Piece of Eden

Al Mualim with his Piece of Eden.

Characteristics

The Piece of Eden is one of several ancient objects left by Those Who Came Before, possessing different effects, that is able to bend people to the will of the user. One of the greatest weapons known to man, it is capable of ending wars and (provided it is used correctly) ushering in a forced peace.

It is believed by the staff of Abstergo Industries and the Templars that the Piece of Eden, along with other artifacts like it, was the source of such miracles as the Parting of the Red Sea, the successful use of the Trojan Horse by the Greeks to win the Trojan War, the miracles surrounding "the Christ-figure" who founded the Christian faith and the Biblical plagues that ravaged Egypt, among other supernatural happenings.

File:Zw-eden-slave.png

The Piece of Eden used by Those Who Came Before to enslave humans

Apart from its power to force almost anyone into serving its possessor, the Piece of Eden's greatest power is that its existence essentially disproves the existence of an all-powerful God. The Templar Order had already committed itself to exposing the claims of all religions as false, and the Piece of Eden is perfectly suited to the successful pursuit of this purpose.

Incidentally, each Piece of Eden also contains a holographic map of the Earth that shows the location of all the other Artifacts. The Masyaf Piece of Eden was destroyed during its experimental use by Abstergo Industries at the Denver International Airport. Using Altair's memory of events, however, the map showed the locations of the other Pieces of Eden.

Ezio uses the Staff and Apple to access the Vault.

After Altaïr took control of the Assassins, their new goal was to hunt down and destroy the last of the Templars and the Pieces of Eden. During the events of Assassin's Creed Bloodlines, Altaïr starts to study the artifact, writing about its powers and his own theories. When the Cypriots blamed Altaïr for the disasters that struck the island and tried to attack him, he used the Piece of Eden to control their minds, forcing them to hear the truth, that the real culprit was the Templar Grand Master, Armand Bouchart. After reaching the Archives in Limassol, and killing Bouchart, Altaïr kept the Masyaf Piece of Eden, not leaving it in the Archives as he had first intended. It is unknown what happened to the Masyaf Piece of Eden after Altaïr and Maria traveled "East". On an interesting note, the object is referred to as the "Apple of Eden" in the game.

In Assassin's Creed 2, it is revealed that the Apple and other Pieces of Eden have a rather extensive history of changing hands while decrypting the "Truth" files left by Subject 16. Notable figures in history have used the Pieces of Eden, although for varying purposes; including, but not limited to: Napoleon Bonaparte, George Washington, Gandhi, Houdini, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tsar Nicholas II, and even Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler. It is also revealed that there are at least 3 Apples remaining in the world, which represent the three divine Golden Apples of Greek mythology.

Resistance

A map of many "Pieces of Eden"

In an e-mail at Abstergo Industries it is revealed that the company's leaders are worried that the Pieces of Eden are not all that is needed to achieve their goal. It is mentioned that some people may be resistant to the mind control effect of the Piece of Eden and that other "Artifacts" must be found to ensure no one is left to cause trouble in the Templar's planned "New World". The only three people so far to show a resistance against the Pieces of Eden are an unnamed person present at the DIA incident, Altaïr, and Ezio. The first sends an e-mail to Dr. Vidic declaring "I know what you did" and gives a firsthand account of the artifact's failed experiment there. Of note is that this person seems to be acting alone and is therefore unlikely to know of the Templars or the Assassins and may not be a member of either organization themselves. Altaïr's resistance is shown when Al Mualim shows him the treasure but Altaïr simply says that to him it is just a piece of silver and does not understand how Al Mualim can believe it to be pure temptation as he describes. This response surprises Al Mualim who later reveals that he had shown the Piece of Eden to Altaïr in an attempt to hypnotize him, but for some reason he could not. However, even though Altaïr is resistant against its hypnotic effect, the Piece of Eden can still do some things to him such as: immobilizing him, causing him to hallucinate and clouding his mind, both of which can be observed during the final battle. Finally, Ezio's resistance is shown when he finally confronts Rodrigo Borgia in Rome. Although this instance has Ezio himself using the Apple while Rodrigo uses the Staff. But Ezio shows no resistance to the combined power of the Apple and the Staff.

There is a high potential that Altaïr passed on this gift to Desmond Miles and his other descendants. Although a small number of theories can be made upon decrypting Truth File #18 because while decrypting it Subject 16 makes comments about scientists finding a specific neurological receptor in the human brain that responds solely to the effects of the Eden artifacts. It is highly possible that Altaïr, or more appropriately, one of his ancestors, was born lacking these "dormant receptors". As Desmond's genetic family are seemingly the only of which that possess this resistance. Why such a severe neurological mutation such as this (severe, due to the fact that humans were created, specifically to be controlled by the artifacts through these receptors), were to occur is left for speculation.

Confirmed Artifacts

01: The First Apple: Designed to create illusions and control men's minds; can be used in conjunction with the Staff.

Status: Most likely destroyed, but no confirmation.

Owners: Those Who Came Before, Adam(A)/Eve(A), Abel(A), Cain(T), Al Mualim(T)(!), Altair(A), Ezio(A), Unknown, Napoleon, Unknown, Houdini, Templars.

02: The Second Apple: Designed to create illusions and control men's minds; can be used in conjunction with the Staff.

Status: Caught in an explosive satellite malfunction. Most likely survived, but impossible to retrieve in the blackness of space; see the AC1 emails.

Owners: Those Who Came Before, Unknown, Queen "Bloody" Mary I of England(T)(!), Queen Elizabeth I of England, Unknown, Gandhi, Templars.

03: The Third Apple: Designed to create illusions and control men's minds; can be used in conjunction with the Staff.

Status: Unknown

Owners: Those Who Came Before, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson(T)

04: The Fourth Apple: Designed to create illusions and control men's minds; can be used in conjunction with the Staff. But possibly it has helped in the development of weapons and technology throughout the centuries

Status: Unknown

Owners: Those Who Came Before, "The Invention of Gunpowder", Nikola Tesla(A), Thomas Edison(T), Henry Ford(T), Adolf Hitler(T)(!), Assassins.

05: The Fifth Apple: Designed to create illusions and control men's minds; can be used in conjunction with the Staff.

Status: Unknown

Owners: Those Who Came Before, NASA(T).

25: The Sword: Possibly it can cut through anything, can guide the wielder of it so that i can block any attack, and being a piece of eden itself, it probably gave knowledge on how to win any battle, making any who wields it able to defeat entire armies (It's said that Attila the Hun's sword had an attack called the Scourge of Mars, it was so terrifying that none dared to speak of the details, if there were any that survived it that is, so it's also possible that with a single stroke it can carve down hundreds of men)

Status: Unknown

Owners: Those Who Came Before, Perseus, Attila the Hun(T), Alexander the Great(T)(!), King Arthur, Sigurd, Genghis Khan(T)(!), Joan of Arc, Templars.

34: The Staff: Designed to control men's minds and bodies; it has a spot in the headpiece where an Apple of Eden can placed to enhance the mind control powers.

Status: Destroyed in the Tunguska Incident.

Owners: Those Who Came Before, Egyptian Pharaohs, Moses, Alexander the Great(T)(!), John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, Rodrigo Borgia(T), Ezio(A), Unknown, Czar Nicholas II, Rasputin(T)(!).

66: The Shroud: Unknown, possibly allowed the ressurecion of the dead, able to heal any ailment. The Templars were behind the crucifixtion of Christ, allowing them to steal the artifact, although his disciples may have used it to heal Jesus before the Templars stole it. The Shroud appears to be red in color, with a "golden layer" woven on the inside, most likely the golden layer is the "technological part" of the artifact.

Status: Unknown

Owners: Those Who Came Before, David, Jesus Christ, Templars.

(T) = A Templar / worked with Templars (A) = Assassin / Worked With Assassins (!)= Confirmed Assassinated by the Assassins

Locations of the Artifacts

According to the Codex Map there are exactly 47 Pieces of Eden remaining in the world. Here are the proposed locations of each.

1. Giza, Egypt
2. Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania - (The Apple #?)
3. The Gambia
4. Timbuktu, Mali
5. Atlas Mountains, Morocco
6. Canary Islands, Spain
7. Vologda Oblast, Russia - (The Staff?)
8. Chernobyl, Ukraine - (The Staff? Or a failed Templar project)
9. Sighişoara, Transylvania - (The Apple #4)
10. Rennes-le-Château, France
11. Salisbury, England - (The Sword?/Excalibur)
12. Loch Ness, Scotland
13. Uluru, Australia
14. Nara, Japan
15. Xi'an, China - (The Sword?)
16. Lake Baikal, Siberia
17. Bareilly, India
18. Persepolis, Iran
19. Jerusalem, Israel - (The Apple #1)
20. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - (The Shroud?)
21. Machu Picchu, Perú
22. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
23. Aasiaat, Greenland
24. Chichen Itza, Mexico
25. San Antonio, Texas
26. Montréal, Quebec
27. Lake Okanagan, British Columbia
28. Coloma, California

Possible Artifacts and their Functions; Temple locations

These artifacts are based on the locations given in Assassin's Creed, and the clues and hints found in all the games.

• The Holy Grail: Although the Templars doubt its existence as a Biblical artifact, it could prove to be real. Possible Functions: Grants eternal life, among other things. Possible owners: Jesus.
• The Crystal Skulls: Quartz skulls found in Ancient Temples. Telepathic Communication. Currently possessed by the Templars, possibly found near the Nazca Lines. there are more than two although the number is unknwon at this time, but it's possible there could be 13.
• The "Philadelphia Experiment" artifact: Time travel, said to have been lost in the failed experiment. According to reports, a Navy destroyer ship disappeared for a few minutes, supposedly having traveled to the future. When it reappeared and was searched, most of the men were gone or they were there but dead, with pieces of their bodies melted into the metal of the ship. According to the email in the firct AC, it was locked away in a safe location, and curiously, on the Codex map it shows a dot in the middle of the Nevada desert...Area 51?
• The Golden Fleece: A seemingly weightless and indestructible piece of armor or cloak. In his Codex, Altair speculates that it could have truly existed and was actually made of a unique metal compound he had discovered how to create using knowledge contained within the Apple. Shortly after creating his set of armour with the metal, Altair destroyed anything that could lead to its discovery or creation, fearing the knowledge could one day fall into the hands of the Templars. Possible Owners: Jason
• The Spear of Destiny or Holy Lance: Said to protect its user from death, but causes instant death when lost. Also it's possible that when thrown it can never miss it's target and can't be stopped in mid-flight. Supposedly pierced the side of Christ at his crucifixtion, although Bibicaly the man who pierced Christ was said to live forever, until he found out and killed himself with the spear. Possible Owners: Longinus, Constantine, Charlemagne and other Holy Roman Emperors
• The Philosopher's Stone: Turn any substance into pure gold. Possibly what started the gold rush in Coloma, California.

There are 8 locations of Temples mentioned by Minerva that could possibly help save the human race, and more than likely where Desmond and the other modern day Assassins will be heading in the third AC game.

• New York City, NY, USA; possible locations include the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Library, Madison Square Garden, etc. It's hard to determine because New York city has a huge underground network system, it could be hiding in plain sight, or it could be so far down that no one could possibly have seen it, able to rise up from the earth at will and just hasn't for thousands of years.
• Galapagos Islands
• Somewhere in the middle of the country of Cameroon, Africa; Cameroon is literally in the heart of Africa, covered in dense jungle, it woul be completely possible to hide a temple in it and never see it from the sky above
• Lake Bakial, Russia
• Somwhere in the South Pacific Ocean, parallel to the one on the Galapagos Islands
• Hidden in the fjords in Northern Norway, possibly close to the peninsula/islands near Hinnoya, Norway
• Somewhere in the middle of the island of Java, Indonesia
• Somewhere in the ocean south of the southeastern tip of Austrailia

All the temple locations are parallel to each other, first appearing in a curved row of three, a row of two to make the parallel fold across the map, and then a curved row of three again.

Other possible Pieces of Eden. These are just something to think about, since the POE's were part of most of history and myths, it's possible these could also exist.

• The Wand: Every great sorcerer, wizard, or magician that could have possibly existed in the real world has been said to have a wand, thus the source of their power. Functions: this Piece of Eden could possibly allow the user the ability to warp reality, thus making making some form of magic spells possible. People who might have owned it: Circe, Merlin, the Fairy Godmother of some fairy tales. Has a high chance of existing, since the Sword was once wielded by King Arthur.
• The Boots: Numerous legends abound about boots that can grant either super speed or flight, like the Seven-league Boots or the Winged Sandals of Hermes.
• The Hammer: There is only one real mention of Mjolnir, the Norse thunder god Thor's warhammer. It was rumored to be unbreakable and able to control the elements of the storms. It has been noted lately that it's possible that Thor could have been a real person and was such a fantastic warrior that the Vikings actually worshiped him as the warrior god. It was also noted that in the real world, the Knights Templar were actually on good terms with the Viking community. Could be possible that they presented a Piece of Eden to them in the game world as a motion of good faith?
• The Helmet: Used by Perseus, along with the Sword, the Helmet of Hades made the wearer invisible once put on.
• The Shield: Perseus also used a mythical shield given to him by Athena (Minerva in the Roman culture). It's supposedly unbreakable and one of it's qualities is it's mirrored finish, which enabled him to supposedly kill the Gorgon without looking at it and thus turning to stone. It's possible that the Gorgon part was a myth, but instead was a person who possessed a Piece of Eden that could turn any who saw it into stone, and it just so happened to look like the head of a foul beast. It's noted that in just about every modern day statue that depicts Perseus, he is holding the head of Medusa in his hands.
• The Second Sword: There are thousands of myths and legends that tell of magic/enchanted swords all throughout history, some of them existing in the hands of other people at the same time in far off places. So it's possible that there might be a second Piece of Eden that is a Sword. There is obviously more than one apple shaped Piece of Eden, as listed above.

Things the Pieces of Eden share in common:

• If any one of these pieces were to be destroyed, like the Piece of Eden involved in the Tunguska Explosion, they would cause explosions similar to nuclear blasts, at least enough to level a major city. It's even been shown that at least one of these things were part of the Manhattan project in one of the glyphs left behind by Subject 16.
• It's highly possible that The Ones that Came Before had mastered all forms of technology, including controlled nuclear fusion which is another reason these things still have power to them even after thousands of years of being used throughout human history, and another reason for the blast theory above.
• It is possible, but very slim, that through their advanced technology, the Pieces of Eden are omni-synched: synchronized to each other throughout time and locations of where they are on the planet. It would explain why the one Apple shows the location of the remaining 46 pieces on the map shown to Altair, not showing the one lost in the satelite incident or the one lost in the Tunguska incident.

Notes

It may be interesting to note that in Assassin's Creed, Al Mualim and Robert De Sable both want to use the Apple of Eden to control the population and enforce peace. But as the Templars continue to thrive, they seem obsessed with power. Rodrigo Borgia, the Spaniard, comes into possession of the Staff. Instead of using it to forcefully control his followers, he seems to desire it only for the power it brings him. (He is seen leading his congregation in prayer; if he controlled their minds, they would stand around like sheep. There would be no reason to pray.) He also talks of killing God solely for the power it will bring him. While the Templars first sought the Pieces of Eden in a quest for peace, they were corrupted and seem now to only desire power.

It should be noted that every major historical event or scientific discovery has been attributed to its catalysts having in their possession a Piece of Eden. As seen in the sections above, the Pieces are all at the heart of history. For example, Edison made his invention while he has the Apple of Eden in his possession. It is also known that Lee Harvey Oswald, as well as his co-conspirators, is mentioned in a letter discussing who will receive a Piece of Eden next.

It is stated in one of the Codex pages that a Piece of Eden can not be destroyed, however this could just be due to the lack of sufficient technology in the middle ages when the Codex was written. It is stated in a letter to Tesla (part of the Truth Video unlock events) that when the sender of the letter finds the Piece of Eden they are looking for, can he use his mastery of electricity to permanently destroy the Piece of Eden. Unfortunately, this resulted in the Tunguska Explosion.

Trivia

Thanks to the glyphs, a number of legends were proven to be real in a way, thanks to the P.O.E. Here are a few:

• The Greek Myth of Perseus
• King Arthur existed as he had in the legends about him and not just the way historians think he did