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{{Era|Occupations|Organizations}} | {{Era|Occupations|Organizations}} | ||
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{{Quote|The first Medjay was the protector of the pharaoh. But now, it means we must protect all the people of Egypt. Not just protect them, but work for their well-being.|The Medjay, Bayek, to his son, Khemu, 49 BCE.|Assassin's Creed: Origins}} | {{Quote|The first Medjay was the protector of the pharaoh. But now, it means we must protect all the people of Egypt. Not just protect them, but work for their well-being.|The Medjay, Bayek, to his son, Khemu, 49 BCE.|Assassin's Creed: Origins}} | ||
[[File:ACO Medjay badge.jpg|thumb|250px|Bayek showing his Medjay badge]] | [[File:ACO Medjay badge.jpg|thumb|250px|Bayek showing his Medjay badge]] | ||
The '''Medjay''' were an elite [[Egypt]]ian paramilitary [[police]] force who served and acted as desert scouts and protectors of areas of Pharaonic interest throughout the {{Wiki|Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old}}, {{Wiki|Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle}}, and {{Wiki|New Kingdom of Egypt|New | The '''Medjay''' were an elite [[Egypt]]ian paramilitary [[police]] force who served and acted as desert scouts and protectors of areas of Pharaonic interest throughout the {{Wiki|Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old}}, {{Wiki|Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle}}, and {{Wiki|New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom}} periods of Egypt. The sworn guardians of the pharaoh and the nation; at their peak, the Medjay were highly esteemed and perceived as the very symbol of true honor, courage, and duty. For this reason, their badge was emblazoned with the {{Wiki|Eye of Horus|Eye}} of [[Horus]], an emblem representing the protection of the Egyptian people. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Medjay were originally established during the Old Kingdom and were tasked with the protection of the pharaoh's people. As the most trusted guards to the pharaoh, they were considered as the ultimate protector of the gods and the people.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | The Medjay were originally established during the Old Kingdom of Egypt and were tasked with the protection of the pharaoh's people. As the most trusted guards to the pharaoh, they were considered as the ultimate protector of the gods and the people.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | ||
By the time of the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]], however, the | By the time of the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]], however, the Medjay had faded away, with [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] being one of the few remaining. Bayek's duties largely revolved around him acting as a sheriff of sorts for his community. His wife, [[Amunet|Aya]], also served as a Medjay. Despite their duties being largely taken over by the [[Phylakitai]], Egyptians throughout the land still recognized the symbol of the Medjay, hailing Bayek as a "protector".<ref name="ACO" /> | ||
In 48 BCE, [[Cleopatra]] appealed to Bayek's sense of duty by making him "Egypt's Medjay", granting him a golden badge to replace his original leather one. Bayek's closest friend, [[Hepzefa]], was also noted as a Medjay in Siwa, having taken on Bayek's duties after he left on his journey of vengeance against the [[Order of the Ancients]].<ref name="Egypt's Medjay">''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Egypt's Medjay]]</ref> After Hepzefa's death, Bayek | In 48 BCE, [[Cleopatra]] appealed to Bayek's sense of duty by making him "Egypt's Medjay", granting him a golden badge to replace his original leather one. Bayek's closest friend, [[Hepzefa]], was also noted as a Medjay in Siwa, having taken on Bayek's duties after he left on his journey of vengeance against the [[Order of the Ancients]].<ref name="Egypt's Medjay">''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Egypt's Medjay]]</ref> After Hepzefa's death, Bayek was the last of the Medjay, a title he eventually discarded upon the foundation of the [[Hidden Ones]].<ref name="ACO" /> | ||
==Prayer of The Medjay== | ==Prayer of The Medjay== | ||
{{Quote|Every morning of my childhood, my father and I spoke the Prayer of the Medjay, a promise to those in need. "I am a Medjay. I am a feather in the eagle's wing... a living dagger, plunged from the sky into the heart of chaos. I am a truth unknown... a scabbard unfilled... a son of the Nile... and a defender of the people. You cannot kill me, for I walk among the dead. Come forth by day, and I will guide you home." My [[Khemu|son]] should have learned this prayer from me.|Bayek's thoughts at the end of [[Taimhotep's Song]]}}Like | {{Quote|Every morning of my childhood, my father and I spoke the Prayer of the Medjay, a promise to those in need. "I am a Medjay. I am a feather in the eagle's wing... a living dagger, plunged from the sky into the heart of chaos. I am a truth unknown... a scabbard unfilled... a son of the Nile... and a defender of the people. You cannot kill me, for I walk among the dead. Come forth by day, and I will guide you home." My [[Khemu|son]] should have learned this prayer from me.|Bayek's thoughts at the end of [[Taimhotep's Song]]}} | ||
Like the [[Assassins]], who evolved as a direct result of the Medjay teachings, the Medjay had their own [[The Creed|guiding principles]] that dictated their way of life. Like the Creed of the Assassins, the Prayer of the Medjay was passed down orally; Bayek reminisced about it, his own childhood, when reflecting upon a protection ritual performed by [[Taimhotep]] and her maidservant [[Mara]] for Taimhotep's unborn child, and how he should have taught it to his son before his untimely death.<ref name="Taimhotep's Song">''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Taimhotep's Song]]</ref> | |||
==Members== | ==Members== | ||
'''Ptolemaic Egypt''' | '''Ptolemaic Egypt''' | ||
*[[Aya]] {{c|until | *[[Aya]] {{c|until 49 BCE}} | ||
*[[Bayek]] {{c|until 47 BCE}} | *[[Bayek]] {{c|until 47 BCE}} | ||
*[[Emsaf]] | *[[Emsaf]] | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Desert Oath]]'', the Medjay are mentioned as having their own bloodlines, | *In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Desert Oath]]'', the Medjay are mentioned as having their own bloodlines, like many families in the Assassin Brotherhood. | ||
*Historically, there is no attestation for the Medjay's continued existence past the Twentieth Dynasty.<ref>Wilkinson, Toby (2005). ''Dictionary of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson.</ref> | *Historically, there is no attestation for the Medjay's continued existence past the Twentieth Dynasty.<ref>Wilkinson, Toby (2005). ''Dictionary of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 10:37, 1 October 2018
- "The first Medjay was the protector of the pharaoh. But now, it means we must protect all the people of Egypt. Not just protect them, but work for their well-being."
- ―The Medjay, Bayek, to his son, Khemu, 49 BCE.[src]
The Medjay were an elite Egyptian paramilitary police force who served and acted as desert scouts and protectors of areas of Pharaonic interest throughout the Old, Middle, and New Kingdom periods of Egypt. The sworn guardians of the pharaoh and the nation; at their peak, the Medjay were highly esteemed and perceived as the very symbol of true honor, courage, and duty. For this reason, their badge was emblazoned with the Eye of Horus, an emblem representing the protection of the Egyptian people.
History
The Medjay were originally established during the Old Kingdom of Egypt and were tasked with the protection of the pharaoh's people. As the most trusted guards to the pharaoh, they were considered as the ultimate protector of the gods and the people.[1]
By the time of the Ptolemaic dynasty, however, the Medjay had faded away, with Bayek of Siwa being one of the few remaining. Bayek's duties largely revolved around him acting as a sheriff of sorts for his community. His wife, Aya, also served as a Medjay. Despite their duties being largely taken over by the Phylakitai, Egyptians throughout the land still recognized the symbol of the Medjay, hailing Bayek as a "protector".[1]
In 48 BCE, Cleopatra appealed to Bayek's sense of duty by making him "Egypt's Medjay", granting him a golden badge to replace his original leather one. Bayek's closest friend, Hepzefa, was also noted as a Medjay in Siwa, having taken on Bayek's duties after he left on his journey of vengeance against the Order of the Ancients.[2] After Hepzefa's death, Bayek was the last of the Medjay, a title he eventually discarded upon the foundation of the Hidden Ones.[1]
Prayer of The Medjay
- "Every morning of my childhood, my father and I spoke the Prayer of the Medjay, a promise to those in need. "I am a Medjay. I am a feather in the eagle's wing... a living dagger, plunged from the sky into the heart of chaos. I am a truth unknown... a scabbard unfilled... a son of the Nile... and a defender of the people. You cannot kill me, for I walk among the dead. Come forth by day, and I will guide you home." My son should have learned this prayer from me."
- ―Bayek's thoughts at the end of Taimhotep's Song
Like the Assassins, who evolved as a direct result of the Medjay teachings, the Medjay had their own guiding principles that dictated their way of life. Like the Creed of the Assassins, the Prayer of the Medjay was passed down orally; Bayek reminisced about it, his own childhood, when reflecting upon a protection ritual performed by Taimhotep and her maidservant Mara for Taimhotep's unborn child, and how he should have taught it to his son before his untimely death.[3]
Members
Ptolemaic Egypt
Trivia
- In Assassin's Creed: Desert Oath, the Medjay are mentioned as having their own bloodlines, like many families in the Assassin Brotherhood.
- Historically, there is no attestation for the Medjay's continued existence past the Twentieth Dynasty.[4]
Gallery
-
The simple Medjay Badge owned by Bayek and Hepzefa -
The ornate Medjay Badge given to Bayek by Cleopatra
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Desert Oath (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Egypt's Medjay
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Taimhotep's Song
- ↑ Wilkinson, Toby (2005). Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson.
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