Bro looked into the primeval current or something to figure this out idk how people even see these things. I’m just a str build irl so these int TH-camrs are like gold to me lmao
Strengh builds make pvp content Dex builds make challenge runs and pve Int make lore vids and theories Faith make news and update videos Imagine the stuff an arcane build would drop
This is probably the best over-arching explanation of the ER's lore on the site honestly, like once you understand this it acts as a foundation for everything else in the game. I feel like Ratatoskr in particular would appreciate this video.
In Japan, the circle is considered the strongest shape. Because it has no weakness, the distance from the center to the outside is equal in all directions.
The Elden Ring being a weapon is such a bad ass theory. It makes me rethink the narration at the start of the game where the Tarnished is told to brandish the Elden Ring. Brandishing is very closely associated with weaponry, we brandish knives or swords, and it just makes one word in the narration that much more powerful and poignant. Like the sword of Damocles, hovering way above,, ready to be driven into and change entire world. Great video, this helped contextualize a number of concepts that are both physical and metaphysical in the Elden Ring universe.
Amazing video! Another way I think Elden Ring's world can connect to "the beyond" is by sound. Think of spirit calling bells, the walking mausoleums, bell bearings, the finger ruins' whistle/flute/horn thingy you blow into.
This is legitimately my favorite elden ring lore channel. The way you discuss and express your ideas is excellent and engaging. I wish I could have you as a college professor! Nevertheless, I can’t wait to watch more of your content!
I can't believe I never saw how common these shapes were in the game. I saw the spirals, but somehow I completely missed most ring and arc imagery. This series is incredible so far, I'm so excited to see where this goes
Such an amazing video. I love how oppressive the golden order's elden ring is when you break it down into parts. A crucified woman hangs above a set of overlapping separate groups (circles) (which all must overlay each other, like a complex venn diagram, unlike farum asula's circles which are allowed to not overlap). These seperate groups are impaled by an implement of torture (and imo it implements its torture through the combination of coming together and rejection, because the circles (and even midra) are forced to overlap the arcs), and are locked into fixity through the overlaying lattice.
This is one of the best holisitc Elden Ring lore videos I've seen. I've been watching Elden Ring lore videos (usually before bed) for a very long time, and I've never been so excited for a next video as I am now. It's stunning how looking deeply into one section of the game's lore can inform other sections of the game's lore. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and self awareness in this script. Lots of creators dive into tangible lore whilst ignoring themes, but you go into both, which creates both a learning and emotionally triumphant experience at the climax of the video.
I think you missed one important shape. The first time looked at the Elden Ring symbol I immediately thought "Where is the rest of it?" Don't be distracted by the little rings inside and think about what you said about arcs. The Elden Ring we see in game is a ring segment, not a full ring. Marika's rune is just an arc segment of a much bigger circle and the smaller runes/rings are just sub-segments. This actually lines up pretty well with game-play. Many players have noted how odd it feels that you can "rebuild the ring" without reclaiming all of the Elden runes, but this makes sense if what we think is the Ring is already a fragment of the true whole.
This is fantastic. Seriously well done! An experience I have had with most soulsborne youtube content is that a majority of it posits conclusions that I have already arrived at or dismissed. Its so rare to find something that provides a new angle i never considered. Especially one that has completely changed my perspective! Very excited for more!
The complete recontexualization of the Elden Ring as a practically living, breathing representation of a traumatized woman’s desperation to control a world that for so long stripped her of any agency is… not what I expected. It really makes the endings where you force her to continue existing in that state all the more depressing- even if this control is what she wanted, she is suffering an eternal agony for letting her good ambitions rot for the sake of control. It further reinforces that all Miquella would have done with his Age of Compassion is continue the cyclical (almost spiraling?) nature of godhood. You do fantastic work, and your thought process is incredible to follow. Well done!
You really came out of nowhere and dropped such a good analysis on us all. I’m putting you somewhere next to Charred Thermos and the Elden Ring color theory video on my list of good shit.
Not even finished with the video but I had to stop at the explanation of the shape of the Spiral in relation to the Golden Order Fundamentals motion. That shit legit blew my mind. WOW. You are doing in credible work here
There's a slight problem in the equivalency of the spiral with DNA as a process of change and evolution, when compared to the ring as a static order. Just as the spiral is similar to helical DNA, the ring is similar to bacterial plasmid DNA, which also evolves, potentially at a greater rate. The main difference between the two forms of DNA however is that plasmids can be transferred and incorporated into other organisms, similarly to how new runes in the form of rings can be added to the Elden Ring. Therefore I believe that the ring more represents a compromising nature, whereas the spiral is a "purer" uncompromising fundamental. In this way, the spiral and the ring are akin to chaos and order - the spiral creates the division of life, which the ring absorbs and compromises to create a logic for the world to follow - both evolving at the same time - the spiral evolving along the third axis, but the ring evolving about the other two.
Omg! Never been happier to see a new upload about elden ring lore. Your first one was profound and finally addressed questions that hadn't been asked. Looking forward to this so much. *just finished. Worth every second of viewing. That was a beautiful video.
Your theorizing is splendid. This game might be one of the world's greatest works of art - no kidding - and it's incredible how it can be analyzed through so many different lenses that end up with vastly different interpretations, but they ALL seem so right! Please trust that your content is amongst the best of the best, even if it hasn't been properly noticed yet. This video was spectacular and, for me, uncovered a whole new branch of perspective. How is it possible that there is still SO MUCH just waiting for the right person to see it and share?! I hope we'll see a lot more from you! If you're not already there - check out the EldenRingLoreTalk subreddit. It could be a good place to work out your ideas or drop smaller theory bits. Regardless, I'm looking forward to what's next. Thanks for the video!
that's fun, after watching your last video with a buddy we started talking about what the outer gods represent, and we settled on the greater will being causality and the frenzied flame being entropy
Also makes sense on Greater Will (Metyr) being causality. One of the Golden Order ideas is the Law of Causality. Miquella distances himself from fundamentalism and the concept of causality by using Radahn (gravity/push-pull/action consequence). I think this is why he chose Radahn as his consort.
Flame of Frenzy = Nihilism Blessing of Despair = Misanthropy Age of Stars = Individuation Age of Order restored = Transcendentalism Age of Duskborn = Materialism Age of Fracture = Humanism
Every sentence in this video is like a separate thought I’ve had once or twice in my dozens of playthroughs of this game but put together in such an incredibly eloquent way. Marvelous work sir. Godspeed.
In the old Elden Ring we can see that the "spine" of the ring is a Spiral. Representing progression. But in Golden Order's elden ring that is replaced by Radagon's Rune, representing regression.
Excellent interpretation! I loved your linking between the golden barbs and the shape of the Elden ring, ultimately tying it all back to the repetitive cycles of violence and suffering. This whole video makes me want to replay the game again with an eye for the forms and shapes used in the game. Even in that clip of Malenia’s transformation, her new wings form an arc that extends upwards from her body. Keep up the good work, I’m really looking forward to the next video!
20:28 I know its probably not correct but personally i always viewed the "arc" at the top of this symbol as part of an even larger ring that we dont get to see. I always thought the three rings in the center represented everything we know in the game, in the lands between, while the hidden larger circle represented everything outside that we dont know. I think i latched onto the idea because it gave me a sort of cosmic dread which made the entire Elden Ring universe more exciting
For the record, I don't think that's wrong, either. An arc is both a fragment of an implied greater whole and also a shape that has its own separate meaning.
I would love to hear your take on the Coloe Theory, it makes a lot of sense in the context of the game and I wonder how we can relate it to so many more things in the game
Amazing video really, I was blown away by the way you connected Marika's and Midra's story, and also how you twisted the meaning of the elden ring to signify Marika's suffering extending to the Lands Between. I also wanted to try to give some insight, if I remember correctly, the runes below Marika's arc are the great runes we take from the demigods. If Marika's rune is letting all her suffering run through all the elden ring, wouldn't this be a metaphor of the cycle of trauma and abuse through her children, who become victims of her mother (Morgot, Mohg, Mesmer) or end up on a path similar to hers (Ranni and Miquella)?
I like how you point out details that I think are obvious, and therefore subconsciously ignore, to then categorize and unify them into a theory. And derive something I never could without changing the approach. Great analysis! I wish my personal projects were at least a fraction as unified in vision as Miyazaki's FS works.
Seriously some of the best content for lore speculation. It's nice because it's not trying to fill in gaps with theories but instead trying to recontextualize everything we saw and what it actually means. Brilliant stuff. I especially like how all the spells in relation to the geometry helps paint a grander narrative. Is that perhaps why "Fire" is considered so dangerous? As it seeks to break down what ever it comes to contact with. An "Unrefined Shape" if you will. As in "Raw" material yet to be shaped. Whenever we do see "Fire" used I find it's most interesting point to be in "Smithing". Which in itself may have way more symbolic meaning because Smithing is a very lengthy process that requires the use of all elements. (Unfortunately Hewg just wacks away with his hammer but I hope it doesn't change how to view smithing) You need Metal, Fire, Hammer to break out impurities with "Folding", Water to make it harder, and the proper technique to manipulate such things to achieve desired results. I find it no mere coincidence that the only person Marika seemed to reserve and protect was Hewg. Even though he claims to fear her by all accounts it really seemed like she planned on freeing him. But since "Gold" is "Memory" as you said. Once Marika's will is achieved it leaves him. Completely unaware of what even happened. When we find Radogan what is he doing? Using a Smithing Hammer. Maybe Hewg even taught the Young Radogan in a previous time? It's interesting when we use Remembrances we take them to the Finger Reader and not Hewg. I'm not sure why that's explicitly how it's done but I find that distinction interesting. Since Weapons typically need to be Smithed. But here we seem to skip that entire process. In previous Souls games you had to use Smithing to get those Boss Weapons. I'm not sure if something got split purely do to gameplay but it'd make way more sense of we used Hewg for Remembrances.
I love how this series of videos, were the first time i saw someone engage directly with the most abstract aspects of the game, because i am fascinated by them!
Can you explain the new variation of the double helix shape introduced by Enir Ilim? It has the double helix wrapping around two people, as if to bind them together. Seems to be another expression of regression… also echoes the jarring rituals and themes of duality from the base game. Would love to hear you break this down for us.
I stumbled on your first video just an hour ago, and the fact that you uploaded this just before that is wild. Must be fate. Your interpretation of the game is so compelling, I'm enraptured.
So call me crazy for saying this but looking really intently at the Elden Ring logo it's sort of a Rorschach test if you want it to be. I notice two stand out images, one is that of the Deathrite Bird with the top and middle circles being the head, the oval-like shape in the middle (the overlap of all the circles) is the beak with the eyes on either side (also formed of overlaps in the rings), the bottom two circles on either side can insinuate its body. The other more risque but certainly in theme of Elden Ring is that it is another representation of Marika's offering of the Erdtree's ichor, in short what I described as the beak a moment ago could also be seen as her womb and the rest of the symbol fills out her lower half with the waist at the top and the cheeks on the bottom. Which ultimately is what the Greater Will wanted of Marika and by extension the Empyrians, each to birth their own age under the guidance and influence of the Greater Will and its vassal fingers.
Great video!! You say that runes are words and that nameless singer said they are memories, isn't our dna just letters in a spiral that can help us remember our ancestors meaning runes are both memories and the words to unlock the power of the past - the one great
This has probably already been said but a spiral with an arc on top is representative of Hermes (messenger of the gods) and his caduceus and usually represents knowledge emanating from “god”. This relates to a lot of things but specifically can relate to Metyr’s tail and the Cerulean Seed Talisman and how fingers are the messengers of the greater will.
Brilliant video! The painting and your comment at 28:17 made me realize her braid forms an incomplete spiral reaching up towards the arc/canopy of the erdtree, with Radagon's braid being needed to complete it. Marika's braid is depicted in the painting and on her statues as on the viewer's left side in front of her chest, while the braid on Radagon's statue is depicted on the viewer's right side, going behind his back. Together they form a complete helix.
This man comes and pubblishes my favourite lore explaination to date for elden ring's lore, mikedrops, bakes for 2 weeks and then comes back with another banger. He is right I can't unsee the traits of the ring now, he is a mad genious.😂
I’ve watched probably 600 million analysis videos on this game and this is the first one that’s made me excited enough to leave a comment. I think the way you thread in real world philosophy and symbolism is so smart and really reminds us as the viewer that this is a story at its core - something written by people who themselves are inspired by the same symbology and history we’re engaging with here. Love love love this video and can’t wait to see more!!!
follow up on this actually because I’m still thinking about how to phrase this - I think a lot of videos exist solely within the context of the lore laid out by the writers of the game (which is great for learning about the lands between In Universe) but I’ve really been longing for videos that deconstruct this game as a piece of art and a work of fiction and all the traditional tools that go into analyzing work like that - THEN applying it to the lore and worldbuilding set up on that framework. Anyways I’m rambling but wowie good video wowowowow
I am a sucker for the grand interconnected theory of all Fromsoftware titles in the souls series, so taking all of the deep dives into lore on the real truth of the firelinking curse and the nature of the sun and its relationship to the curse in Dark Souls also really puts into perspective some of the sacred geometry we see applied here. After all, the most sacred symbol in all of Souls is a ring, the Darksign. Also, in my opinion, I have always believed Runes are still exactly what they were in previous entries. Souls. However, like you I think all three interpretations can be unified just as you have been doing with much of the lore in this game. Runes as words, runes as memories, and runes as souls all neatly creates a pretty poetic, and tragic way to understand Elden Ring. I do believe Runes are memories to an extent, because the greatest of runes are called “remembrances.” A remembrance is in definition, at least one definition, a memory. These memories are “hewn into the erdtree upon death.” Which does make the Erdtree a tree of memories considering the fundamental cycle of Erdtree rebirth involves giving your inner light back to the Erdtree. The notion of light is where I find a relation to runes as words. The fingers are said to be able to weave words of light, the same kind Goldmask is able to interpret in his quest to understand the core of the golden order. The fingers truly were the best orators, because the ones atop the divine towers are literally capable of forming reality altering words of light, taking the form of sacred geometry. What’s the saying everyone heard growing up? Math is the language of the universe? The fingers speak in sacred geometry, and the depth of the communication in the shapes they can make is world altering. How does this relate to souls? Well, in the poetic sense I think it’s interesting to call a soul a “word of light.” But souls also have a massive relationship with memories. Since the beginning of the souls series, the idea of memory, purpose and meaning and how they are all fundamentally necessary to have “humanity” lest you go hollow has been present. You consume souls, vestiges of others lives and use their willpower and goals to push your lifeless, accursed body forward towards some sort of purpose. I think from a celestial sense, runes are words. But they are also physically made of light, and beyond that are spiritually the very essence of the soul, and house the memories of those who carried it. Divine words of light that are created by the fingers and emanated down into all individuals deemed worthy of grace. Words which in time are altered and empowered by the emotions, purpose and essence of the one who beholds this divine word of light within them. Some gather immense power, and accumulate more and more of this divine light within them as they become more driven to their purpose, for better or worse. Others do not for whatever reason, and their divine light withers away as they lose their sense of self and purpose. Perhaps this is why Miquella felt he had to divest himself of all of his physical form and much of his important emotions. How can his sacred light be truly unwavering and encompass all equally if he didn’t make of himself the most true of all vessels imaginable for the divine words of his order? Goldmasks rune corroborates Miquella’s fears. The gods are no better than mortals. They are imperfect by nature, born of a mistake. The roots mired with madness. To embody a perfect compassion, he must be a mirror to the compassion he wished upon his followers. And so he too removed himself of anything that would shift his perspective, he removed his free will. I’ve sufficiently babbled on enough. Hopefully YT doesn’t tweak on my novella length comments on ER lore and not post it. This was a very compelling interpretation of Elden Rings lore and one that I agree with. Excited to see what else to is to come!
Subscribed. You're so good at explaining complex themes in a way that is easy to understand. Bravo sir, bravo! Thing I just noticed: While Godwyn the Golden is being killed, he is forced by the Black Knives to form an arc shape with his arms. Then, the curse mark of death is carved into his spine, symbolizing the Black Knives cursing the Golden Order with death.
The logo we see in the main menu is the fractured Elden Ring being pulled together by Radagon's rune/symbol. I believe this and the main theme signify his creeping ascension to power. The whole climax of the game involves us defeating Radagon, preventing him from becoming the next God, no matter what our end goal is. People think Radagon and Marika were always the same being, but I think they only became one after their union (or even just shortly before Marika committed to shattering the Elden Ring). It makes sense when you consider Radagon's whole story involves him acquiring knowledge about Glintstone sorcery and astrology during his time with Rennala, Incantations with Marika, creating Fundamentalism, and the idea that there needs to be a God and a Lord. Radagon probably used his seal to fuse himself with Marika completely, and after Marika shattered the Elden Ring (Which everyone should know by now was her crown), he repaired it as best he could and placed it within his body to obtain its power. Radagon probably knew the history of the world and the outer gods after spending time with Rennala. Him obtaining "Intelligence" showed he abandoned the blind faith in the Greater Will and wanted a deeper understanding. I suspect he was actually loved by Marika because they may have shared similar ideologies and he used that to his advantage to attain greater power to perhaps usurp her.
Lovely video, some amazing points that made me rethink parts of the game. I do wish you had included a section specifically on the mending runes and their shapes, as they are attempts to “fix” the Elden ring, especially gold masks, which feels in direct response to the marikas impact on the ring’s construction as you pint out at the end. Great stuff, subscribed 👍
I considered it, and things I noted are that Goldmask's Rune is a ring that encompasses the entire Elden Ring, presumably to include Marika among those who are within the circle and therefore bound to its rule of law. The mending rune of death, meanwhile, forms a ring that encircles the base of the Elden Ring. It essentially adds one new group, Those Who Live in Death, to those who are within the grace of the order, but its placement at the base of the ring is particularly interesting.
Gestures also have a lot of symbolism: Erudition being first a bud then an arc, a divine flash of knownledge Rapture is a downward arc Golden order totality being a line (or more excatly a flat arc) because the order is unchanging but also stuck they aren't willing to give anything to heavens(upward arc) so the heavens(or greater will) doesn't give back(downward arc)
12:10 Love this about Miquellas Circlet of Light. I don't hear enough creators even acknowledge it but have always been intrigued by that crown and what it meant/would have meant for his Age ( does it replace the Elden Ring? Or is it the "Vessel" like Marika was for the Elden Ring? Was it something he brought with him or did he receive/make it on the other side of the Gate? ) So many questions about that little glowing headpiece.
i love this kind of lore dive, especially in a fantastical setting ; i will never be the kind of player From Soft makes games for but i'm definitely the kind of person they tell their stories for -
I think you’re absolutely right about runes as words or memories are just lenses of analyses. I don’t think there is one “true” interpretation of Elden Ring, but multiple that we can see using different lenses. Much in the same way we can examine real history or modern politics with different lenses like historical materialism, conflict theory, or symbolic interactionism. Overall, really great video and I hope you keep up the good work!
The spiral is likely related to that golden ratio everyone gets excited about "for some reason," as you said. The Fibonacci sequence can be found represented in finger proportions, pine cones, sunflower seed placement, tree branch growth, lily petal angle/arc ratios, nautilus shells, and facial proportions. And DNA, of course. Our galaxy, like many others, is also a spiral. Something to note about a ring in our own world. At the center of our galaxy, surrounding Sagittarius A*** the supermassive black hole, is what is called the circumnuclear ring. It is a three dimensional disc/torus of molecular gas and dust, and generates an immense amount of energy and light. It is in essence a ring of fire. Despite having the necessary components to form many new stars, births do not continue in the galactic center, due to tidal shear from the black hole and gravity's effect. Regular stars are also surrounded by circumstellar rings that change with the star's evolution. I equate these shapes to the great runes dropped by the shardbearers. In regards to the two fingers, I wonder if besides being affiliated with a golden ratio object as fingers, the fact that they are two "ones" put together is a reference to molecular hydrogen, the -kindling- fuel source for stellar fusion. Hydrogen has an atomic number of one. Your section about the Golden Order Greatsword is interesting, because I remember seeing Leda's sword in early SOTE teasers and wondering if she had intentions of murder/death because of the unique shape of her sword's hilt. And look at what she became! As you can see, my POV is aligned with the astrologers and sorcerers in that I think answers are in the stars, and your video had my wheels turning.
A spiral combines without contradiction : 1. Progress of moving forward, arrow-like movement 2. Infinity of the circle and the cycle repeating itself Each time the cycle repeat itself, it progresses. For example, you could interpret the universe of dark souls as a spiral : each time you progress (from das2 to das3), you find repetition, as well as differences, but the cycle of the fire repeats.
I'm only a minute in, but so excited. It is believed to be written over the gates to Plato's Academy "Let no one ignorant geometry enter these halls" I'm sorry for my ranting.... Nice, Great video. On the floor of the Divine Gateway you will find square, circle,and triangle combined into one figure. Square, I believe, is the local/familiar "body," circle is mind/organizing tradition principle "spirit," and triangle is God/universal ideal expressed through social traditional "soul." I listen to a gentleman talk about Jesus Christ, in the Gnostic traditions, as represented as a "spiral." So, Sophia would represent a type of "formless mother," who gives birth to endless life without form and Jesus is a type of "death" principal which allow for a limitation to the creative force of Sophia and allows for the creation or life in the material realm. Malenia has bloomed twice and I believe her 3rd bloom she become a true Goddess. So, there this theme or the number "3" with Miquella and Malenia. For Miquella 's ascension to Godhood, he combines the 3 lines of demigods into one, with Mohg, Radahn, and himself. Looking forward to your future work
Regarding the directionality of the arc, one can assign meaning to the asymmetry if one observes something moving within a medium where waves are generated. E.g. if you stick a finger in a body of water and move it, you'll see that the presence of the finger within a space it hasn't yet occupied is preceeded by a wavefront that takes the form of an arc suddenly appearing within that space. The roundness of the arc corresponds directly with how far away the source of the ripples is. By contrast, the space from which the finger moves away from will itself emit an arc. Thus it's experience will be of the inner face of the arc as it moves away. More generally, the arc can be seen as the sign of immanent arrival of whatever it is that is creating the circular ripples in reality. And likewise, it can be seen as an indication that whatever it is that causes these ripples has now departed.
Amazing video! This concept of shape language coincides really well with Hawkshaw's video on Elden Ring's color theory. It seems that the overall physical properties of an object, be it their color or their shape, has some sort of higher influence on its function within the world. I also really like how this coincides with the function of eyes and spirits within Elden Ring. This is just my personal theory, but I believe that the Rauh burrow item can give us a good hint on how spirits operate on a fundamental level. The Rauh burrow is a small oval-shaped stone with an engraving on it, with a small hole in the center. When combined with biological material that houses a spiritual energy, and a spirit to put within, that spirit can be contained. Fire sprites are boisterous and animated, so they have no problem letting go of their enclosure. Ordinary sprites, however, hold on tightly. When they pass away, this force bursts out in an explosion, like a star releasing a supernova. The appearance of the Rauh burrow is also notable. Like you said in your video, rings and spheres act to distinguish, in this case distinguishing a spirit from its environment. The oval shape of the stone is also important. Even though it appears as a flattened sphere, this more so invokes the image of a thickened ring. The engravings on the Rauh burrows are curved and swirling, much like the script on the coded sword item. It's almost as if but a single small rune is written on the burrow, acting to contain the spiritual energy. When Messmer breaks the eye made of grace that Marika granted him, the Abyssal Serpent can be seen within his eye socket. He transforms into the Base Serpent Messmer, the spirit of the serpent being released within his being. The ring that distinguishes is broken, and he becomes one with the Abyssal Serpent. Much like how a spritestone contains a sprite, this eye made of grace contained a soul. However, I think that this is not just true of the spritestones and Abyssal Serpent, but this is true of all spirits. Indeed, the research and recreations of the spritestones by the Hornsent led them on the path of creating a 'spritestone' that houses as much spiritual energy as possible. However, since spirits are housed within the biological parts of a being, they needed to engineer a biological being for this purpose, and I'm sure we all know where that led. My point, however, is that there's a fundamental rule that can be learned from these spritestones. The spirit is held in place, or constrained, within a ring of runes. In the biology of the inhabitants of Elden Ring, this ring of runes takes the form of an iris. Indeed, the evidence given in the game supports this. The Beast Eye item states that it writhes as if it's alive, perhaps animated by the spirit fragment of Maliketh that it contains. Sellen's Primal Glintstone is in the shape of a spritestone, and is also where Sellen's soul is contained. On the topic of glintstone, Lusat's glintstone crown, the object that replaced his brain and skull, took the form of an eye. When one gathers runes, they're almost part of the soul, so it would make sense if they ordered themselves as close to it as possible. That's the meat of the theory. There's some more evidence within the game that lines up with this, but is much less clear-cut. For example, there's something to be said about the Christian themes around this concept. In Christian belief, man is made up of three aspects: the body, the soul, and the spirit. This coincides nicely with the function of eyes, since they also illustrate a similar trinity. A spritestone requires three parts: the biological material, the Rauh burrow, and also the sprite itself. These might symbolize the body, the soul, and the spirit. Runes left on their own aren't enough to keep a spirit within, a biological medium is required for that. Beings influenced by the Frenzied Flame have their eyes burning with the yellow flame. They want the world to end, and to burn up all that divides and distinguishes. That starts with doing that to themselves, and to their soul. This might be why the Frenzied Flame burns away spirits that are supposed to be eternal. Additionally, this might also explain how the presence of eyes determine the influence of Outer Gods. Characters like Malenia, Mogh, Ranni, or Hyetta have missing eyes, and this seems to bring them closer to their patron Gods. This makes sense, if we consider that the eye distinguishes the soul from what's around it. If this distinguishing factor is lessened, then outside forces can enact a greater influence on them, in this case the Outer Gods. This would be similar to what happened to Messmer, but instead of being influenced from within, they're influenced from the outside.
Glad I read this comment through, you've got some good points. I also thought that the Rauh Burrows might be significant as soon as I saw them, and noticed that there also gravestones in the Realm of Shadow that have a similar shaped hole in them, almost as if they're meant to contain a spirit for eternal rest. Anyway, I'll digest this one.
14:06 if the spell alludes the spiral as a normalized form of the Crucible current, then the Crucible itself when observed naturally must be illegible or indistinct like some cosmic/primordial static or noise. Since you made the connection of the helix in Elden Ring as a cognate to DNA &/or evolution, then in that sense the Crucible like DNA is also massively aggregated, clumped and illegible when observed in its natural state, and the famous helix shape is its isolated, more commonly recognizeable or 'normalized' form.
@40:02 A small arc on top, followed by the divine, but instead or rings, its replaced by Marika and his hair creating branches, followed by a greater arc made by Consort Radahan, the returned great general of war. I'm replaying this game in a magic only build, and i swear ima see the elden ring in everything.
Ironically, Goldmask is entirely on the wrong track with the Elden Ring. The problem isn't within the Golden Order, it is the Golden Order in its entirety.
Yessssssss can't wait to dig into this properly (I will edit in my thoughts with replies because I think about this shit alot and I'm already seeing one thing I want to say)
Bro looked into the primeval current or something to figure this out idk how people even see these things. I’m just a str build irl so these int TH-camrs are like gold to me lmao
While we were studying the blade they were studying the primordial beginnings of mankind.
Strengh builds make pvp content
Dex builds make challenge runs and pve
Int make lore vids and theories
Faith make news and update videos
Imagine the stuff an arcane build would drop
Sacred geometry is in itself a very interesting topic. Pythágoras, for example, considered every geometrical form as sacred, as a religion of sorts.
This is probably the best over-arching explanation of the ER's lore on the site honestly, like once you understand this it acts as a foundation for everything else in the game. I feel like Ratatoskr in particular would appreciate this video.
Rataskor and Crunchy need to watch this!
The words for the "inside" and "outside" of an arc that you are looking for are "concave" and "convex", respectively
In Japan, the circle is considered the strongest shape. Because it has no weakness, the distance from the center to the outside is equal in all directions.
The Elden Ring being a weapon is such a bad ass theory. It makes me rethink the narration at the start of the game where the Tarnished is told to brandish the Elden Ring. Brandishing is very closely associated with weaponry, we brandish knives or swords, and it just makes one word in the narration that much more powerful and poignant.
Like the sword of Damocles, hovering way above,, ready to be driven into and change entire world.
Great video, this helped contextualize a number of concepts that are both physical and metaphysical in the Elden Ring universe.
Amazing video! Another way I think Elden Ring's world can connect to "the beyond" is by sound. Think of spirit calling bells, the walking mausoleums, bell bearings, the finger ruins' whistle/flute/horn thingy you blow into.
I've been thinking about this connection, too. It may get a mention in the next episode in fact.
This is legitimately my favorite elden ring lore channel. The way you discuss and express your ideas is excellent and engaging. I wish I could have you as a college professor! Nevertheless, I can’t wait to watch more of your content!
Dudes see the Elden Ring lore video and go “hell yeah”, hell yeah
Hell yeah
Hell yeah
Hell yeah
hell yeah
hell yeah
I can't believe I never saw how common these shapes were in the game. I saw the spirals, but somehow I completely missed most ring and arc imagery. This series is incredible so far, I'm so excited to see where this goes
oh we're SO BACK
Such an amazing video. I love how oppressive the golden order's elden ring is when you break it down into parts.
A crucified woman hangs above a set of overlapping separate groups (circles) (which all must overlay each other, like a complex venn diagram, unlike farum asula's circles which are allowed to not overlap). These seperate groups are impaled by an implement of torture (and imo it implements its torture through the combination of coming together and rejection, because the circles (and even midra) are forced to overlap the arcs), and are locked into fixity through the overlaying lattice.
This is one of the best holisitc Elden Ring lore videos I've seen. I've been watching Elden Ring lore videos (usually before bed) for a very long time, and I've never been so excited for a next video as I am now. It's stunning how looking deeply into one section of the game's lore can inform other sections of the game's lore. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and self awareness in this script. Lots of creators dive into tangible lore whilst ignoring themes, but you go into both, which creates both a learning and emotionally triumphant experience at the climax of the video.
The final sentence before Postlude sent genuine chills down my spine, excellent work
I think you missed one important shape. The first time looked at the Elden Ring symbol I immediately thought "Where is the rest of it?"
Don't be distracted by the little rings inside and think about what you said about arcs. The Elden Ring we see in game is a ring segment, not a full ring. Marika's rune is just an arc segment of a much bigger circle and the smaller runes/rings are just sub-segments.
This actually lines up pretty well with game-play. Many players have noted how odd it feels that you can "rebuild the ring" without reclaiming all of the Elden runes, but this makes sense if what we think is the Ring is already a fragment of the true whole.
This is fantastic. Seriously well done! An experience I have had with most soulsborne youtube content is that a majority of it posits conclusions that I have already arrived at or dismissed. Its so rare to find something that provides a new angle i never considered. Especially one that has completely changed my perspective! Very excited for more!
The complete recontexualization of the Elden Ring as a practically living, breathing representation of a traumatized woman’s desperation to control a world that for so long stripped her of any agency is… not what I expected. It really makes the endings where you force her to continue existing in that state all the more depressing- even if this control is what she wanted, she is suffering an eternal agony for letting her good ambitions rot for the sake of control. It further reinforces that all Miquella would have done with his Age of Compassion is continue the cyclical (almost spiraling?) nature of godhood. You do fantastic work, and your thought process is incredible to follow. Well done!
You really came out of nowhere and dropped such a good analysis on us all. I’m putting you somewhere next to Charred Thermos and the Elden Ring color theory video on my list of good shit.
Not even finished with the video but I had to stop at the explanation of the shape of the Spiral in relation to the Golden Order Fundamentals motion. That shit legit blew my mind. WOW. You are doing in credible work here
Woah, glad the algorithm delivered this to me! Love to see promising new TH-camrs doing Elden Ring lore content. Can’t wait to see more from you!
There's a slight problem in the equivalency of the spiral with DNA as a process of change and evolution, when compared to the ring as a static order.
Just as the spiral is similar to helical DNA, the ring is similar to bacterial plasmid DNA, which also evolves, potentially at a greater rate. The main difference between the two forms of DNA however is that plasmids can be transferred and incorporated into other organisms, similarly to how new runes in the form of rings can be added to the Elden Ring. Therefore I believe that the ring more represents a compromising nature, whereas the spiral is a "purer" uncompromising fundamental.
In this way, the spiral and the ring are akin to chaos and order - the spiral creates the division of life, which the ring absorbs and compromises to create a logic for the world to follow - both evolving at the same time - the spiral evolving along the third axis, but the ring evolving about the other two.
This is unbelievable. The attention to detail in these games is just breathtaking. Thank you for this video.
This might just be what pushes me to do a second play through, with the new perspective provided by your great videos
Omg! Never been happier to see a new upload about elden ring lore. Your first one was profound and finally addressed questions that hadn't been asked.
Looking forward to this so much.
*just finished. Worth every second of viewing. That was a beautiful video.
Your theorizing is splendid. This game might be one of the world's greatest works of art - no kidding - and it's incredible how it can be analyzed through so many different lenses that end up with vastly different interpretations, but they ALL seem so right!
Please trust that your content is amongst the best of the best, even if it hasn't been properly noticed yet. This video was spectacular and, for me, uncovered a whole new branch of perspective. How is it possible that there is still SO MUCH just waiting for the right person to see it and share?!
I hope we'll see a lot more from you! If you're not already there - check out the EldenRingLoreTalk subreddit. It could be a good place to work out your ideas or drop smaller theory bits. Regardless, I'm looking forward to what's next. Thanks for the video!
Leaving a comment for the algorithm. Fantastic video, looking forward to the next one!
What a thoughtful video, i will have to rewatch it multiple times to fully digest all the information. Thank you for sharing this with us
God damn dude what a banger video. The Lands Between are endlessly fascinating. Whichever direction you look there’s an ocean of deeper meaning
that's fun, after watching your last video with a buddy we started talking about what the outer gods represent, and we settled on the greater will being causality and the frenzied flame being entropy
Also makes sense on Greater Will (Metyr) being causality. One of the Golden Order ideas is the Law of Causality.
Miquella distances himself from fundamentalism and the concept of causality by using Radahn (gravity/push-pull/action consequence). I think this is why he chose Radahn as his consort.
Flame of Frenzy = Nihilism
Blessing of Despair = Misanthropy
Age of Stars = Individuation
Age of Order restored = Transcendentalism
Age of Duskborn = Materialism
Age of Fracture = Humanism
Best explanation of what Elden Ring shape represents I've heard. Awesome video. Keep 'em coming!
Every sentence in this video is like a separate thought I’ve had once or twice in my dozens of playthroughs of this game but put together in such an incredibly eloquent way. Marvelous work sir. Godspeed.
One of my new favorite channels, keep it up my guy
In the old Elden Ring we can see that the "spine" of the ring is a Spiral. Representing progression. But in Golden Order's elden ring that is replaced by Radagon's Rune, representing regression.
Maybe more like stagnation? Regression would still be movement after all
Excellent interpretation! I loved your linking between the golden barbs and the shape of the Elden ring, ultimately tying it all back to the repetitive cycles of violence and suffering. This whole video makes me want to replay the game again with an eye for the forms and shapes used in the game. Even in that clip of Malenia’s transformation, her new wings form an arc that extends upwards from her body. Keep up the good work, I’m really looking forward to the next video!
All I needed to read was ‘sacred geometry’ I’m so in
We eat good this Christmas, keep up the 'lords' work!
20:28 I know its probably not correct but personally i always viewed the "arc" at the top of this symbol as part of an even larger ring that we dont get to see. I always thought the three rings in the center represented everything we know in the game, in the lands between, while the hidden larger circle represented everything outside that we dont know. I think i latched onto the idea because it gave me a sort of cosmic dread which made the entire Elden Ring universe more exciting
For the record, I don't think that's wrong, either. An arc is both a fragment of an implied greater whole and also a shape that has its own separate meaning.
I would love to hear your take on the Coloe Theory, it makes a lot of sense in the context of the game and I wonder how we can relate it to so many more things in the game
So the algorithm just blessed me with one amazing lore vid here. Changed how i look at the game, so... subbed
Amazing video really, I was blown away by the way you connected Marika's and Midra's story, and also how you twisted the meaning of the elden ring to signify Marika's suffering extending to the Lands Between.
I also wanted to try to give some insight, if I remember correctly, the runes below Marika's arc are the great runes we take from the demigods. If Marika's rune is letting all her suffering run through all the elden ring, wouldn't this be a metaphor of the cycle of trauma and abuse through her children, who become victims of her mother (Morgot, Mohg, Mesmer) or end up on a path similar to hers (Ranni and Miquella)?
Thanks, and yes, I do think there's a generational cycle theme being represented here, too.
I like how you point out details that I think are obvious, and therefore subconsciously ignore, to then categorize and unify them into a theory. And derive something I never could without changing the approach. Great analysis!
I wish my personal projects were at least a fraction as unified in vision as Miyazaki's FS works.
Seriously some of the best content for lore speculation. It's nice because it's not trying to fill in gaps with theories but instead trying to recontextualize everything we saw and what it actually means. Brilliant stuff. I especially like how all the spells in relation to the geometry helps paint a grander narrative. Is that perhaps why "Fire" is considered so dangerous? As it seeks to break down what ever it comes to contact with. An "Unrefined Shape" if you will. As in "Raw" material yet to be shaped. Whenever we do see "Fire" used I find it's most interesting point to be in "Smithing". Which in itself may have way more symbolic meaning because Smithing is a very lengthy process that requires the use of all elements. (Unfortunately Hewg just wacks away with his hammer but I hope it doesn't change how to view smithing) You need Metal, Fire, Hammer to break out impurities with "Folding", Water to make it harder, and the proper technique to manipulate such things to achieve desired results. I find it no mere coincidence that the only person Marika seemed to reserve and protect was Hewg. Even though he claims to fear her by all accounts it really seemed like she planned on freeing him. But since "Gold" is "Memory" as you said. Once Marika's will is achieved it leaves him. Completely unaware of what even happened.
When we find Radogan what is he doing? Using a Smithing Hammer. Maybe Hewg even taught the Young Radogan in a previous time?
It's interesting when we use Remembrances we take them to the Finger Reader and not Hewg. I'm not sure why that's explicitly how it's done but I find that distinction interesting. Since Weapons typically need to be Smithed. But here we seem to skip that entire process. In previous Souls games you had to use Smithing to get those Boss Weapons. I'm not sure if something got split purely do to gameplay but it'd make way more sense of we used Hewg for Remembrances.
I love how this series of videos, were the first time i saw someone engage directly with the most abstract aspects of the game, because i am fascinated by them!
Can you explain the new variation of the double helix shape introduced by Enir Ilim? It has the double helix wrapping around two people, as if to bind them together. Seems to be another expression of regression… also echoes the jarring rituals and themes of duality from the base game. Would love to hear you break this down for us.
The elden ring taking on a whole new meaning. Awesome video 📹
Blessed am I to have subscribed one day and recieved a new upload the next
Inner, inside = Yin
Outer, outside = Yang
This is so cool!!! Thank you kindly sir 🌞
I stumbled on your first video just an hour ago, and the fact that you uploaded this just before that is wild. Must be fate. Your interpretation of the game is so compelling, I'm enraptured.
Unbelievably good video once again, I'm very excited to watch this channel grow!
So call me crazy for saying this but looking really intently at the Elden Ring logo it's sort of a Rorschach test if you want it to be. I notice two stand out images, one is that of the Deathrite Bird with the top and middle circles being the head, the oval-like shape in the middle (the overlap of all the circles) is the beak with the eyes on either side (also formed of overlaps in the rings), the bottom two circles on either side can insinuate its body. The other more risque but certainly in theme of Elden Ring is that it is another representation of Marika's offering of the Erdtree's ichor, in short what I described as the beak a moment ago could also be seen as her womb and the rest of the symbol fills out her lower half with the waist at the top and the cheeks on the bottom. Which ultimately is what the Greater Will wanted of Marika and by extension the Empyrians, each to birth their own age under the guidance and influence of the Greater Will and its vassal fingers.
Great video!! You say that runes are words and that nameless singer said they are memories, isn't our dna just letters in a spiral that can help us remember our ancestors meaning runes are both memories and the words to unlock the power of the past - the one great
This has probably already been said but a spiral with an arc on top is representative of Hermes (messenger of the gods) and his caduceus and usually represents knowledge emanating from “god”. This relates to a lot of things but specifically can relate to Metyr’s tail and the Cerulean Seed Talisman and how fingers are the messengers of the greater will.
Brilliant video! The painting and your comment at 28:17 made me realize her braid forms an incomplete spiral reaching up towards the arc/canopy of the erdtree, with Radagon's braid being needed to complete it. Marika's braid is depicted in the painting and on her statues as on the viewer's left side in front of her chest, while the braid on Radagon's statue is depicted on the viewer's right side, going behind his back. Together they form a complete helix.
This man comes and pubblishes my favourite lore explaination to date for elden ring's lore, mikedrops, bakes for 2 weeks and then comes back with another banger. He is right I can't unsee the traits of the ring now, he is a mad genious.😂
I’ve watched probably 600 million analysis videos on this game and this is the first one that’s made me excited enough to leave a comment. I think the way you thread in real world philosophy and symbolism is so smart and really reminds us as the viewer that this is a story at its core - something written by people who themselves are inspired by the same symbology and history we’re engaging with here. Love love love this video and can’t wait to see more!!!
follow up on this actually because I’m still thinking about how to phrase this - I think a lot of videos exist solely within the context of the lore laid out by the writers of the game (which is great for learning about the lands between In Universe) but I’ve really been longing for videos that deconstruct this game as a piece of art and a work of fiction and all the traditional tools that go into analyzing work like that - THEN applying it to the lore and worldbuilding set up on that framework. Anyways I’m rambling but wowie good video wowowowow
No worries about rambling - enthusiasm like this helps remind me that I'm not alone in my excitement about philosophy and symbology.
I am a sucker for the grand interconnected theory of all Fromsoftware titles in the souls series, so taking all of the deep dives into lore on the real truth of the firelinking curse and the nature of the sun and its relationship to the curse in Dark Souls also really puts into perspective some of the sacred geometry we see applied here. After all, the most sacred symbol in all of Souls is a ring, the Darksign.
Also, in my opinion, I have always believed Runes are still exactly what they were in previous entries. Souls. However, like you I think all three interpretations can be unified just as you have been doing with much of the lore in this game. Runes as words, runes as memories, and runes as souls all neatly creates a pretty poetic, and tragic way to understand Elden Ring. I do believe Runes are memories to an extent, because the greatest of runes are called “remembrances.” A remembrance is in definition, at least one definition, a memory. These memories are “hewn into the erdtree upon death.” Which does make the Erdtree a tree of memories considering the fundamental cycle of Erdtree rebirth involves giving your inner light back to the Erdtree.
The notion of light is where I find a relation to runes as words. The fingers are said to be able to weave words of light, the same kind Goldmask is able to interpret in his quest to understand the core of the golden order. The fingers truly were the best orators, because the ones atop the divine towers are literally capable of forming reality altering words of light, taking the form of sacred geometry. What’s the saying everyone heard growing up? Math is the language of the universe? The fingers speak in sacred geometry, and the depth of the communication in the shapes they can make is world altering.
How does this relate to souls? Well, in the poetic sense I think it’s interesting to call a soul a “word of light.” But souls also have a massive relationship with memories. Since the beginning of the souls series, the idea of memory, purpose and meaning and how they are all fundamentally necessary to have “humanity” lest you go hollow has been present. You consume souls, vestiges of others lives and use their willpower and goals to push your lifeless, accursed body forward towards some sort of purpose.
I think from a celestial sense, runes are words. But they are also physically made of light, and beyond that are spiritually the very essence of the soul, and house the memories of those who carried it. Divine words of light that are created by the fingers and emanated down into all individuals deemed worthy of grace. Words which in time are altered and empowered by the emotions, purpose and essence of the one who beholds this divine word of light within them. Some gather immense power, and accumulate more and more of this divine light within them as they become more driven to their purpose, for better or worse. Others do not for whatever reason, and their divine light withers away as they lose their sense of self and purpose.
Perhaps this is why Miquella felt he had to divest himself of all of his physical form and much of his important emotions. How can his sacred light be truly unwavering and encompass all equally if he didn’t make of himself the most true of all vessels imaginable for the divine words of his order? Goldmasks rune corroborates Miquella’s fears. The gods are no better than mortals. They are imperfect by nature, born of a mistake. The roots mired with madness. To embody a perfect compassion, he must be a mirror to the compassion he wished upon his followers. And so he too removed himself of anything that would shift his perspective, he removed his free will.
I’ve sufficiently babbled on enough. Hopefully YT doesn’t tweak on my novella length comments on ER lore and not post it. This was a very compelling interpretation of Elden Rings lore and one that I agree with. Excited to see what else to is to come!
Man i was kinda thinking similar things and thought i was stretching but you really laid it out
Subscribed.
You're so good at explaining complex themes in a way that is easy to understand. Bravo sir, bravo!
Thing I just noticed: While Godwyn the Golden is being killed, he is forced by the Black Knives to form an arc shape with his arms. Then, the curse mark of death is carved into his spine, symbolizing the Black Knives cursing the Golden Order with death.
Well done excited you are expanding on this theory
The logo we see in the main menu is the fractured Elden Ring being pulled together by Radagon's rune/symbol. I believe this and the main theme signify his creeping ascension to power. The whole climax of the game involves us defeating Radagon, preventing him from becoming the next God, no matter what our end goal is. People think Radagon and Marika were always the same being, but I think they only became one after their union (or even just shortly before Marika committed to shattering the Elden Ring). It makes sense when you consider Radagon's whole story involves him acquiring knowledge about Glintstone sorcery and astrology during his time with Rennala, Incantations with Marika, creating Fundamentalism, and the idea that there needs to be a God and a Lord. Radagon probably used his seal to fuse himself with Marika completely, and after Marika shattered the Elden Ring (Which everyone should know by now was her crown), he repaired it as best he could and placed it within his body to obtain its power.
Radagon probably knew the history of the world and the outer gods after spending time with Rennala. Him obtaining "Intelligence" showed he abandoned the blind faith in the Greater Will and wanted a deeper understanding. I suspect he was actually loved by Marika because they may have shared similar ideologies and he used that to his advantage to attain greater power to perhaps usurp her.
That diagram at 8:52. Is that why the earliest PS1 games used Circle for "Accept" and "Interact" and X for "Cancel"?
Yes! I've heard that Sony altered it for the benefit of the international audience and that a lot of Japanese gamers were annoyed by the change.
Another banger, king.
With this video, I can finally debate Goldmask. Thank you, SilentEllipsis, time has cometh to disturb the frail Fundamentalists.
Dude you are already one of thr best elden ring historians on this platform, keep it up and soon fromsoft will call you to explain their shit to them
actually blown away this is incredibly well-thought out
Lovely video, some amazing points that made me rethink parts of the game.
I do wish you had included a section specifically on the mending runes and their shapes, as they are attempts to “fix” the Elden ring, especially gold masks, which feels in direct response to the marikas impact on the ring’s construction as you pint out at the end.
Great stuff, subscribed 👍
I considered it, and things I noted are that Goldmask's Rune is a ring that encompasses the entire Elden Ring, presumably to include Marika among those who are within the circle and therefore bound to its rule of law. The mending rune of death, meanwhile, forms a ring that encircles the base of the Elden Ring. It essentially adds one new group, Those Who Live in Death, to those who are within the grace of the order, but its placement at the base of the ring is particularly interesting.
Golden order? Spiral? Life? Reoccurring patterns from disparate sources?
Elden Rings own Golden Ratio huehuehue
so early im still in the cave of knowledge
Gestures also have a lot of symbolism:
Erudition being first a bud then an arc, a divine flash of knownledge
Rapture is a downward arc
Golden order totality being a line (or more excatly a flat arc) because the order is unchanging but also stuck they aren't willing to give anything to heavens(upward arc) so the heavens(or greater will) doesn't give back(downward arc)
12:10
Love this about Miquellas Circlet of Light.
I don't hear enough creators even acknowledge it but have always been intrigued by that crown and what it meant/would have meant for his Age ( does it replace the Elden Ring? Or is it the "Vessel" like Marika was for the Elden Ring? Was it something he brought with him or did he receive/make it on the other side of the Gate? )
So many questions about that little glowing headpiece.
incredible job. Beautifully observed and composed. This is one of the best theory videos I've ever seen
Ohh yeah been waiting for you
My jaw is dropped. Love the style of storytelling, excited for more!
bravo 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 I think this video is brilliant and might go down in history as one of ER’s greatest lore videos
incredible work just like last time omgggggg
I’m so hooked on your videos that you’re now contractually obligated to finish what you started.
Oh, so you want to form a pact before knowing the terms? Fine with me. :)
Oh my fucking god this is literally GENIUS.
i love this kind of lore dive, especially in a fantastical setting ; i will never be the kind of player From Soft makes games for but i'm definitely the kind of person they tell their stories for -
I think you’re absolutely right about runes as words or memories are just lenses of analyses. I don’t think there is one “true” interpretation of Elden Ring, but multiple that we can see using different lenses. Much in the same way we can examine real history or modern politics with different lenses like historical materialism, conflict theory, or symbolic interactionism. Overall, really great video and I hope you keep up the good work!
welcome back to part 2
Makin me want to play Soul Reaver 2 again
The spiral is likely related to that golden ratio everyone gets excited about "for some reason," as you said. The Fibonacci sequence can be found represented in finger proportions, pine cones, sunflower seed placement, tree branch growth, lily petal angle/arc ratios, nautilus shells, and facial proportions. And DNA, of course. Our galaxy, like many others, is also a spiral.
Something to note about a ring in our own world. At the center of our galaxy, surrounding Sagittarius A*** the supermassive black hole, is what is called the circumnuclear ring. It is a three dimensional disc/torus of molecular gas and dust, and generates an immense amount of energy and light. It is in essence a ring of fire. Despite having the necessary components to form many new stars, births do not continue in the galactic center, due to tidal shear from the black hole and gravity's effect.
Regular stars are also surrounded by circumstellar rings that change with the star's evolution. I equate these shapes to the great runes dropped by the shardbearers.
In regards to the two fingers, I wonder if besides being affiliated with a golden ratio object as fingers, the fact that they are two "ones" put together is a reference to molecular hydrogen, the -kindling- fuel source for stellar fusion. Hydrogen has an atomic number of one.
Your section about the Golden Order Greatsword is interesting, because I remember seeing Leda's sword in early SOTE teasers and wondering if she had intentions of murder/death because of the unique shape of her sword's hilt. And look at what she became!
As you can see, my POV is aligned with the astrologers and sorcerers in that I think answers are in the stars, and your video had my wheels turning.
Im so glad we're getting more of this, WOOHOO!!!!
I also see a connection between radagons crossing pattern in the elden ring and the old elden ring that didn't have it. Idk how to describe it tho.
A spiral combines without contradiction :
1. Progress of moving forward, arrow-like movement
2. Infinity of the circle and the cycle repeating itself
Each time the cycle repeat itself, it progresses.
For example, you could interpret the universe of dark souls as a spiral : each time you progress (from das2 to das3), you find repetition, as well as differences, but the cycle of the fire repeats.
I'm only a minute in, but so excited. It is believed to be written over the gates to Plato's Academy "Let no one ignorant geometry enter these halls"
I'm sorry for my ranting....
Nice, Great video. On the floor of the Divine Gateway you will find square, circle,and triangle combined into one figure. Square, I believe, is the local/familiar "body," circle is mind/organizing tradition principle "spirit," and triangle is God/universal ideal expressed through social traditional "soul."
I listen to a gentleman talk about Jesus Christ, in the Gnostic traditions, as represented as a "spiral." So, Sophia would represent a type of "formless mother," who gives birth to endless life without form and Jesus is a type of "death" principal which allow for a limitation to the creative force of Sophia and allows for the creation or life in the material realm.
Malenia has bloomed twice and I believe her 3rd bloom she become a true Goddess. So, there this theme or the number "3" with Miquella and Malenia. For Miquella 's ascension to Godhood, he combines the 3 lines of demigods into one, with Mohg, Radahn, and himself.
Looking forward to your future work
Bro might be my new favorite elden ring youtuber
Regarding the directionality of the arc, one can assign meaning to the asymmetry if one observes something moving within a medium where waves are generated.
E.g. if you stick a finger in a body of water and move it, you'll see that the presence of the finger within a space it hasn't yet occupied is preceeded by a wavefront that takes the form of an arc suddenly appearing within that space. The roundness of the arc corresponds directly with how far away the source of the ripples is.
By contrast, the space from which the finger moves away from will itself emit an arc. Thus it's experience will be of the inner face of the arc as it moves away.
More generally, the arc can be seen as the sign of immanent arrival of whatever it is that is creating the circular ripples in reality. And likewise, it can be seen as an indication that whatever it is that causes these ripples has now departed.
Amazing video! This concept of shape language coincides really well with Hawkshaw's video on Elden Ring's color theory. It seems that the overall physical properties of an object, be it their color or their shape, has some sort of higher influence on its function within the world.
I also really like how this coincides with the function of eyes and spirits within Elden Ring. This is just my personal theory, but I believe that the Rauh burrow item can give us a good hint on how spirits operate on a fundamental level.
The Rauh burrow is a small oval-shaped stone with an engraving on it, with a small hole in the center. When combined with biological material that houses a spiritual energy, and a spirit to put within, that spirit can be contained. Fire sprites are boisterous and animated, so they have no problem letting go of their enclosure. Ordinary sprites, however, hold on tightly. When they pass away, this force bursts out in an explosion, like a star releasing a supernova.
The appearance of the Rauh burrow is also notable. Like you said in your video, rings and spheres act to distinguish, in this case distinguishing a spirit from its environment. The oval shape of the stone is also important. Even though it appears as a flattened sphere, this more so invokes the image of a thickened ring.
The engravings on the Rauh burrows are curved and swirling, much like the script on the coded sword item. It's almost as if but a single small rune is written on the burrow, acting to contain the spiritual energy.
When Messmer breaks the eye made of grace that Marika granted him, the Abyssal Serpent can be seen within his eye socket. He transforms into the Base Serpent Messmer, the spirit of the serpent being released within his being. The ring that distinguishes is broken, and he becomes one with the Abyssal Serpent. Much like how a spritestone contains a sprite, this eye made of grace contained a soul. However, I think that this is not just true of the spritestones and Abyssal Serpent, but this is true of all spirits.
Indeed, the research and recreations of the spritestones by the Hornsent led them on the path of creating a 'spritestone' that houses as much spiritual energy as possible. However, since spirits are housed within the biological parts of a being, they needed to engineer a biological being for this purpose, and I'm sure we all know where that led.
My point, however, is that there's a fundamental rule that can be learned from these spritestones. The spirit is held in place, or constrained, within a ring of runes. In the biology of the inhabitants of Elden Ring, this ring of runes takes the form of an iris. Indeed, the evidence given in the game supports this. The Beast Eye item states that it writhes as if it's alive, perhaps animated by the spirit fragment of Maliketh that it contains. Sellen's Primal Glintstone is in the shape of a spritestone, and is also where Sellen's soul is contained. On the topic of glintstone, Lusat's glintstone crown, the object that replaced his brain and skull, took the form of an eye.
When one gathers runes, they're almost part of the soul, so it would make sense if they ordered themselves as close to it as possible.
That's the meat of the theory. There's some more evidence within the game that lines up with this, but is much less clear-cut.
For example, there's something to be said about the Christian themes around this concept. In Christian belief, man is made up of three aspects: the body, the soul, and the spirit. This coincides nicely with the function of eyes, since they also illustrate a similar trinity. A spritestone requires three parts: the biological material, the Rauh burrow, and also the sprite itself. These might symbolize the body, the soul, and the spirit. Runes left on their own aren't enough to keep a spirit within, a biological medium is required for that.
Beings influenced by the Frenzied Flame have their eyes burning with the yellow flame. They want the world to end, and to burn up all that divides and distinguishes. That starts with doing that to themselves, and to their soul. This might be why the Frenzied Flame burns away spirits that are supposed to be eternal.
Additionally, this might also explain how the presence of eyes determine the influence of Outer Gods. Characters like Malenia, Mogh, Ranni, or Hyetta have missing eyes, and this seems to bring them closer to their patron Gods. This makes sense, if we consider that the eye distinguishes the soul from what's around it. If this distinguishing factor is lessened, then outside forces can enact a greater influence on them, in this case the Outer Gods. This would be similar to what happened to Messmer, but instead of being influenced from within, they're influenced from the outside.
Glad I read this comment through, you've got some good points. I also thought that the Rauh Burrows might be significant as soon as I saw them, and noticed that there also gravestones in the Realm of Shadow that have a similar shaped hole in them, almost as if they're meant to contain a spirit for eternal rest. Anyway, I'll digest this one.
High quality insights.
Somewhere in the Elden Ring story is a deep link to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Subscribed am I now, oh Tarnished.
Dude, great video I love your thoughts on this, the math is mathing
Great video
14:06 if the spell alludes the spiral as a normalized form of the Crucible current, then the Crucible itself when observed naturally must be illegible or indistinct like some cosmic/primordial static or noise. Since you made the connection of the helix in Elden Ring as a cognate to DNA &/or evolution, then in that sense the Crucible like DNA is also massively aggregated, clumped and illegible when observed in its natural state, and the famous helix shape is its isolated, more commonly recognizeable or 'normalized' form.
@40:02 A small arc on top, followed by the divine, but instead or rings, its replaced by Marika and his hair creating branches, followed by a greater arc made by Consort Radahan, the returned great general of war. I'm replaying this game in a magic only build, and i swear ima see the elden ring in everything.
From the first vid I knew this guy was not just starting to cook, he was opening an entire damn restaurant.
01:24 "no one cracked the code yet." (Shows guy who cracked the code) 😂
Ironically, Goldmask is entirely on the wrong track with the Elden Ring. The problem isn't within the Golden Order, it is the Golden Order in its entirety.
I’m very glad to get back, and also noticed the audio was upgraded! Much cleaner and less mouth clicks.
Glad to get this feedback, as it was something I was hoping to improve from the first video.
Bro here is Caryll of Elden Ring.
Yessssssss can't wait to dig into this properly (I will edit in my thoughts with replies because I think about this shit alot and I'm already seeing one thing I want to say)