In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones’s Egyptian assistant at the Well of the Souls is Sallah.
Sallah, played by John Rhys-Davies, is introduced as a trusted Egyptian excavator and friend of Indiana Jones. He helps Jones locate the Well of the Souls and assists with the difficult work of uncovering the Ark’s chamber beneath the excavation site.
Sallah is not the same character as Satipo, the guide who accompanies Jones during the film’s opening Peruvian temple sequence. Satipo betrays Jones, whereas Sallah remains a loyal ally throughout the Egyptian adventure.
The character returns in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where he helps Jones and Marcus Brody investigate the disappearance of Indiana’s father. His combination of practical expertise, humor, and loyalty made him one of the series’ recurring supporting characters.