Ryloth Ark The Ryloth Ark was a chest - shaped artifact originally located on Ryloth , the home planet of the Twi ' leks . Around 22 BBY , during the Clone Wars , Separatist Council member Emir Wat Tambor seized control of 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 . Essentially , the Ryloth Ark was a rectangular , oblong chest plated with gold . Covering the box was a golden lid adorned with two sculptures of winged Twi ' leks , humanoid non - Humans with two " brain tails " emerging from the back of their head . The two Twi ' leks faced one another , and their wings , which wrapped around their bodies , touched between them . On the bottom of the box , four gold rings were attached , through which two staves could be put , allowing a duo to carry the Ark . At least two Arks existed , with one falling down a crevasse on Ryloth . History . As its name suggests , the Ryloth Ark originated on Ryloth , a rocky planet of the Outer Rim Territories inhabited by the Twi ' leks . Throughout history , several replicas of that artifact were crafted , and the Ark became the focus of " Piethet Brighteyes and the raiders of the Ryloth Ark " , a popular work of fiction that gave dreams of adventures to young boys such as Treuten and Kosh Teradoc from Er ' Kit . During the pan - galactic conflict known as the Clone Wars , the Ark fell prey to the cupidity of the Confederacy of Independent Systems — an affiliation of worlds that had seceded from the Galactic Republic and waged war against it . Around 22 BBY , the Skakoan Emir Wat Tambor invaded Ryloth in the name of the Confederacy . While the Republic ' s Grand Army launched an attack to liberate the planet , Tambor raided the vaults of the Twi ' leks and had many priceless artifacts loaded on board his personal shuttle . The Ark was one of them , and it was taken away by TA - 175 , Tambor ' s tactical droid , even as he left his master behind . The Republic ultimately won the Clone Wars , and its Supreme Chancellor Palpatine declared a New Order , anointing himself Galactic Emperor . In 5 ABY , twenty - seven years after the Battle of Ryloth , it appeared the Ark was in the possession of the Church of the Dark Side , a charade religion established by the Imperial Intelligence following the death of Palpatine . The so - called Prophets of the Dark Side kept it in a glass - walled display case on Scardia Station , along with a rare set of blood - red Mandalorian armor . However , it remained uncertain whether the Prophets owned the genuine article — retrieved from the long - defunct Separatists — or a mere copy . Regardless of its authenticity , the Ark owned by the Church of the Dark Side was lost when Grand Admiral Afsheen Makati destroyed Scardia Station . Behind the scenes . The Ryloth Ark first appeared in " Liberty on Ryloth " , the twenty - first episode in of the " " television series . It was inspired by the real - life religious artifact known as the . According to the , the Ark of the Covenant was a wooden chest plated with gold in which the stone tablets inscribed with the were housed . A famed , long - lost artifact in real life , the Ark was the focus of the first Indiana Jones movie , titled " Raiders of the Lost Ark " . Since " Star Wars " creator George Lucas also produced the " Indiana Jones " franchise , the Ryloth Ark was added in " The Clone Wars " as an homage . In the " Ask Lobot " feature of " Star Wars Insider 111 " , the Keeper of the Holocron continuity database , Leland Chee , declared that the Ark of the 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 explicitly brought into canon by authors Greg Mitchell and Abel G . Peña , who mentioned the Ryloth Ark and its numerous copies in " " , an article written for the official StarWars . com blog . In Part 2 of " " , another official blog article , Peña also mentioned a work of fiction called " Piethet Brighteyes and the raiders of the Ryloth Ark " .