african snake in raiders of the lost ark

In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), there is a famous scene where Indiana Jones encounters a pit filled with snakes aboard the Well of Souls. Among the many snakes shown, one stands outa large African snake, often mistaken for a cobra, that slithers across Harrison Ford's shoulders. Key Details About the Snake: Species: The snake is an Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), a venomous species native to North Africa, including Egypt. It's sometimes referred to as an "asp," a term historically linked to Cleopatra's alleged suicide. Role in the Scene: The cobra rears up and hisses at Indy, who remains perfectly still to avoid provoking it. The tension is heightened by the fact that Indy hates snakes ("I hate snakes, Jock! I hate 'em!"). Behind the Scenes: - The cobra was defanged for safety, though its venom glands were intact (so it could still deliver a painful bite). - A pane of glass separated Harrison Ford from the cobra during filming, which was later edited out. - The rest of the pit used mostly non-venomous snakes (like pythons and bullsnakes) for the actors' safety. Fun Fact: The cobra's iconic moment was almost cut. Steven Spielberg initially thought the scene was too dark, but test audiences loved it, so it stayed in. If you're referring to a different African snake in the film, let me knowbut the cobra is the most memorable!