Monteriggioni statuette

2010-06-22T16:56:27Z

98.156.53.171:

Throughout the city of [[Monteriggioni]], eight '''statuettes''' of different mythical figures (possibly TWCB that survived the disaster and helped rebuild civilization) can be found scattered about. Once collected, two of the statuettes can be placed on one of four designated pedestals located at the back of the Villa. Once the two correct statuettes are placed onto a pedestal, the player obtains 2,000 florin, the same amount for each pedestal.

== Statuettes ==
[[File:Monteriggioni-Villa_Statuette_Locations.jpg|thumb]]
The eight different mythical figures carved into a statuette, and their map colors, are as follows:
*'''Neptune: '''Red
*'''Pluto: '''Green
*'''Jupiter: '''Yellow
*'''Minerva: '''Blue
*'''Diana: '''Black
*'''Apollo: '''Purple
*'''Mars: '''Brown
*'''Venus: '''Lime Green  

==Pedestals==
Each pedestal has its own message written on it.

'''Neptune and Pluto: '''''Two brothers rest here. One resides fathoms deep, the other at the end of time.''

'''Jupiter and Minerva: '''''Here sits the king of all Olympus and beside him stands wisdom, to guide his rule.''

'''Diana and Apollo: '''''Together, but never touching. One sleeps while the other riots, yet both watch over us.''

'''Mars and Venus: '''''The god of rage and strength basks in his lover's radiant beauty. She tames his anger with her gentle touch.''

== Locations ==

Everything explained is in map view. So to understand what I am explaining, it would be essential to have your map up. The locations of the statuettes are as following:

'''Neptune: '''''You can find Neptune by starting at the Blacksmith. Climb to the top of the building where the blacksmith is and then jump onto the building that is to the right of it (in map view). Then just drop at the front of the buidling and Neptune should be right there.''

'''Pluto: '''''Pluto is rather easy to find. It is located at the top right corner of the the villages, just right of the arena where you can practice your skills (in map view ). After finding Neptune, just climb the building in front of you until you are in line with the arena. Then drop of to the left of the building (in map view).''

'''Jupiter: '''''Jupiter is almost hidden. Start at the right corner of the map (inside the walls). There is a rather large building that sits opposite of a small building. That small building is where Jupiter is. Climb the left side of the larger building and then jump onto the right side of the small church (in map view), you should get Jupiter when you jump. ''

'''Minerva: '''''Minerva is pretty easy. Start by entering Monteriggioni. Take a right and countinue down the alley way. The building that is to your left is where it is. Climb it and it should be on the left side of the building. It is one of the first buildings when you enter, on the right side. It is large on the map. Also, at night, if you climb onto the church right above where the Jupiter statue is, you can see the statue glowing west-southwest of the church.''

'''Diana: '''''Diana is on the opposite building of Minerva. Instead of taking a right, take a left and climb the building you first see. There is a small space in the center of the building, just go into the middle and it should be on the wall that is opposite of where you climbed.''

'''Apollo: '''''Apollo is on a building that looks kind of like a backwards capital "J". It is in the lower left corner of the map. There is a little inlet on the right side of the building when you look at your map. That's where it is. Just drop down onto a platform and Apollo is yours.''

'''Mars: '''''Mars is located around the same building as Venus, which is at the top left corner of the map. It is the house below the smaller house. Climb to the top of the building, and run to the opposite end. Drop down and you shall find the other half of the Statuette Pair.''

'''Venus: '''''Venus is located at the top left corner of the villages'' ''(at the same building as Mars). The house that is right below the smaller one in the top corner, on the left side of the house, which is facing the Monteriggioni wall.''

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]

Isu

2010-06-14T02:51:23Z

98.156.53.171: /* Aftermath */

{{spoilerhd}}
[[File:Zw-Minerva-3.png|thumb|250px|[[Minerva]] is the only known representative of "Those Who Came Before"]]
{{quote|We simply came... before.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
'''Those Who Came Before'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>, also known as '''the First Civilization'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>, were an ancient and advanced species on Earth who created the [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]], as well as the Human race itself. Exactly who they were, where they came from and when they disappeared is largely unknown. With early humans unable to comprehend the First Civilization for what they truly were, they were viewed upon as gods.

==Knowledge==
Though various religious beliefs seem to have been based on aspects and misinterpretations of Those Who Came Before, their existence was largely unknown to humanity<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. As early as the 12th Century, both the [[Assassins]] and the [[Knights Templar]] knew that the focus of human religions, the Gods, did not truly exist, and that miracles and other supernatural were simply manifestations of the powers of the [[Pieces of Eden]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />; devices created by Those Who Came Before to control the Human race<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. However, it is unclear if the Assassins and Templars understood the origin of the Pieces at that time. By the 15th century, at least one Templar, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], was aware of the existence, if not the nature, of Those Who Came Before; he mistakenly believed that [[The Vault]] underneath the Sistine Chapel housed a living God<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

The first known instance of a human becoming aware of their existence following their disappearance was that of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], who made mention of them in his [[the Codex|Codex]]. However, it would not be until the year 1499 that humanity would first "meet" Those Who Came Before; [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], an Assassin, encountered a hologram of a being calling herself [[Minerva]] in The Vault. While Ezio likely told his fellow Assassins of Minerva, it is possible they still did not understand her true nature; Ezio showed great difficulty in understanding [[Minerva]]'s explanation of her existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

By 2012, the Templars in [[Abstergo Industries]] had a sizeable understanding of the true nature of Those Who Came Before. Whether they learned this information through the use of the [[Animus]] or had found evidence of it earlier is unknown. However, none of the Assassins seen in this time period indicated that they had previous knowledge of the existence of Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

==History==
===Creation===
{{Quote|We built you in our own image, we built you to survive.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Eden-Slaves-Workshop.png|thumb|350px|Minerva, using a [[Piece of Eden]] to control humans.]]
The origin of the First Civilization are unclear; Minerva simply stated that they "came before". They were however, responsible for the creation of humanity, creating them in their own image to be a docile workforce. Research by [[Subject 16]] seemed to suggest that Those Who Came Before radically altered the genetic make-up of a pre-existing species on the planet to create humanity, leaving a sizeable gap in terms of transitional species between archaic hominids and modern humans. By 1997, the Templars had taken note of this and arranged for fake skeletons to be planted in Ethiopia, so as to limit human exposure to the possibility of the existence of Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Control of humanity was assured through use of the Pieces of Eden, which tapped into a neuro-transmitter located deep within the human brain. However, there were humans who born without the neuro-transmitter, and could subsequently live without being influenced by the First Civilization through such means<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

===War===
{{Quote|When we were still flesh, and our homes still whole, your kind betrayed us. We who made you, we who gave you life.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
Eventually, despite humanity and the First Civilization living in peace for some time, war broke out. Possibly the result of at least two immune individuals stealing a Piece of Eden from their masters. The fate of these two – [[Adam and Eve]] – following their attempt is unknown, however humanity and Those Who Came Before soon found themselves at war with each other. While Those Who Came Before were more technologically advanced and powerful, humanity had the advantage of numbers<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Somehow, the Piece's of Eden had lost their ability to influence humanity, whether it be through deactivation or by natural immunity building up within the Human race, remains unknown<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

====Catastrophe====
The war did eventually end, although with casualties greater than the First Civilization could have ever anticipated. The distraction of war had blinded them to all else, and their preoccupation prevented them from seeing the signs of an impending danger from the "heavens"; by the time they had noticed it, it was too late. [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Lucy Stillman]] later hypothesized that this "danger" could have been a massive solar flare, that had flipped the Earth's weakening magnetic field, reversing the polarity and making the planet geologically unstable. This hypothesis was supported by evidence found by [[Subject 16]];

*"Near the day of purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky. - Hopi"
*"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans. - Hopi"
*"They died in the fire from the heavens."
*"[[Toba catastrophe|75ka was not a volcano]]."<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Aftermath===
{{Quote|You may not comprehend us, but you will comprehend our warning. […] And as life returned to the world, we endeavoured to ensure that this tragedy would not be repeated.|Minerva to [[Desmond Miles]], through the memories of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
Both races survived the catastrophe, however, few of either species remained. Working together, they rebuilt their world, though humanity continued to view Minerva's kind as gods<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. Despite their survival, Those Who Came Before were unable to fully recover and began heading toward extinction. They knew however, that the catastrophe that had burned their world before would eventually reoccur and took steps to prevent it. Recording a holographic, yet interactive, message to serve as a warning to those who entered [[the Vault]]. In it, Minerva warned of the impending doom, and spoke of the [[Temples]] that could save Earth from destruction, built by those who "knew to turn away from war"<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />.

Delivering their message to the Assassin Desmond Miles, who was viewing the memories of his ancestor [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], Minerva warned that time was short, and that "[[Templars|the Cross]]" would stand in their way. With the deliverance of that message, the last vestiges of the First Civilization died away, the gods had become extinct<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

==Characteristics==
{{Quote|The rest is up to you, Desmond.|Minerva to Desmond Miles, through the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Assassin's Creed II}}
The First Civilization were a technologically advanced and powerful race, who seemed to possess precognitive abilities; either natural or technological. This was proven when Minerva told Ezio within the The Vault that he was simply a conduit and spoke directly to the invisible [[Desmond Miles]], who was viewing his ancestor's memories. Furthermore, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] mentioned in [[the Codex]] that his Piece of Eden not only possessed a catalog of past events, but also future events, implying that the Pieces contain predictions made by Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Those Who Came Before also have connections with many of Earth's religions, and likely influenced their developments directly. During her warning to Desmond, [[Minerva]] made mention of her former names, as well of those of her; Menrva, Uni and Tinia, who were later became known as Minerva, Juno and Jupiter, respectively. The former names correspond to the Etruscan Triad of Deities, while the latter are the names of their Roman counterparts, who make up the Capitoline Triad. This shift in names may be indicative why various religions have numerous similarities, as they are all based on the story of Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

==Legacy==
{{Quote|They're gifts, Mr. Miles. From those who came before.|Dr. [[Warren Vidic]]|Assassin's Creed}}
Despite the mark they left behind on Earth, the First Civilization faded into obscurity rapidly after their decline; the inability of humans to comprehend their creators as anything but Gods did however allow their names at least, to live on. The lack of evidence for their existence did not prevent all humans from learning about them however, and by the 21st Century the Knights Templar had a limited understanding of the nature of those who had lived before<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Indeed, the technology used to view the genetic memories of ones ancestor – the [[Animus]] – was based off of technology utilised by the First Civilization<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

The Templars also knew of the existence of the Pieces of Eden, and believed them to be gifts left behind by the First Civilization for them to utilise<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Ironically however, this situation was a significant contrast to the situation in the 15th Century, where it had been the Assassins who knew explicitly of the existence of Those Who Came Before, whilst the Templar Grand Master [[Rodrigo Borgia]] merely believed the Vault to be the location of God himself. This changed however, and five hundred years later, the Order of Assassins knew nothing of the First Civilization's existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Bloodline===
{{Quote|Why is it that we have these gifts, these abilities? Because it's in our blood! […] The seeds were planted as two world became one. Behold the Assassins, the children of two worlds!|[[Subject Sixteen]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
The mysterious individual known only as [[Subject 16]] at one point theorised that the true reason behind the [[Eagle Vision|abilities]] of some Assassins was genetic, suggesting a lineage including both human and creator blood. 16's own [[The Truth|genetic memories]] indicated him to be a direct descendant of both Adam and Eve, suggesting that his bloodline, if not many more, would all have access to these abilities. Indeed, Subject 16, Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond Miles all possessed [[Eagle Vision]], while Ezio and Altaïr both showed themselves resistant to the effects of the Apple<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. In addition, Ezio was able to use the Staff and the Apple to open The Vault, while Rodrigo Borgia could not<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />, and Altaïr had previously used the Apple to enlighten the people of Cyprus to [[Armand Bouchart]]'s lies<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>.

==Trivia==
*Though they play an important part in the plot of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', Those Who Came Before are first mentioned by [[Warren Vidic]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''. When talking to Desmond, Vidic claims that Abstergo is responsible for all major human technological advances in history, though he denies that the Templars invented them, calling them "gifts...from Those Who Came Before."
*It seems that not all of the history of them was lost to the Greeks and Romans, who still worshipped them, but as Deities. When monotheism (the belief in one god or deity) came about it became farther from the truth.
*The description of Those Who Came Before bears striking similarities to the real-world [[Wikipedia:Ancient astronauts|ancient astronaut theory]].

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}
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Monteriggioni statuette

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