see the words 'EECE' on the map above the island. GREECE probably ;)
I still can't make up the map though.

That's what Indiana Jones Wiki says
By 1936, the Nazis had built a secret submarine base Geheimhaven on an island north of Crete. After re-capturing the Ark of the Covenant from Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood, Rene Belloq took the Ark to the island to open it in a Jewish ceremony held at a natural altar near the summit of the island. Belloq, Dietrich, and the Nazis were killed, and Jones and Ravenwood escaped, and returned the Ark to the United States.

It is actually Greece but the whole map is totally wrong. Still, Stoo is right, Christiani Nisida is a small uninhabited volcanic island southwest of Santorini and it might be the place where the Ark was supposedly opened.

Eh, the Wiki comes HERE to find things out!

It won't be long till it's updated to something like:
...minus Stoo's name of course.

I'll go there on Christmas ;)
Best time to go. I knew this island but I never thought it's the one from Raiders. I'll post photos if I manage to go this Christmas !
And I agree, the map is totally wrong. As a kid I was trying to find where the island is and I was so confused :D

Σας ευχαριστώ, Sakis. The map doesn't exactly match the real world but the position is close to Christiani Nisidia...even though the "Raiders" island is much bigger!
Quoted for truth. It's happened on quite a few occasions.:rolleyes: Wiki-Schmiki!

What was the actual island in this picture? Marin Island, San Pablo Bay, off San Rafael, California is listed as the location of the base, but it doesn't look like the photos I've seen.

Not Christiani Nisidia
 

Correcting myself, the island is actually a little farther east. Details to follow...;)
That's because the island is a matte painting!:whip:

Anafi
 

The closest, real-world location is the Greek island of Anafi. (It's also closer in size, too.)

We may see the Ark sooner than we think. At least, a replica of it...

Leaking Roof

After all, how could they have the real one when it's in my basement?

It's the only thing that hold up my nerf hoop!

You didn't pick it up from Marrakesh, did you? Belloq's son reportedly made copies.

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side... :D

I wonder if the 'unveiling' of the Ark will coincide with that supposed staged second coming, via Project Blue Beam...

I reckon the only difference between Han and Indy's approach to archaeology would be Han leaving a tip to the temple keeper in lieu of damages caused.

The Ethiopians are lucky they just have a leaky roof, and not a full-on visitation by Indy. :eek:

The Bible describes the dangerous properties of the Ark in what may be explained as radioactivity. I think there is strong evidence that there is something ominous hidden and guarded within a certain temple in Axom (or Axum, depending on the map) in Ethiopia. Every priest who has vowed to protect the secret has developed cataracts within two years- a symptom of exposure to radioactivity. However, the Ethiopians admit there have been many effigies of the Ark to deter robbers away from the real one. If an Ark was found in Greece, could it be one of the fakes brought back by Alexander The Great? How could anyone even tell the difference between a fake Ark and the real one? Unless a ghost pops out and faces melt away, what other criteria would archeology go on to prove its authenticity?

I think that would qualify as a dead giveaway, even for a modern archaeologist.

Just to keep the cross-referencing up-to-date:

There is a continuation and extention of the Raider's Island/Anafi discussion in this thread over here, entitled "inspiration for an Indy island".

Enjoy it.