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{{Era|Templars|Characters}}
{{Era|Individuals|Templars}}{{WP-REAL|Cain and Abel}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Quote|Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.|Glyph #6.|Assassin's Creed II}}
{{Character Infobox
{{Character Infobox
|name = Cain
|image = AC2_-_Cain_Slaying_Abel.jpg
|image = Ghent Altarpiece A - Cain - Abel - murder.jpg
|active = 80th millennium BCE
|imgdesc = Cain and Abel
|species = [[Hybrid]]
|period = Ancient Era
|faction =  
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' (Glyphs)
}}
}}
'''Cain''' was the legendary forebear of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. The oldest son of the [[Isu]]-[[human]] [[hybrid]]s [[Adam]] and [[Eve]], Cain founded the ideology that came to serve as the fundamental basis of the Templars and infamously killed his younger brother, [[Abel]], to steal the [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]] in his possession.


==Cain in the Bible==
For these reasons, the cross symbol called the {{Wiki|Curse and mark of Cain|Mark of Cain}} with which he was branded came to be adopted as the [[Templar insignia]].<ref name="Glyph 6">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph #6: "Brothers"]]</ref>
'''Cain''' and [[Abel]], according to the Bible, were the first two sons of [[Adam and Eve]] (Cain being the eldest). According to the Bible, Abel had pleased God with his sacrificial offering, while Cain had not. Because of that, he envied Abel, and thus killed him. God later discovered what happened, and punished him. However, instead of taking his life, He made Cain wander the earth forever.  The Bible then states a cursed mark was placed upon Cain, known as the "Mark of Cain." How long ago these events occurred is unknown, according to the Bible, he and Abel were the sons of [[Adam and Eve]], placing the event of Abel's murder a generation after Adam and Eve.


==Cain in [[Assassin's Creed II|''Assassin's Creed II'']]==
==Biography==
In ''Assassins Creed'' though, Cain's story is different. Instead of Cain killing Abel because God was pleased with Abel and not Cain, Cain actually killed Abel to steal his [[Piece of Eden]]. The mark Cain was given for killing Abel was then used to create the [[Templars]], and collect more Pieces of Eden. [[Subject 16]] also references quotes from the Church of [[Jesus Christ]] of Latter Day Saints' "Pearl of Great Price" scripture. The semi hidden message "Templar texts adapted by Mr. Smith" written in Morse code in a glyph sequence (Mr. Smith being an allusion to Joseph Smith, the eighteenth-century preacher who founded the LDS Church), implying that the Mormon or LDS version of Cain and Abel is more accurate, or at the very least, an accurate reflection of the Templars version of events. The relatively unique title of "Master Mahan" is mentioned as the title Cain gave himself, for being the master of the great secret. The term "Mahan" is of uncertain meaning, and it does not seem to occur in other versions of the story.
Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Eve; both were hybrids born to the [[Isu]] and humans who served as the leaders of the [[Human-Isu War]] in 75,010 BCE.<ref name="Infographics">''[[Assassin's Creed: Infographics]]''</ref>
[[Category:Characters]]
 
[[Category:Characters in Religion]]
As he matured, Cain came to subscribe to a philosophy that humanity had to be brought under his absolute domination so that he might guide them to enlightenment, spawning a worldview that served as the blueprint to Templar political thought.<ref name="Infographics" /> Craving the Apple of Eden, Cain slew his younger brother Abel and seized it from him.<ref name="Infographics" /><ref name="Glyph 6" /><ref name="The Essential Guide">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]]''</ref> As punishment, he was branded with a cross-shaped mark that from then on came to be known as the Mark of Cain.<ref name="Glyph 6" /><ref name="ACOD">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> He later took the title of {{Wiki|Master Mahan}}.<ref name="Glyph 6" />
[[Category:Templars]]
 
[[Category:Historical Characters]]
==Legacy==
Though his life faded away into mythology, notably within [[Christianity]], where he is said to have killed his brother out of pure jealousy, Cain's deeds continued to have profound, even calamitous, effects for the rest of human civilization.<ref name="AC1">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref><ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref><ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref>
 
The philosophy of Cain evolved to become the bedrock of Templar ideology and the very engine behind their millennia-long ambition to inaugurate a [[New World Order]] under their exclusive rule.<ref name="Infographics" /><ref name="The Essential Guide" /> The symbol with which he was branded was eventually adopted as the insignia of the Knights Templar.<ref name="Glyph 6" /><ref name="ACOD" /> Some Templars of antiquity would call themselves the "[[Children of Cain]]".<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>
 
Through the Templars, Cain's legacy still reverberates across the fold of human history, even seventy-seven millennia after he lived and died, in the form of the [[Assassin-Templar War|shadow war]] for world domination against the [[Assassins]] who strive to prevent it.<ref name="AC1" /><ref name="AC2" /><ref name="AC3" />
 
In 1717, the Templar and [[Piracy|pirate]] [[Jing Lang]] referenced the story of Cain and Abel while talking to [[Vance Travers]] about the assassination of his brother, [[Upton Travers|Upton]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[The Other Brother]]</ref>
 
His legend as the origin of the Templars remains a striking narrative for the Templars and Assassins alike. In 2012, the late Assassin [[Clay Kaczmarek]] shared the story of Cain and Abel in this context to his successor [[Desmond Miles]] via the [[Glyphs|Glyph]] messages he hid within the [[Animus]] data.<ref name="Glyph 6" /> Desmond later uncovered the messages in September of that year.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[The Desmond Files]]</ref> Desmond solved this puzzle, which was part of a set titled "Brothers" and revealed that Cain had killed his brother to acquire his Apple of Eden. Included within were paintings by {{Wiki|Peter Paul Rubens}}, {{Wiki|Jacopo Tintoretto}}, {{Wiki|Bartolomeo Manfredi}}, and [[Albrecht Dürer]] attached to text from {{Wiki|Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price}} adapted by [[Joseph Smith]].<ref name="Glyph 6" />
 
==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
AC2_-_Cain_Slaying_Abel.jpg|''Cain Slaying Abel'' by {{Wiki|Peter Paul Rubens}}
AC2_-_The_Murder_of_Abel.jpg|''The Murder of Abel'' by {{Wiki|Jacopo Tintoretto}}
AC2_-_Cain_and_Abel_(Manfredi).jpg|''Cain and Abel'' by {{Wiki|Bartolomeo Manfredi}}
AC2_-_Cain_kills_Abel_(Durer).jpg|''Cain Killing Abel'' by [[Albrecht Dürer]]
</gallery>
 
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{C|paintings only}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Who's In Your Blood?]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]'' {{Mo}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Templars nav}}
<!--
[fr:Caïn]
[zh:该隐]
-->
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Farmers]]
[[Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden]]
[[Category:Proto-Templars]]
[[Category:Biblical mythology]]

Latest revision as of 01:44, 25 May 2026

"Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness."
―Glyph #6.[src]

Cain was the legendary forebear of the Templar Order. The oldest son of the Isu-human hybrids Adam and Eve, Cain founded the ideology that came to serve as the fundamental basis of the Templars and infamously killed his younger brother, Abel, to steal the Apple of Eden in his possession.

For these reasons, the cross symbol called the Mark of Cain with which he was branded came to be adopted as the Templar insignia.[1]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Eve; both were hybrids born to the Isu and humans who served as the leaders of the Human-Isu War in 75,010 BCE.[2]

As he matured, Cain came to subscribe to a philosophy that humanity had to be brought under his absolute domination so that he might guide them to enlightenment, spawning a worldview that served as the blueprint to Templar political thought.[2] Craving the Apple of Eden, Cain slew his younger brother Abel and seized it from him.[2][1][3] As punishment, he was branded with a cross-shaped mark that from then on came to be known as the Mark of Cain.[1][4] He later took the title of Master Mahan.[1]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Though his life faded away into mythology, notably within Christianity, where he is said to have killed his brother out of pure jealousy, Cain's deeds continued to have profound, even calamitous, effects for the rest of human civilization.[5][6][7][8]

The philosophy of Cain evolved to become the bedrock of Templar ideology and the very engine behind their millennia-long ambition to inaugurate a New World Order under their exclusive rule.[2][3] The symbol with which he was branded was eventually adopted as the insignia of the Knights Templar.[1][4] Some Templars of antiquity would call themselves the "Children of Cain".[9]

Through the Templars, Cain's legacy still reverberates across the fold of human history, even seventy-seven millennia after he lived and died, in the form of the shadow war for world domination against the Assassins who strive to prevent it.[5][6][7]

In 1717, the Templar and pirate Jing Lang referenced the story of Cain and Abel while talking to Vance Travers about the assassination of his brother, Upton.[10]

His legend as the origin of the Templars remains a striking narrative for the Templars and Assassins alike. In 2012, the late Assassin Clay Kaczmarek shared the story of Cain and Abel in this context to his successor Desmond Miles via the Glyph messages he hid within the Animus data.[1] Desmond later uncovered the messages in September of that year.[11] Desmond solved this puzzle, which was part of a set titled "Brothers" and revealed that Cain had killed his brother to acquire his Apple of Eden. Included within were paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, Jacopo Tintoretto, Bartolomeo Manfredi, and Albrecht Dürer attached to text from Pearl of Great Price adapted by Joseph Smith.[1]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]