Shrouds of Eden
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The Shroud of Eden, commonly known as the Shroud of Turin, is a linen cloth bearing an image of a man suffering a physical trauma relevant to crucifixion. The Shroud, more specifically PE66, is a Piece of Eden. Many historical and religious figures like Jason, Joseph, David, and Jesus have possessed it at a certain time. Its purpose still unknown although it was likely used to cure illness, wounds, and to resurrect the deceased. A characteristic of the shroud demonstrated in the story of the sick lady who touched Jesus' robe, whose health was then restored back to normal.
The Shroud is based on a real object known as the Shroud of Turin. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. Some say that the shroud is the very same cloth placed on the body of Jesus, with its image of the face being the Holy Face of Jesus. According to the Asassin's Creed games, the Shroud in Turin is a forgery of the real PoE 66, made by Assassins.
History of the Shroud
It's earliest appearance seems to have been the Golden Fleece of Greek myth. A legendary object of strange pwoers, it was recovered by Jason, from a tree guarded by a serpent, reminiscent of the story of the Temptation of Eve.
It was also the famous multicolored dream coat given to Joseph by his father Isaac, a story renowned in the Hebrew Bible.
Roughly around 1000 AD it was in the possession of David, second king of Israel. It's possible the artifact aided him in his fight against Goliath.
It was in possession of the Assassins of Ancient Rome for some time. After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC and the subsequent suicide of Brutus in 42 BC, his fellow Assassins tried to reanimate him using the Shroud, but it failed. It is perhaps most famous during it's possession by Jesus Christ. It is unknown when he obtained the Shroud, but it likely was the source of his many healing myths. Being responsible for Jesus' crucifixion under the guise of the Roman Empire, the Templars sought to possess The Shroud. Jesus' disciples however, were somehow able to recover it and used it to resurrect him. After this, traces of The Shroud disappeared.
Eventually it came into the possession of Geoffroi de Charney, a french knight of the mid 14th century. It was stolen from him by the Assassins of Monteriggioni (most likely by a close desendant of Domenico Auditore), who replaced it with a forgery. The location of The Shroud was discovered by the Templars, at some point, seeing as the siege of Monteriggioni in 1454 was to gain access to The Shroud. Mario Auditore successfully repelled the attack, and through a confession of Luziano Pezatti, Mario learned that the siege was to gain access to something under Monteriggioni. When Mario and a team of soldiers excavated the well, they found a hidden chamber filled with traps. As they crossed the chamber, they suffered many casualties, and a trap even scarred Mario's eye. Eventually, Mario discovered The Shroud, but was attacked by his men because they wanted The Shroud for its healing capabilities. Scared of The Shroud's power, Mario sent for his brother Giovanni to take it away. It is unknown what Giovanni Auditore did with The Shroud, but it eventually ended up in the hands of the Assassins in Agnadello.
Perotto Calderon traveled to Agnadello in order to save his deformed illegitimate son by using the Shroud. Perotto even killed and maimed several of his brotherhood to access it. The Shroud then somehow fell into the hands of Niccolò di Pitigliano, likely during or around the Battle of Agnadello, of which Pitigliano was a participant. In 1510, Assassin Francesco Vecellio was sent to kill Niccolò di Pitigliano and to retrieve the Shroud. Vecellio succeeded in striking a deadly blow; however, Pitigliano survived. Wounded and dying, Pitigliano retrieved the Shroud from its hiding place and wrapped himself in it in an attept to save himself. However, the artifact turned against him and destroyed his body, finishing the Assassin's job. Vecellio, who had anticipated this, reappeared and took the shroud from his dying grip.
PThe Shroud was bought from a villager in Milan who was part of a group known as the Baguttiani, by a Templar agent during World War II for a large sum of money on Christmas day.
Side effects
The use of the Shroud does not come without side effects. As demonstrated with both Francesco Vecellio and Perotto Calderon the shroud has several psychologically and physically damaging side effects with its use. Once in physical proximity the Shroud seems to "speak" to the user. When touched by Perotto Calderon it "told" him, through a voice in his head, that his son was "broken goods" and could not be healed. Francesco Vecellio experienced the same voice in his head as well as graphic hallucinations. Like other Pieces of Eden, though more discernible than most known Pieces, The Shroud has even more detrimental effects when the user attempts to fully control its power. When Niccolò di Pitigliano attempted to control the Shroud, his body was smashed from inside-out by the Shroud's power.
In one of the Christmas memories for Project Legacy, a group of assassins assess the Shroud and it's appearance. They have stated the image of a man imprinted on the cloth seems to have changed through out history to match the image of the last person to have been revived by it's power.
Status
Under Templar possession in 1944
Owners
- Those Who Came Before (? - ?)[1]
- Jason (? - ?)[1]
- Joseph (? - ?)[1]
- David (? - ?)[1]
- fellow conspirators of Brutus (? - ?)
- Jesus of Nazareth (? - 33 AD)[1][2]
- Jacques de Molay (? - ?)[2]
- Geoffroi de Charney (? - ?)[2]
- Mario Auditore (1454)[2]
- Giovanni Auditore (1454)[2]
- Rinaldo Vitturi (? - 1498)[2]
- Perotto Calderon (1498)
- Rinaldo Vitturi (? - 1498)
- Cesare Borgia (? - ?)[2]
- Niccolò di Pitigliano (1509 - 1510)[2]
- Francesco Vecellio (1510 - ?)[2]
- The Baguttiani (? - 1944)
Trivia
- Interestingly, in the French version of Assassin's Creed II, the Shroud was referred to as Piece of Eden #36, not #66. Whether this was a mistake in the translation or not remains to be seen.
- In Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy, one of Mnemonic sets from the Holiday pack is "Shroud of Turin" with the description "Greatest mystery, or clever hoax?". It's components are: Jesus of Nazareth, Jacques de Molay, Geoffroi de Charny and Cesare Borgia.
- Coordinates given to Ezio Auditore da Firenze and Leonardo da Vinci in the Pythagorian Temple in the downloadable memory sequence "The Da Vinci Disappearance" point to the city of Turin, New York, which so happens to have a supposed crater near it. The cities of Rome and Florence are also nearby.
Gallery
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Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
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The Shroud, covering Giovanni Borgia. -
The Shroud, covering Brutus.
References
