Ryloth Ark

The Ark of the Covenant, also known as the Ryloth Ark, was an artifact located on Ryloth, and later Scardia Station. Around 22 BBY during the Clone Wars, Separatist Council member, Emir Wat Tambor, seized control of the planet Ryloth. One of Tambor's tasks was to collect valuables stored on the planet, one of which was the Ark. During a battle on the planet, the Ark was carried by two Twi'leks, as they boarded a Sheathipede-class shuttle. Years later, in 5 ABY, the Ark was kept inside a display case on Scardia Station, where it was viewed by many, although it was uncertain whether it was the genuine Ark retrieved from the Separatists or a copy.

Characteristics
The frame of the Ark of the Covenant was a rectangular shape. The entire Ark was painted in gold. On top of the Ark, adorned two Twi'lek cherubim figures, which sat on top of the Ark's lid. The Ark could be carried by two people. Two ring-shaped holes were on opposite sides of the Ark, allowing a staff or something similar to be placed within. The two staffs would stick out of the ring-shaped holes, allowing a duo to carry the Ark.

At least two Arks existed, with one falling down a crevasse on Ryloth.

History
During the Battle of Ryloth, the Skakoan Emir Wat Tambor raided the vaults of the Twi'leks, and had many priceless artifacts loaded onboard his personal shuttle. The Ark was one of them and was taken away by the Tactical droid TA-175, even as he left Tambor behind. Decades later, after the death of Emperor Palpatine, the ark, or a similar artifact, was housed in a display case on the Scardia Station under the possession of the Church of the Dark Side, although whether it was the genuine article retrieved from the then-long defunct Separatists or a copy remained uncertain.

Behind the scenes
The Biblical Ark of the Covenant was a sacred object which contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Ark was the focus of the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, which was also produced by George Lucas.

In the "Ask Lobot" feature of the Star Wars Insider 111, the Keeper of the Holocron continuity database Leland Chee declared that the Ark of Covenant's presence in Liberty on Ryloth was just "a fun Easter egg to look for" and not meant to be part of the Star Wars continuity. However, the artifact has been explicitely brought into canon by author Abel G. Peña, who mentioned the Ryloth Ark and its numerous copies in The Star Wars Spy Game: SPIN Declassified, an article written for the official StarWars.com blog. In Part 2 of The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire, another official blog article, Peña also mentioned a work of fiction called Piethet Brighteyes and the raiders of the Ryloth Ark.

Appearances

 * The Lost City of the Jedi
 * The Lost City of the Jedi