Apple of Eden 2
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- "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 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 and storied history, this Apple of Eden was given many names by its wielders. Following its initial rediscovery it was known as the Oracle's Relic, due in part to it being in the possession of the Oracle of Amun, Medunamun, in 49 BCE. Shortly thereafter, once it came into the possession of the Medjay, Bayek of Siwa, it was referenced several times as the Orb of Siwa and, eventually, as the Light of Amun-Ra. [citation needed]
Centuries later, when the Apple resurfaced in Jerusalem, it was broadly referred to by Al Mualim as the "Templar Treasure" before finally taking on the name of the Apple of Eden. [citation needed] In modern times, it was referred to by Abstergo Industries and the Assassins as Apple of Eden #2.
Usage
Like many Apples of Eden, it was designed to create illusions and control people's minds. 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 time, as evidenced in Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex.
While utilizing the Apple's powers, Flavius showed a number of advanced abilities, including conjuring up tangible-holograms of his Order of the Ancient members to attack Bayek, turning himself invisible and generating a kinetic force which slowed down Bayek momentarily.
Owners
- Isu (? – ?)[5]
- 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)[6]
- Mahatma Gandhi (? – 1948)[6]
- Templar Order (1948 - 21st century)[6]
History
Ptolemaic Egypt
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 Precursor vault within, and sought to capture the Medjay Bayek and his son Khemu to force him to open the vault. A fight occured and Khemu was killed and Bayek left for dead. When the Ancients failed to do so, the Order gave the relic to Medunamun, one of its member the newly-proclaimed Oracle of Siwa, tasking him to figure a way to unlock the vault. A year later, the high priest was killed by Bayek and the artifact was taken by the Medjay.[7] Bayek gave the apple to his wife Aya, who in turn gave it to Cleopatra's advisor Apollodorus for safekeeping.[8]
In 47 BCE, Apollodorus was killed by Flavius Metellus, the de facto leader of the Order of the Ancients, who took the Apple and used its power to enslave all of Cyrenaica to his will.[9] Combining the Apple with the Alexander's Staff of Eden in his possession, Flavius unlocked the Siwa vault alongside Lucius Septimius, learning of the holographic projection of a globe displaying other Isu vaults around the world.[10]
Not long after, Bayek exacted revenge on Flavius by killing the Roman in combat at the Temple of Mars in Cyrene, despite the latter using the artifact's powers to deceive Bayek.[10] Having retrieved the Apple, Bayek stored it in a chest in Aya's old hideout, hoping to keep it hidden away forever.[11]
Middle Ages
- "The Piece of Eden is temptation given form."
- ―Al Mualim, about the Apple of Eden, 1191.[src]
Between the 1st century BCE and the 9th century CE, the Apple was taken and hidden in the catacombs of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. Circa 862, the Mentor of the Alamut Hidden Ones, Rayhan, heard rumors about the artifact and planed to expand the Hidden Ones' influence by setting bureaus inside and outside the city while establishing a stronghold in the north.[12]
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 land. Among them was Al Mualim, the Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins, the Templars' sworn enemies.[13] 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.[14]
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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]
During Altaïr's absence, Al Mualim hypnotized the Assassins and villagers of Masyaf to create his perfect world, being himself 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 after it rolled away from his body. Joined by Malik and three other Assassins, they witnessed a projection of a map showing the locations of more Pieces of Eden being emitted from the Apple.[17]
Altaïr, fearing that Al Mualim would still use the Apple's powers even after his death, intended to burn the Mentor's body on a pyre to be certain that he would not return—against the Assassins' beliefs to not cremate a person on their demise. However, Altaïr's intentions were received both positively and negatively, with Altaïr's former friend and rival Abbas Sofian being the main person to stand against the Assassin.[18]
The Order was temporarily split into two factions, with a fight erupting between the two, after Abbas tried to stop Altaïr from burning their late Mentor's body by shoving him off of the cliff they were standing on. Abbas quickly fled the scene and returned to Al Mualim's study, where he retrieved 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 various Assassins in Masyaf, including Abbas himself. Altaïr, who was more resistant to the Piece of Eden's effects, was able to climb the tower and recover the artifact from Abbas before it killed him.[18] To this, Abbas apologized for his mistake, and the Order united under Altaïr.[19]
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.[20] Altaïr also carried it with him during the 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 a mob that was falsely rallied against him.[21]
In 1217, Altaïr, his wife Maria Thorpe and eldest son Darim traveled to Mongolia to assassinate Genghis Khan and eliminate the Mongol threat. They returned to Masyaf ten years later, successful in their objective thanks to the help of the Mongolian Assassin Qulan Gal. However, in their absence, Abbas had killed Altaïr's youngest son Sef and framed Malik for the crime before imprisoning him. Later, Abbas ordered Malik's death as well in order to assume full control of the Levantine Assassins, prompting Altaïr and Maria to confront him when they learned the truth.[19]
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 it, and Abbas' henchman Swami came to retrieve the Apple. As Swami revealed himself as Sef's killer,[22] a furious Altaïr used the Apple to force the Assassin to start mutilating himself, but he was stopped by Maria.[19] 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.[22]
During his exile, Altaïr studied the Apple intensely, even managing to create a Hidden Gun through the knowledge he gained.[20] Additionally, the Apple led Altaïr to a small temple beneath Alamut, from which he retrieved six Memory Seals.[23] 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.[24]
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.[25] In August 1257, as Masyaf came under siege by the Mongols under the command of 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.[26]
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.[25]
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.[27] 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.[28]
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 Venetian-Ottoman bookseller named Sofia Sartor, Ezio was able to obtain the Seals, and together with Sofia, he made his way to Masyaf once again.[29]
Entering the library, Ezio found Altaïr's remains, as well as the sixth Memory Seal. 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 the means to access the Grand Temple.[30]
Elizabethan era
- "You may think this picture a riddle, an allegory, an artist's fancy. It is not. The object in the hand of the Faerie Queen is real. So is its power. And so are the goddesses."
- ―John Dee, describing the painting he gave to Elizabeth Jane Weston, 1603.[src]
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.[6] Using the Apple during her reign, her most trusted advisor John Dee was aware of Elizabeth possessing the artifact and its powers.[31]
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 the stepdaughter of his former colleague Edward Kelley, Elizabeth Jane Weston, after Elizabeth's death.[31]
Modern times
- "I'll send you the driver. We've trained him with PE2 in our labs, he shouldn't be any trouble."
- ―An unknown Templar in a letter, referring to William Greer.[src]
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.[6]
By 1963, the Templars possessed both Apple #1 and Apple #2, and used them for the Kennedy assassination. William Greer, the Secret Service agent assigned to drive Kennedy's limousine, was trained in the use of Apple #2, and was instructed to steal Apple #3 from Kennedy after he was killed.[6]
Later on, during the early 21st century, Abstergo Industries experimented with Apple #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. The loss of the Apple meant that the Templars had to delay their Eye Abstergo satellite launch until they could find a replacement, though they ultimately had to cancel the launch.[2]
Behind the scenes
A deleted Database entry in Assassin's Creed III for the Apples of Eden revealed that Templars working for Elizabeth sent out an envoy to Masyaf in the late 16th century to find and recover the Apple of Eden from Altaïr's library.
Unlike Ezio's Apple of Eden, Altaïr's health did not drain while he used the Apple.[26]
Gallery
-
Bayek hiding the Apple in a chest beneath the Library of Alexandria
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
nl:Appel uit het paradijs 2 ru:Второе Яблоко uk:Друге Яблуко fr:Pomme d'Éden n°2