- "If you are asked, say I sent the Apple away. Tell them I sent it to Cyprus, or Cipango, or that I dropped it into the sea. Tell them anything to keep men away from this place. This Apple must not be found, not until the time is right."
- ―Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to his son Darim regarding the Apple, 1257.[src]-[m]
Apple of Eden #2 was a Piece of Eden created by the Isu with the primary purpose of controlling the neurotransmitters in humans to ensure their obedience. Like other Pieces of Eden, it has a long and storied history and has been referred to by many names throughout history.
Some of its most notable owners include the Hidden One Bayek of Siwa and the Levantine Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the latter of whom possessed it for the majority of his life and used its capabilities and advanced knowledge to reform and improve the Assassin Brotherhood.
Names[]
Due to its long history, this Apple of Eden was given many names by its wielders over the centuries. Following its initial rediscovery in the 1st century BCE, it was known as the Oracle's Relic, due in part to it being in the possession of the Oracle of Amun, Medunamun.[5] Shortly thereafter, once it came into the possession of the Medjay Bayek of Siwa, it was referred to several times as the Orb of Siwa[6][7] and, eventually, as the Light of Amun-Ra.[8]
Centuries later, when the Apple resurfaced in Jerusalem, it was broadly referred to by Al Mualim as the Templar Treasure,[9] before finally taking on the name of the Apple of Eden.[10] In modern times, it was referred to by Abstergo Industries and the Assassins as Apple of Eden #2.[11]
Usage[]
Like other Apples of Eden, it was designed to create illusions and control people's minds.[10] The Apple could presumably be used to look into possible future outcomes, using the theory of probability, as well as impart knowledge of formulae and practices surpassing those of its wielder's time, as evidenced in Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex.[12]
Bayek fighting holograms conjured by the Apple
While utilizing the Apple's powers, Flavius Metellus showed a number of advanced abilities, including conjuring tangible holograms of his fellow Order of the Ancients members to attack Bayek, turning himself invisible, and generating a kinetic force which slowed down Bayek momentarily.[8]
Owners[]
- Isu (? – ?)[11]
- Order of the Ancients (? – 48 BCE)[1]
- Bayek (48 BCE)[1]
- Aya (48 BCE)[1]
- Apollodorus (48 BCE – 47 BCE)[1]
- Flavius Metellus (47 BCE)[1]
- Bayek (47 BCE – 46 BCE)[1]
- Levantine Rite of the Templar Order (1191)[2]
- Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins (1191 – 1257)
- Malik Al-Sayf (1191)[2]
- Al Mualim (1191)[2]
- Abbas Sofian (1191)[2]
- Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (1191 – 1257)[2]
- Elizabeth I of England (1559 – 1603)[13]
- Mahatma Gandhi (? – 1948)[13]
- Templar Order (1948 – 21st century)[13]
History[]
Ptolemaic Egypt[]
A captive Khemu holding the Apple
The Apple was first known to be in the possession of the Order of the Ancients in Egypt during the 1st century BCE. In 49 BCE, the Order brought the Apple to the Temple of Amun in Siwa, believing the artifact was connected to the Isu vault beneath the temple, and captured the Medjay Bayek and his son Khemu to force him to open the vault. However, Bayek lacked the knowledge the Order sought and a fight occured, during which Khemu was killed and the Medjay was left for dead.[5]
After their failure in Siwa, the Order entrusted the Apple to one of their own, Medunamun, who was appointed Oracle of Siwa and continued looking for ways to access the Isu vault under the Temple of Amun. Medunamun used the Apple to torture various priests and villagers for information until his assassination in 48 BCE at the hands of Bayek, who subsequently claimed the artifact.[5] Bayek later gave the Apple to his wife Aya, who in turn gave it to Cleopatra's advisor Apollodorus for safekeeping.[6]
Flavius holding the Apple
In 47 BCE, Apollodorus was killed by Flavius Metellus, the de facto leader of the Order, who took the Apple and used its power to enslave all of Cyrenaica to his will.[7] Combining the Apple with Alexander's Staff of Eden, which the Order also had in their possession, Flavius and Lucius Septimius unlocked the Siwa vault, finding a holographic projection of a globe displaying the locations of other Isu sites.[8]
Not long after, Bayek, seeking revenge on Flavius for his role in Khemu's death, tracked him to Cyrene, where he killed him in combat at the Temple of Mars despite Flavius using the artifact's powers to deceive the Medjay.[8] Having retrieved the Apple, Bayek stored it in a chest in Aya's old hideout beneath the Library of Alexandria, hoping to keep it hidden away forever.[14]
Middle Ages[]
Acquisition by the Assassins[]
At some point between the 1st century BCE and the 9th century CE, the Apple was taken from Alexandria, placed within the Ark of the Covenant, and hidden in the catacombs of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.[15] Circa 862, the Mentor of the Alamut Hidden Ones, Rayhan, heard rumors about the artifact and planned to expand the Hidden Ones' influence by establishing several bureaus in Jerusalem and a stronghold to the north.[16]
The Apple of Eden in its casing
In 1191, during the Third Crusade, ten Templars led by the Grand Master Robert de Sablé found the location of the Apple and sought to retrieve the artifact and use it to seize control of the Holy Land. Among them was Al Mualim, the Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins, the Templars' sworn enemies.[17] Betraying his secret alliance with Robert, Al Mualim sent three of his Assassins – Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and the brothers Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf – to intercept the Grand Master and bring the Apple to the Assassins' fortress in Masyaf.[15]
During the mission, Altaïr tried to kill Robert but was overpowered by the Grand Master. As Altaïr was routed by the Templars, the Al-Sayf brothers were forced to fight the Templars alone.[15] Despite suffering a grievous injury to his left arm and losing his brother Kadar, Malik was able to retrieve the Apple and bring it to Al Mualim.[18] For the next few months, Al Mualim kept the Apple close at all times, while sending Altaïr to kill Robert and the other eight Templars who knew of the artifact.[19]
Al Mualim confronting Altaïr with the Apple
During Altaïr's absence, Al Mualim hypnotized the Assassins and villagers of Masyaf to create his perfect world, having been corrupted by the Apple's power. When Al Mualim was confronted by Altaïr upon his return, he utilized the Apple's abilities to defend himself, such as creating several illusions of the Templars Altaïr had slain, along with phantom copies of himself. However, Altaïr was able to kill Al Mualim and take the Apple from him. As he was joined by Malik and three other Assassins, the Apple projected a map showing the locations of more Pieces of Eden around the globe.[10]
Following Al Mualim's defeat, Altaïr, fearing the Mentor might have deceived him with another illusion, decided to burn his body to be certain of his death. As this was against the Assassins' beliefs, several in the Order opposed him, most notably Altaïr's former friend and rival Abbas Sofian. The Order was soon split into two factions and a fight broke out between them after Abbas shoved Altaïr off of the cliff they were standing on.[20]
The Apple draining the life from Abbas
Abbas quickly fled the scene and returned to Al Mualim's study, retrieving the Apple, then climbed a watchtower outside the Masyaf fortress. However, Abbas was unable to use the Apple's powers properly, and the artifact began to drain the life from him and other the other Assassins. Altaïr, who was more resistant to the Piece of Eden's effects, managed to climb the tower and recover the artifact from Abbas before it killed him.[20] To this, Abbas apologized for his mistake, and the Order united under Altaïr, who was appointed the new Mentor.[21]
Altaïr's research[]
Despite this accident, Altaïr decided to keep the Apple and carefully studied it throughout most of his life, using it to advance the Assassin Order, creating several new techniques and weapons for the Assassins to use.[12] Altaïr also carried it with him during his journey to Cyprus to eliminate the Templars there. Continuing to study it in secret, he wrote his discoveries in his Codex, and used it once in public to calm down a mob that was falsely rallied against him.[22]
In 1217, Altaïr, his wife Maria Thorpe and their eldest son Darim traveled to Mongolia to assassinate Genghis Khan and eliminate the Mongol threat. In their absence, Abbas staged a coup d'état, executing Altaïr's youngest son Sef and Malik to seize leadership of the Levantine Assassins. When Altaïr and his family returned to Masyaf a decade later, they learned what had happened and decided to confront Abbas and his followers.[21]
Altaïr using the Apple against Swami
During the meeting, Abbas claimed that Altaïr had been corrupted by the Apple, which he had held for over three decades, and demanded that he hand over the artifact. Taunting Abbas, Altaïr let him take the Apple, and Abbas' henchman Swami came to retrieve it. As Swami revealed himself as Sef's killer,[23] a furious Altaïr used the Apple to force the Assassin to start mutilating himself, but he was stopped by Maria.[21] In the resulting confusion, Swami murdered Maria before he himself was killed by Altaïr, who subsequently fled Masyaf alongside Darim, going into a self-imposed exile in Alamut.[23]
During his exile, Altaïr studied the Apple intensely, managing to create a gun attachement for his Hidden Blade through the knowledge he gained.[12] Additionally, the Apple led Altaïr to a small Isu temple beneath Alamut, from which he retrieved six Memory Seals.[24] Eventually, in 1247, Altaïr returned from his exile and, gaining the support of his fellow Assassins, killed Abbas with his Hidden Gun to reclaim leadership of the Levantine Brotherhood.[25]
During the last decade of his life, Altaïr ordered the construction of a library in Masyaf, secretly intending to hide the Apple there after his death.[26] In August 1257, as Masyaf came under siege by the Mongols led by Hülegü Khan, who sought retaliation for Genghis Khan's death, Altaïr used the Apple's powers to repel the attack. He then gave his books, including his Codex, and five of his Memory Seals to the Venetian tradesmen and Assassins Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, trusting them to hide them somewhere safe.[27]
Altaïr placing the Apple on its pedestal
Knowing another Mongol attack to be inevitable, Altaïr had Masyaf evacuated before bidding farewell to Darim in front of the entrance to his library. As his son deduced the library's true purpose, Altaïr told him not to tell anyone about it and to lie that he had sent the Apple away, to keep it hidden from "eager hands". With that, he sealed himself inside the library and, after hiding the Apple in a secret wall compartment, passed away from old age.[26]
Renaissance[]
In 1509, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the Mentor of the Italian Assassins, found a letter written by his father Giovanni mentioning Altaïr's library underneath Masyaf and the vast amount of knowledge it supposedly held. Intrigued by his discovery, Ezio set out on a journey to the Holy Land to reach a better understanding of the Order through Altaïr's knowledge.[28] Ezio arrived in Masyaf in the winter of 1511, and retrieved Niccolò Polo's journal, The Secret Crusade, from Leandros, the leader of a small army of Byzantine Templars tasked with opening Altaïr's library.[29]
Ezio discovering the Apple
Learning about the five Memory Seals which served as the keys to the library, the Assassin proceeded to make his way to Constantinople to look for the artifacts and prevent the Templars from acquiring them. After several months of searching, during which he was aided by the Ottoman Assassins and a bookseller named Sofia Sartor, Ezio was able to obtain the Seals, and together with Sofia, made his way to Masyaf once again.[30]
Entering the library, Ezio found Altaïr's remains, as well as the sixth Memory Seal.[31] Throught it, Ezio relived Altaïr's final moments and discovered the Apple's location, but decided not to take the artifact from its pedestal, leaving it in the library instead. At that moment, the Apple imparted a message from the Synch Nexus, intended for Ezio's descendant, Desmond Miles, who was viewing his genetic memories in the Animus. In the message, Jupiter recounted the Isu's final days and provided Desmond with the means to access the Grand Temple.[32]
Elizabethan era[]
The Apple hidden in the globus cruciger
Despite both Altaïr's and Ezio's protective actions, the Apple soon found its way up into the hands of Queen Elizabeth I of England, who succeeded her sister Mary I after she was killed by the Assassins.[13] Elizabeth made ample use of the Apple during her reign, so much so that her trusted advisor John Dee became aware of the artifact and its powers.[33]
Dee later gave a painting of Queen Elizabeth holding the Apple during an alternative rendition of the Judgement of Paris, as a wedding present to Elizabeth Jane Weston, the stepdaughter of his former colleague Edward Kelley, after Elizabeth's death.[33]
Modern times[]
By modern times, the Apple had passed into the hands of Mahatma Gandhi, who used it to acquire a large religious following in India during the early 20th century. However, the Templars discovered this, and had Gandhi murdered on 30 January 1948, in order to recover the Apple for themselves.[13]
By 1963, the Templars were in possession of both this Apple and another one, and used them during their assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who possessed a third Apple. William Greer, the Secret Service agent assigned to drive Kenney's limousine, was trained in the use of the Apple of Eden #2, and was instructed to steal the president's Apple after he was killed.[13]
Later on, during the early 21st century, Abstergo Industries experimented with the Apple of Eden 2 underneath Denver International Airport. This continued until what would later be called the DIA satellite accident; Daniel Cross, who was visiting the facility, suddenly experienced a psychotic episode as a result of his Bleeding Effect and his close proximity to the Apple. The manic Templar killed everyone in the facility, while the Apple was destroyed in unspecified circumstances that resulted in the devastation of the airport and the deaths of many innocents.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
In Assassin's Creed, the Apple was described as being made of silver, but in all subsequent games it was given a golden appearance to match the color of the other Apples of Eden.
Unlike Ezio's Apple of Eden, Altaïr's health did not drain while he used the Apple.[27]
A deleted database entry in Assassin's Creed III for the Apples of Eden revealed that Templars working for Queen Elizabeth sent out an envoy to Masyaf in the late 16th century to find and recover the Apple from Altaïr's library.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
- Assassin's Creed II (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations novel
- Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins
- Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun (appears in flashback)
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (indirect mention only)
References[]
