I just realized that George Lucas, the mastermind behind Star Wars, also teamed up with Steven Spielberg to create Indiana Jones. After discovering that, I started spotting Indiana Jones Easter eggs hidden throughout Star Wars, and now I can’t unsee them. Whether it’s legendary artifacts tucked away in the background, subtle nods in dialogue, or even entire locations paying tribute, these two franchises share more connections than I ever expected.
So, here’s what I found—every Indiana Jones Easter egg that has made its way into the Star Wars universe.
Table of Contents
The Ark of the Covenant
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ark of the Covenant is a huge part of the story, representing both mystery and danger. Found in the lost Egyptian city of Tanis, it’s this ancient artifact believed to hold the Ten Commandments and incredible supernatural power. The scene where Indiana Jones and Sallah uncover the Ark in the Well of Souls is one of those unforgettable moments in film history.
What’s even cooler is how the Ark of the Covenant pops up multiple times in Star Wars. In The Clone Wars episode “Liberty on Ryloth,” you can spot a version of the Ark in the background as Wat Tambor prepares to leave the planet.
Then, in Star Wars Rebels, there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in “The Wynkahthu Job,” where Ezra and Zeb are fleeing a cargo ship, and you can catch a glimpse of the Ark.
And recently, in Star Wars Skeleton Crew episode five, when the group enters Captain Rennod’s lair, the first thing you notice is they’re literally standing next to the Ark of the Covenant.
The Chachapoyan Fertility Idol
Another artifact from Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark that you can spot in Star Wars multiple times is the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol, or simply the Golden Idol. You probably remember it from the thrilling opening scene in Raiders, where Indiana Jones ventures into an ancient temple deep in the Peruvian jungle to retrieve it. The idol itself is a small, gold statue of a squatting figure holding its rounded belly—a symbol of fertility in Chachapoyan culture.
In Star Wars, you can see the Golden Idol in Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Andor series. In Solo, it’s right there in the background of Dryden Vos’s room and you just have to keep your eyes peeled.
In Andor, you can spot the Golden Idol in episode four, sealed inside carbonite in Luthen Rael’s shop. But that’s not all—Indy’s whip is also frozen in carbonite, positioned right in front of the Golden Idol.
Staff of Ra
One more iconic artifact I really like in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark is the Staff of Ra. It’s featured in the unforgettable scene where Indiana Jones descends into the chamber, surrounded by intricate carvings and a miniature model of the city.
In Star Wars, we can see a nod to the Staff of Ra in The Clone Wars episode “The Gungan General.” In this episode, Senator Kharrus is shown holding a staff that looks strikingly similar to the Staff of Ra. And it’s no coincidence—according to StarWars.fandom, “Senator Kharrus’s staff was designed off of the Staff of Ra from Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Sankara Stones
Luthen’s shop in Andor really caught me off guard with how many Star Wars Easter eggs were hidden inside. From the symbol of the Mortis gods from The Clone Wars to the Sith and Jedi holocrons like the one Ezra used in Rebels. But what stood out to me the most was the Sankara Stones, which aren’t from Star Wars at all—they come straight from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
In Andor episode five, there’s a moment where Luthen is standing in his shop near a shelf that holds both Jedi and Sith holocrons. If you look closely to the right, you can spot three Sankara Stones.
Crystal Skull of Akator
Do you remember the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode “Wookiee Hunt“, where Ahsoka faces off against a group of Trandoshan hunters? In a quick moment during the fight, one of the hunters tries to ambush Ahsoka from above, but she swiftly dodges the attack. If you look closely to the left of Ahsoka in that scene, you’ll spot a familiar-looking skull—the Crystal Skull of Akator from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Club Lao-Che
Alright, so far we’ve spotted plenty of Indiana Jones artifacts hidden throughout Star Wars, but this one is something completely different. Want to take a guess? Here’s a hint—it’s a place where people in Star Wars, just like us on Earth, go to grab a drink and chat with friends.
That’s right, it’s a club—but not just any club. This one is a direct reference to the famous Club Lao Che from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
In The Bad Batch episode “Pabu“, if you look closely outside one of the clubs, there’s a pink neon sign written in Star Wars Aurebesh. If you’re up for decoding it yourself, start with the Aurebesh alphabet and I’ve already done the research. The sign translates to “Club Lao Che”, a clear nod to the nightclub from Temple of Doom.
I’ll leave the Aurebesh from the scene here so you can try decoding it yourself!
I also discovered a pretty cool detail—Temple of Doom actually throws a Star Wars reference right back at us with the name of the club itself. The nightclub Indy enters at the start of the movie is called Club Obi-Wan, and it’s owned by Lao Che, the crime lord Indy is dealing with.
