Uncovering the Archaeology of Elden Ring's Grand Conspiracy | Elden Ring Archaeology Ep. 12

Elden Ring Lore of the Eternal Cities, their transformation by Erdtree worship, and the counter-revolution leading to the Night of the Black Knives.
How did the religion of Sacred Tree worship begin in the Lands Between? What were the repercussions for the members of the pre-Tree faith, who worshiped the Night Sky? Join us for this this final part of "Empires Risen and Felled", as we uncover the IRL inspirations and historical borrowings behind the Eternal Cities to interpret their untold story, culminating in the plot to assassinate Godwyn the Golden.
"The Eternal City of Leyndell", Part VI of the series Elden Empires, Risen and Felled:
• The Godfrey and Marika...
#eldenring #eldenringlore #eternalcity #tarnishedarchaeologist
Gameplay footage/music credit: Elden Ring, Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls, Bandai Namco and FromSoftware.
Cited content: u/NamelessSinger
Music:
Requiem in D minor, Mozart; Epitaph for Boletaria, Ljós Detta covers by Alex Roe; Elden Ring Theme cover by Anna Ellsworth. Check out these awesome musicians' channels:
/ @alex-roe
/ @annaellsworthmusic
Creative Commons and stock attributions:
Images: Elden Ring Official Art Book; Eagle, George Shuklin; Deesis mosaic, Myrabella; A Christian Dirce, Henryk Siemiradzki, National Museum, Warsaw, Poland; Moses, Braemor; Maps, Fextralife; Transfiguration, Peter Paul Rubens; St. Peter'a Basilica inside, iWalkingTours; Roads map, u/NamelessSinger; Mediterranean Flappiefh; Akhenaten as a Sphinx, Kestner Museum, Hans Ollermann; Philae, Rémih, Welltravbrit, Granger Collection; The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA; Diocletian, Jebulon; Akhenaten, Kestner Museum; The Second Temple of Jerusalem, Alex Levin; Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, Francesco Hayez; Sacarii dagger, Southam Auctioneers;
Video samples:
Hagia Sophia, See U in History; Mystras, Lambros Malamas; Dead Cities, Frontline in Focus; Jerusalem, National Geographic. Chora Mosaics, Şerif Yenen; Christ redeemer, Oskar Sjostedt. Bioluminescence, Barfleur Beach, James Carlson. Branchiopods, Arizonafairyshrimp; Moon Jellyfish, Shin Sawano's World; Dead Cities, Hovic, Bernard Gagnon, Bertramz, Dumbarton Oaks; St. Peter, Drone Scaper; Aqaba chrch, Bel Adone; Philae, Stuart's Travel Videos; Sakarii, "Masada" (1980) TheHistoryTV; Acropolis, 9 to 5 Drone; Hypatia, Agora (2009)Hagia Sophia, See U in History; Mystras, Lambros Malamas; Dead Cities, Frontline in Focus; Jerusalem, National Geographic. Chora Mosaics, Şerif Yenen; Christ redeemer, Oskar Sjostedt. Bioluminescence, Barfleur Beach, James Carlson. Branchiopods, Arizonafairyshrimp; Moon Jellyfish, Shin Sawano's World; Dead Cities, Hovic, Bernard Gagnon, Bertramz, Dumbarton Oaks; St. Peter, Drone Scaper; Aqaba chrch, Bel Adone; Philae, Stuart's Travel Videos; Sakarii, "Masada" (1981) TheHistoryTV; Acropolis, 9 to 5 Drone; Hypatia, Agora (2009)
Contents of the Video
----------------------------------
0:00 Intro
0:52 Rise of Imperial Monotheism
3:45 Chapter 1: An Eternal Empire of Ocean Stars
7:57 Chapter 2: The Cult of the Sacred Tree
11:15 Chapter 3: Rediscovering Old Prophecies
15:15 Chapter 4: Night of the Black Knives: A Counterrevolution
21:55 Conclusions

[@antoniorivolta783]

I knew new lore hunters would appear with elden ring, but i never expected someone like you

[@theamazingfuzzlord]

He draws so many connections it can be dizzying

[@brendo1143]

as an archeologist myself, this shit is what I live for. Love this channel

[@Nightmareblader]

One of the best channels right now 🙌🏽

[@Yobolight]

@@theamazingfuzzlord And they're like not completely bullshit either - they're like probably true. Crazy stuff.

[@merlinkater7756]

This stuff is top tier!

[@justwelsh]

Mohgs Dialogue after his death make sense now and the location, he wanted to be the new Dynast

[@arglebargle42]

I HAVE BEEN BANGING MY HEAD over the apparent discontinuity between 'Elden John' tree worship and the Eternal Cities, and never even considered the 'rediscovering older prophecies' part. This makes perfect sense. Thank you for putting this all together into such a compelling and detailed narrative.

[@okname5335]

JOHN ELDEN RING!!?! THE CREATOR OF THE ELDEN RING!!?! HES REAL ALL ALONG!?!!?

[@arglebargle42]

@@okname5335 He's as real as Ranni's love for you 😜

[@drakoronus]

Fucking ELDEN JOHN LMFAOOO

[@rrm1903]

The more I learn about how this game has taken from human history, the more I understand what Miyazaki means when says he's going to make something more abstract. He's finally at a point that he's touched so many points of actual history that he's finally free to be creative beyond direct inspirations. Can't wait to see that game.

[@brendo1143]

Miyazaki ascended

[@36AjT9]

Will he ...... show the dog? 🤔

[@rrm1903]

@@36AjT9 that's the point. He'll move on completely. He'll never have a dog.

[@maxthepaladin2147]

All the Soulsborne games were just a part of an elaborate ritual meant to help Miyazaki ascend to godhood. Now he will move on and create his own universe

[@marcomendicino3997]

Miyazaki always alternates between an abstract game and a more "concrete" one, according to his own interviews. Abstract: Demon's Souls Concrete: Dark Souls Abstract: Bloodborne Concrete: Dark Souls 3 Abstract: Sekiro Concrete: Elden Ring Abstract: Armore Core? *EDIT: Looks like Miyazaki is not involved in Armored Core VI as he was in other games, so it probably won't fall into his own alternation, kind of like Dark Souls 2.

[@arabidllama]

I like to imagine GRRM watching these videos and going "yes, yes, he figured it out!"

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

We're on to you George.

[@rainbowkrampus]

I would guess that most of the world building is Miyazaki's work. I think that's why we find obvious "Martinisms" which are all 60's fantasy and French and English wars focused characters intermingled with these nods to ancient Assyria, Judea, Rome, etc. The Conan the Barbarian, Robert the Bruce and Cuchulain stuff is all Martin. Everything else is Miyazaki and team. It's probably not as two dimensional as that in its entirety. But that's my general impression from the interviews, obviously never explicitly stated. Though I would guess that Miyazaki had more than a heavy hand when it came to Malenia, Miquella and Marika's characterization.

[@arabidllama]

​@@rainbowkrampus As I understand it, GRRM wrote the backstory for the world, and Miyazaki did all the actual in-game writing. It's possible this is just Miyazaki's doing, but something so fundamental as which world history to base the story on feels like George would've been at least involved

[@quintonhoffert6526]

@@arabidllama Realistically it's probably a combination of the two of them. We know that both GRRM and Miyazaki are fans of the intersection between history and fantasy, and history is known to repeat itself, or more accurately for similar scenarios to repeat. It wouldn't surprise me if GRRM and Miyazaki had different specific ideas when they were writing that happened to fit the same overall theme when everything was joined together. After all, the Sicarii may be one of the most iconic groups of shadowy assassins striking at major political powers for social and religious reasons but they were certainly not the only ones. Whether GRRM and Miyazaki were thinking of the Sicarii, the Hashashins, the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot or something completely different, all three of those examples and more fit the same general narrative even if they have more or less completely different social, religious and cultural reasons for existing.

[@justinkroboth360]

@@quintonhoffert6526 I have no idea if this was an inspiration or not, but the thing that came to mind immediately for me was the assassination of Julius Caesar. I'm not saying he has any parallel in the game (I don't know enough about the characters in the game or Caesar himself to be able to confidently make connections), but the thought of a mass of dagger-wielding assassins taking out near enough a god among men really popped for me, you know? Even if it has no connection at all, the imagery is so evocative - I love it so much.

[@heatheroutre]

If they were stargazers, they might be more nocturnal and have their light blocking windows to help sleep and keep their eyes accustomed to darkness

[@cloroxusthestainlessone4324]

That's what I was thinking and/or some form albinism. The character models are always pale but you never see the eyes so I can't be sure

[@46jerdboy]

The more historical references that are uncovered, the more I see GRRM's hand in writing the setting.

[@LizardOnAMushroom2358]

Virgin ER Analysists: lol "Marika's tits" was definitely GRRM's contribution Chad ER Analysists: 1st century Jewish assassins of Roman officials wielding curved knives have a distinct similarity to the Black Knives in game. GRRM's contribution is a retelling of the most infamous and pivotal moments in history through the lens of gripping fiction.

[@1337Figaro]

I mean, you might be right to an extent but all Soulsborne games have historical references in them. It's not something new to Elden Ring. Miyazaki is a history buff and from what I've heard a huge fan of European medieval history. Excluding Sekiro all of the Soulsborne games take huge influence from European history.

[@terpy663]

This comment is far more correct than many people might realize. George r.r. Martin's favorite period of history is post Byzantine Britain up to the war of the roses. These are all core historical contexts used specifically in Elden ring.

[@TheOracleofClocks]

The thing I was thinking of when you were bringing up the designs on the mega-thrones, was that it called to me a artistic depiction of the Elden Beast from above, with its wing-like appendages.

[@AmryL]

Agreed. Though it does seem that since the picture was made, the Elden Beast has gained some weight ;-p

[@Pentalaimon]

You are like toldinstone but with a focus on Elden Ring, weaving real world historical inspirations to give added context to the elements in game. Eloquent, entertaining, and educational. Thank you!

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Love his channel. Everyone here should check him out.

[@psychosytheXmediaXco]

@@tarnishedarchaeologist Fat champions, not so naked statues, and War ants. Stories from the Eternal Empire.

[@watcherofthewest8597]

That's a great point and I think you are right

[@FFNOJG]

@The Tarnished Archaeologist I would like to get your opinion on what I see in that symbol. I believe it is based on the Ediacran animal Charnia (the Ediacran is time before the Cambrian explosion which was for the longest time considered the first time of macro species, but later the VERY WEIRD & ALIEN Ediacran was found to be the first. which Most fossils that we have found are from Species of animals/plants have NO living relative, or even a modern equivalent) Specifically Charnia MASONI From the Charnwood Forest in England. is a far older, more ancient, and fitting better with your analysis of "Almost alien, so far removed that it has nothing in common with anything now" en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charnia kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6HOc6CYnpuea8U kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaHOYZiaetqBmLM (this is the best reference) Some references for you. I hope that you will look these over, and consider whether you agree or not.THIS IS WHAT IMMEDIATELY CAME TO MY MIND WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED ELUDING TO THIS SYMBOL IN EARLIER VIDEOS

[@FFNOJG]

​@@tarnishedarchaeologist I would like to say that the fact that the two crucible knights that are named are named after the selurian, and the ordivician period, both came after the Ediacran period, that this would add weight to my theory. as this was before the crucible.

[@TeddyPicker191]

Babe, wake up. New Tarnished Archaeologist just dropped

[@rocki_bb]

I was about to take a nap, but that can totally wait

[@randomnstoned966]

I just had a nap, least i got this to wake up to 🤌

[@seanconnors1613]

Chrightt and our friend here are the only two I wake the Missus up for.

[@whirlwind872]

Maidenless viewers hitting your comment with thumbs down

[@jake_]

You deserve many more subscribers. Not only for deciphering the mythos of Elden Ring, but also for inspiring people to learn more about the history of mankind.

[@BlankPicketSign]

Dude... you just cleaned up one of the BIGGEST MYSTERIES of Elden Ring! This is incredible! Amazing! THANK YOU!

[@TheSpectralForce]

These high quality lore videos take so much time and research to make. There's no way he'll drop another one so soo-

[@WanderedIn]

I’m interested in two major elements here - one, the period of the tree faith before Marika. After all, we have tree iconography that predates her, and we have the crucible - so, when were the other trees, and other periods? Was the first felling before the Nox, or after? One plausible series of events would leave the Nox on the surface until they strike out agains the early tree faith (when Marika was young, perhaps, given the lifetime of Numen)… and that leads to number two. I’m strongly of the opinion that the Fingerslayer blade tells us what the Nox did to enrage the Greater Will and be plunged below the earth - they killed a god, though a lesser one than Marika became. Perhaps, then, this was the first felling - the tree religion entered a crisis after the Nox and a divine punishment by the GW, which ultimately concluded with Marika and the Golden Lineage. The Nox, it would seem, have long memories of their failed first attempt. I do have one major disagreement - I think a tree existed in the time of the Dynast, or at least, I think the roots did. The Dynast is depicted with roots and even, in the Belfries, with a tree. His lack of throne doesn’t guarantee his lack of tree, after all. Regardless, I think that his dynasty (given, well, the meaning of ‘dynasty’) ruled for some considerable time, perhaps fading in the face of the Nox’s own ascent.

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Spot on, as usual, friend. - Agreed that the Fingerslayer blade refers to the slaying of a God (and not the slaying of fingers), though it was beyond the scope of this video. - Totally agree about the roots existing before the tree. Perhaps this is what is shown in the Farum Azula Elden Ring... If you'll bear with us, we plan to address exactly that question very soon.

[@dafire9634]

I think in a previous video he already pointed out that there was another tree before the erdtree but its location wasnt the same, and its where the colosseums are pointing at

[@Xandros999]

I'm assuming the fingerslayer blade is the one used to fell Godwyn. Following the previous video, it made sense that the Eternal Cities were banished after Godwyn's murder. Only problem is that the Eternal Cities seem quite stable and intergrated with their environment, like they've always been there.

[@hugostefaniu]

Occam's Razor points us towards towards the Divine Towers. The blade is called "Fingerslayer" after all, and we find dead Two-Fingers atop every one of them.

[@youtubevoice1050]

@@Xandros999 Maybe "banished underground" refers to how early Christians had to keep their religious practices hidden.

[@rallolollo9309]

Not sure if you have noticed but in Elphael the walls of the city (you have to climb roots to see them clearly) are full of tree brances filled with babies and buds.

[@cross-eyedhollow]

I think he has given note on them in a previous video regarding the Haligtree 😋

[@jorgwei8590]

where do you have to climb? Can you specify a bit?

[@TehspaceLulz]

I'm a bit confused about when and how the reign of beasts and dragons would slot into this framework - particularly if Serrosh is a significant ruler of the Crucible Era. How would he (or the Stormlord) have existed within the context of a crumbling Saint-and-Tree Empire, which is now at this point an age away from the Eternal Empire, which is itself an age or more away from the rule of Farum Azula (which seems contemporaneous with the Uhl Dynasty and the giants, as all of them share certain motifs)?

[@RENDAN_iel]

This is what I’m confused about as well. Maybe we’ll get some clarification

[@sidewaysfcs0718]

Serrosh is cleary a different kind of beast than the Beastmen. I think Serrosh and the Stormhawk King (Stormlord, most likely him) are more in line with being the original rulers of places like Stormveil, RoundTable Hold, Castle Morne, etc. In the timeline, all these locations show Great Tree depictions in their oldest stratum, with later additions of the Crucible statues and the final additions of Marika's era statues. These places are dripping with details from 3 eras. But i think the Great Tree depictions in Stormveil would make sense to be of the final days of the Great Tree, perhaps even post-destruction of the Great Tree. We don't actually have any decent clues about what life was like during the Great Tree era, possibly the destruction was so vast that most history was lost. See western Europe between the 6th and 10th century and the "obliteration of history" that took place, during those centuries we know more about the Eastern Roman Empire and the Middle East (Muslim Golden Age 8th-9th century) since they were much more advanced having not gone through a collapse unlike Rome/Ravenna/etc.

[@atesgoksu9426]

Hmm. Maybe the timeline goes like this: 1. Ancient Dragons 2. Crucible 3. Eternal Cities 4. Golden Order. It makes for a nice progression in terms of the values of the metals associated with these eras. 1. Ancient Dragons ruled over the beasts, who used stone tools. 2. The Crucible era is associated with red-tinged gold, which may be seen as copper. 3. The Eternal Cities are associated with silver (Silver Tears, Silver Fireflies, you name it). 4. The Golden Order is associated with, of course, gold. So we have stone-copper-silver-gold in terms of the progression, materials of progressively greater value.

[@blackronin848]

@Ates Goksu yes exactly very much like the real world and we know Michaela was going to usher the age of unalloyed gold or untainted gold perhaps DLC or a future series

[@Terminalsanity]

I kind of assumed the Dragons and their beastmen ruled over the age of the crucible and their order was the 1st incarnation of the Golden Order as the Red Gold color that marks the age of the Crucible also marks the Red Gold wielded by the Ancient Dragons also note how all the aspects of the crucible wielded by the Crucible knights seem Dragonic in nature: Fire breath, reptilian tail, reptilian horns... Then for whatever reason the Crucible age and the Dragon Order came to an end when Placidusax's God disappeared after likely likely abandoned by the greater will and Marika was selected as the new Vessel and establish a New order for a new age and Placidusax took Faraum Azula into Sky when he retreated beyond time.

[@voraito]

The dead scorpion god of rot in the grand cloister certainly evokes the image of the Egyptian god Serket as well. Edit: The Sacarii dagger looks almost identical to the erdsteel dagger in-game. This helps establish the timeline of dagger reforging. Erdsteel daggers converted to blades of calling, converted to black knives. Alternatively the erdsteel dagger is the base and the other two are two possible parallel forms instead of a linear progression.

[@abrb1989]

Gawd dude. I seriously cannot come up with words with weight enough to truly express the degree to which your video series has enriched my experience with and understanding of this game. So I'm just going to say this instead: Thank you. So very much.

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

What a wonderful compliment.

[@TheBigHatLegion]

"FOUL TARNISHED Archeologist is on honey!"

[@joshseveck5040]

No day like Tarnished Archaeology video day!! Highlight of my week whenever you post!

[@alantremonti1381]

I don't think I can ever get over this channel. You're a mad lad.

[@ABrokeTenno]

You, sir. Are a genius!! The connection between the Grand Cloister (Temple of Isis) where the Kindred of Rot worship the Rot Goddess, and Malenia, Goddess of Rot (Isis herself) blew my freakin mind. Edit: The whole video is mind blowing...your other video on the Eternal Cities and what used to lie in the now open pit on the other side of Leyndell's main gate also blew my mind.

[@edgesofreality]

You are absolutely the best lore channel handling Elden Ring. Thank you so much for doing this series.

[@ruthsagers1714]

Another eminently enjoyable and beautifully articulated masterpiece. And I'm STILL confused as to how this channel only has 12.7k subscribers... seriously. How is this possible?

[@Neptunequeen42]

I can't wait for your Volcano Manor breakdown, you seem to have a pretty solid idea of what Rykard's all about. Now that you mentioned him being connected to the eternal cities I'm gonna pay attention for leaded windows next time I'm there.

[@mes0gots0its]

Really well-made and interesting video. This gives so much clarity to the history of the Lands Between and the backstory of the events of the game. One thing that has been bugging me is, where does the civilization of ancient dragons and beastmen that built Farum Azula fit into all this? Do they predate even the Divine Tower era, or did they develop parallel to another civilization? The fact that they evidently worshipped the Elden Ring and had an Elden Lord makes it seem like they were a direct predecessor to the current Golden Order, but the age of their ruins and lack of tree iconography seems to indicate that they far predate almost every other civilization in the Lands Between.

[@WanderedIn]

I think that the rediscovery of Tree Worship has happened multiple times - the ancient roots and the Elden Ring have been there the entire time, from the beginning of all things. The Dragons faded and later the Dynast rediscovered it; the Dynasty ended and eventually the Blessings of Sap religion resurrected it. The tree keeps growing back, until the Ring’s own vessel/bearer shattered it, a catastrophe on a totally new scale.

[@IdToaster]

I imagine it didn't hurt the comparison to Ancient Egypt that the Grand Cloister also sits next to a Red Sea.

[@clankymocha]

I'm simply amazed by just how high quality these videos are.

[@mateuszsotys3912]

I wonder what "banished underground" really means when it comes to Nox. Their cities clearly look built into their surroundings (grand lifts and stuff) so they probably were always underground. But maybe they used to have an above-ground component (lower Leyndell, Sellia, maybe the older part of the Academy Town in Liurnia) that was either repurposed or completely destroyed (I wouldn't be surprised if there was a town around the Lift in Limgrave that was razed to the ground when the Nox were banished)

[@virtem7686]

like the mistwood ruins? tho they aren't in condition to tell how old they are honestly that part of limgrave seem quite empty, specially if you consider that haight fort is nearby, there should be more settlement around...

[@metalimperator]

After reading your comment i've got a thought that maybe like in Dark Souls 1, humanity originates from underground and slowly climbs above the ground as civilisation become more advanced. Like a metaphor of climbing the evolution ladder, humans in Elden Ring literally climb up. With your logick "banished underground" would mean to destroy everything on the ground level, without any magical mambo jumbo of sending entire cities underground :). And it makes perfect sense imo. BTW. Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't Selia the only eternal city that has empty giant throne? That would explain why Selia was spared - they resigned in last moment from creating their giant ruler.

[@Xandros999]

I thought they were always underground, but the giant sinkhole in Leyndell is very suggestive. The outrageous location of Raya Lucaria as well. I can't reconcile these themes either.

[@ATC43]

This is something that always stumped me as well but I think if we look at the description for the Eternal Darkness spell it makes a bit more sense. To me it seems they were literally sucked into a black hole and transported underground, fales night sky and all, save for The Eternal City of Leyendell which had its night sky taken away.

[@ATC43]

@@metalimperator Interestinggg idea concerning Sellia. That would also explain why Radahn, a Golden Order fanboy would be okay with going there to learn sorceries himself.

[@jclouse9746]

I was here before you blew up. Please do not stop sharing your wonderfully insightful analysis of the unbelievably subtle detail woven into this game. I know I am not alone when I say it is such a breath of fresh air to consume content like this. You obviously have a passion for the nuance of your field and a gift for providing thoughtful commentary. Your labors do not go unnoticed, as it seems the overwhelming majority of your audience shares my affection for your content and are similarly hungry for more. This is an awesome format and you are very much onto something. Excited to see your future videos and I am looking forward to seeing when your videos inevitably break into the mainstream. Easiest sub of my life.

[@emmajoy2192]

I could listen to your videos for hours and hours. I can't wait for more episodes and I hope you continue making them!

[@PremiumSaltProviderSalineSodiu]

How, does this not rival the top elden ring content. We talk about lore enthusiasts - this man is connecting elden ring to history. Holy please don’t stop l.

[@calebgriffin4214]

Incredible video! This does bring up the question of the crucible. I feel like it’s implied that the crucible was revered, if not worshipped, and was the predecessor of Erdtree worship. The crucible was symbolized by red gold, paralleled by red lightning, which became normal gold with Erdtree and the dragon cult. I’m just wondering how these pieces fit together

[@MrBedZeppelin]

Well Done tying REAL world history into the Elden Ring Story! Very Plausible and another example of the wide spanning branches of Miyazaki's imagination. Thanks for your work here!

[@eonwe5885]

Not to be overly effusive, but A) this is the greatest game of all time; and B) I love you. Seriously I've seen trying to put these pieces together for a while now, indeed just yesterday I noticed that the lower Capital Church has a Saint and Great Tree altar rather than a Nox altar just yesterday, and you've just laid it all out in exquisite detail and clarity. I'm so grateful to you, and I enjoy your work so very much. Also, it's Orthodox Christmas and Western Epiphany: great timing!

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Thank you! Feel free to be effusive next time, we appreciate it :)

[@eonwe5885]

@@tarnishedarchaeologist of course! Incidentally, do you think there's any chance that Rykard's throne at the end of VM is based on the Crypt Chairs? There's no one to one matches in design detail that I can see, but I feel the overall effect is similar.

[@stradify1]

This is the greatest lore channel I've found. You've made my favorite game of all time even better, and I can't thank you enough for that

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Wow, thank you!

[@nihilsubsolenovum7419]

This is by far the most interesting and well researched elden ring channel I've come across. Everytime you deliver great content which isn't the same surface level information but a in depth exploration of the real world inspiration. Keep up the amazing work

[@AlexGordonMusic]

TA is making the best Elden ring content on the Internet. No contest. These videos are peerless.

[@ToGTheDestroyer]

This is like when i first started watching Ancient Aliens, this series is absolutely amazing and i usually am an old miser about things like this. Gargantuanly well done.

[@KennyZhao]

It’s been a joy to watch this channel develop. Thank you for connecting these dots and helping illuminate From Software’s genius.

[@Jerig128]

You have some of the best work on a 'From' title since Redgrave and JSF on Bloodborne. Amazing videos my man.

[@JazzInATinCan]

This is a good candidate to the best channel I have ever found on youtube.

[@doyltruddy902]

it warms my heart to see so much enthusiasm over these sorts of topics - no matter how much bullshit goes around about how modern generations are obsessed with superficial trivial nonsense, I think these comments prove otherwise. There is an immense thirst for knowledge and learning, humanity still got it

[@antongrigoryev6381]

Your videos are amazing, there are so many details about the world that just get missed by other lore KZbinrs as they mostly focus on more tangible stuff like item descriptions. The combination of analyzing visual clues and looking for real-world inspirations brings your videos to a new level. However, I'm getting confused about the general timeline of the world as you're theorizing it. The general sequence of Ancient Dynasty -> Eternal Empire -> Saint And Tree era -> Erdtree era is pretty clear, but there are many questions. Mainly I'm not sure how Farum Azula fits into it, but some other small details too don't seem to fit. It would be really cool if you made a general timeline of the history of Lands Between - describing all the stuff in general terms, maybe with links to your previous videos for more details about your theories.

[@Gigugan]

I’ll say it again, this is by far the best Elden Ring content on the internet. Thanks for another fascinating video.

[@Cha05typhoon]

So glad to see another video! Great content as always, really thoroughly enjoyed the Eternal Empire ideas in the last video and am thrilled to see what more you've found!

[@kevinlasher2812]

omg yes consider this the engagiest of engagements that was ever engaged!!!

[@mlmii1933]

I don't know, until you mentioned the critter I saw a plant / primitive tree. What you see as segmented legs / gills I personally see as drooping leaves.

[@Krakenarrior]

At 5:51 you talk about the symbol on the back of the Nox Thrones being a brachiopod. That makes sense from the pictures that were provided, but I’m wondering, could the brachiopod design actually be reference to the Elden Beast? We know that the Beast came down from a golden star, (possibly during the Age of Stars) and if you look at the design of the Beast, it has a head and a tail that are somewhat symmetrical, and it’s “wings” have little “stems” similar to the gills found on brachiopods. It would be easiest to look at if you could T-Pose the Elden Beast, but it’s tough to tell from what we see in game.

[@riccardomazzaro1901]

How do you even come up with this stuff. It's honestly incredible, you completely changed the way I thought of the plot of this game, and I do keep up with other content creators who talk about the lore as well. You are way ahead when it comes to your interpretation of ER, and I can't thank you enough for your willingness to share it with us.

[@golDroger88]

This channel blew my mind. Far and above the best one on the lore. After understanding the real world inspiration everything is so much clearer and makes sense.

[@zubinator1]

always excited to see one of ur vids! I'd like to point out you can see the nox throne motif not just in lower leyndell, but also in alot of the baroque architecture of upper leyndell, especially the big gatehouse and ramparts that surround the fortified manor - they appear as small square flourishes on the walls and plinths

[@dpsypher]

I discovered you a few days ago and have watched nearly everything you have posted now. Love It. Thank you.

[@robbieclark1784]

The breadth of knowledge and imagination of GRRM and Miyazaki blows my mind. Thinking about their worlds is like looking at one of those insanely realistic sculptures or the Sisteen Chapel or looking at the Milky Way in a clear night sky.

[@dogthedog1338]

Thank you for your videos! You explore lore in a way that no one else does

[@agopessimist1335]

Awesome video! I was just wondering if you can give your thoughts on this question I had since your Faram Azula video: In your opinion, would you place the timeline of Placidusax placing himself in the storm beyond time and his god fleeing before the Age of the Crucible, or after the Age of the Crucible, during Godfrey's various wars? One thing I couldn't understand is how and why Placidusax received his injuries, especially since he's missing 3 heads and is badly wounded. I originally thought that Placidusax was possibly the Storm Lord that Godfrey defeated, and that the War against the Ancient Dragons was what resulted in Placidusax getting his injuries from Godfrey (hence why his other 3 heads might have been chopped off), and Godfrey's and Marika's victory would have resulted in his god fleeing and Placidusax creating the storm beyond time to protect himself and await their return. It would explain why the War against the Ancient Dragons happened, and why they might have attacked Leyndell. And it might have explained the presence of Marika during that time period since you and Smoughtown explained in your video on the timeline that humanity was present in Faram Azula's time given how we can see carving of humans on the architecture, and since Maliketh was a Beast Clergyman and Marika's half-brother, it would explain his ties to the city as well. But your video about Serosh and Marika's origins in the ancient Dynasty cast doubt about the timeline in this instance. Did Placidusax fall and his god flee way before Marika and Godfrey began their wars, before the Greattree fell and the Age of the Crucible began, or did his god flee after Marika and Godfrey possibly defeated them?

[@amado0001]

was watching your previous videos at 3 am today nice to see that after coming home from work im blessed with more lore for the game :D

[@KenobiStark1]

Going through the lands between after seeing your videos, dude I’ve learned to slow the hell down and look at EVERYTHING now.

[@_ariosto1519]

Just made my day, thank you! 🙏🏾

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Our pleasure!

[@lore6416]

I love this type of content. I think it's pure genius. You are the only one able to go beyond the text lore and give in depth meaning to the inspirations for the game. Mind blowing. Bravo!

[@xeonespydonum4995]

Every one of your videos has managed to open my eyes in ways I never thought possible, Thankyou for all you do for us viewers.

[@Deezedkay]

You are my favourite ER lore creator… genuinely look forward to your videos

[@RTMaster1]

This channel is filling the void that vaatividya left when turning his attention more towards making movies and away from just deciphering the lore

[@billkowalsky]

Without question, the best lore channel.

[@Kiouze]

Astounding work, this whole Elden Ring playlist is incredible. I can't fathom the hours Miyazaki / Martin and perhaps other scriptwriters spent on this game - so much details - this is insane. Thank you for those delightful moments.

[@micahkeren-zvi9208]

i don't often leave comments but I have to share this. in every souls game (except sekiro obviously or bloodbourne since i play on PC) i've built a dark sorceress called Hypatia. i imagine she is now undead, a bearer of the curse, an unkindled, a tarnished or whatever the case may be; taking revenge on her murderers with a sense of irony. "you accused me of sorcery? well... let me show you sorcery!" zooming out some, as a history nerd and a fromSoft nerd it's hard to overstate my appreciation for this channel. so much enumerated here that i simply wouldn't have noticed or considered otherwise. as if i weren't already in enough awe at how ingenious these games are! and thank you for shouting out Hypatia of Alexandria

[@wowwow1691]

This is just on another level. Thank you!

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

Very fun timeline theory! I am a huge fan/supporter of the idea that humanity/Numen were originally a faith of astrologers, and Erdtree worship began later! Though ngl, the little sea critter bit at the beginning felt a LITTLE like a stretch - it seems more to me that lots of the Nokron/Nokstella iconography is meant to depict flowing liquid silver and/or water, shown as swirling silver inlays. This makes a lot more sense for their culture, and it's possible the iconography on their giant thrones is more depictive of a waterfall or just a continuation of that same generic flowing iconography. Or if we take Occam's Razor, it's just a generic design. There are some examples of that around too.

[@thesunthrone]

To me, they resemble the castings of lead into water, or molybdomancy, a New Years tradition many cultures have. This would also follow their astrological and alchemical leanings. That's how I saw their buildings, as well as the spooky ghost remains in the cities - as cast figures of lead or aluminium, with pools of quicksilver around them. The alchemical parallel also works well when one of their number goes on to found her Golden Order. And in an interesting twist, it can then be purified into white gold by a descendant of those traditions who has gone beyond her flesh, Ranni.

[@pritzi101]

Fantastic! A new video! I was waiting eagerly.

[@siddhantshrivastav]

Thank you so much for all the work you have put in. I am truly grateful.

[@federicoforgione]

Simply Amazing. The historical connections with the real worlds, the archaeological proofs, the narration, everything here Is a work of beauty

[@Christopherdbjohnson]

Having just faced the Elden Beast again, it looks to me like the flowing leaf-like arms and shape of the Nox (etc) "tree" that Tarnished Archaeologist discusses (mainly as a small water creature) may alternatively depict the early biological form of a young Elden Beast. Once I see it I can't unsee it.

[@Christopherdbjohnson]

I noticed this was just mentioned a few days ago, credit.

[@tito3213211]

Incredible video. These details enrich the game so much more. What blew me away in this one is the connection that was made with Ancient Egypt, and the influence the architecture of the Temple of Isis at Philae had on the rotten underground segment of the game. ♥

[@liamtjarnlund1023]

love your content mate! 10/10

[@dmmax18]

I’ll recommend your channel to everyone who’s fond of ER, this is fascinating and monumental piece of work.

[@aldosalas2722]

Sooooo good and so much good comparison and lore/history of our own to make sense and give context. LOVE IT!!!!!! ELDEN Ring has brought lore hunters to another level I have never seen.

[@zevrs5800]

Thank you for your work, kind sir. Don’t you dare go hollow. This is what the Elden Ring lore community needs.

[@Kevin-pg6uz]

Incredible and incredibly illuminating insight as always. Great work

[@aroukar47]

What a great episode. Can't wait for the next one.

[@dafire9634]

Always a treat to watch your videos

[@StrangerThing369]

You continue to amaze with these videos please keep it up!

[@michaelioffe3196]

I subbed. Your videos are amazing. I've watched an embarrassing amount of ER/Fromsoft lore content, but your stuff is far beyond what anyone else is producing. I am learning about the game and history--things I didn't even know as a lifelong lover of antiquity and history generally.

[@armandaneshjoo]

Impossibly great channel. How do you even do this?

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Well we have our weekly sit down with Miyazaki-san and we just point to things in game and ask him "what the hell is this"?

[@armandaneshjoo]

@@tarnishedarchaeologist So... Quelaag?

[@icosahydro]

This was so insightful. Your videos are real gems, and help sheding light on From Software's real-life inspirations. Please keep making this type of content!

[@joshuafrizzell626]

As an actual archaeologist, I am impressed. Well done sir.

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Thanks!

[@agressicum]

Thank you for good chronological explanation. But I still have several questions - 1. Where divine towers came from? You said they were built before old Uld dynasty arrived. So who built them? 2. How could old dynasties, who had worshipped sacred tree, become Eternal cities inhabitants, worshipping stars?

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

We hope to address these in future videos, but for now: 1. There is good evidence the divine towers were built by the same people who built the giant's forge. www.reddit.com/r/Eldenring/comments/v69s96/the_divine_towers_and_forge_were_built_by_the/ As we suggested in our "Holiday Special" video, this was likely the race of titans or ancient giants, the ones whose skeletons are found in the bedrock of Caelid and the Mountaintops. 2. Because they were subsumed by the Eternal City culture, like Rome and the more ancient centers of Egypt and Greece.

[@agressicum]

@@tarnishedarchaeologist Glad you answered and thanks for the link :) About my second question - so it means that Eternal cities and their inhabitants lived and prevailed for a long time before Uld dynasty arrived to Lands Between? And firstly Eternal cities inhabitants and old dynasties people were, emm, like different nations? According to your video I understood as the old dynasties were literally first people of Lands Between, then they had somehow became Eternal cities residents. Or I got you wrong?

[@awayman]

This has kindled in me an interest in real world archeology in a way that pop culture archeologists never could.

[@DamnniceFinisher]

I have been listening to dark souls lore since ds3 2016 and i would like to say you are one of the best for real

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

What a nice compliment, thank you

[@mynameismice]

Insane as always, keep em coming man

[@natandustin3875]

Bro your output is insane

[@deadmedowns]

Fuckin' yay. Always glad when you drop a new video. I keep screaming at everyone that you've got the goods. Keep up the great work.

[@jandeiification]

❤❤Amazing work man! Just given another depth in the lore!!! Hope Miyazaki would see your lore works

[@AddeDaMan]

This is absolutely amazing quality content! And it rekindles my interest in the game once more - although this play through I will mostly likely walk around looking up and about more !

[@arcanepretender1112]

Thank you for this insight into one of my favourite creative works

[@soon5637]

this is the best lore video out there

[@ChibiBoxing]

Great work! Only a crazed historian/archeologist could do the amazing work you've done!! Having studied the themes that you're talking about and having played the game words can explain the great work in place!

[@davebosak3395]

I was playing last night and noted the illusory sprout and golden seed in Nokstella. Given the source of those seeds and illusory trees and the associated burning event, it further evidences the fact that the eternal cities were banished after the first burning.

[@excido7107]

This journey has been amazing, I'm so enamored by your in depth historical references and analysis :)

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Thank you for coming along!

[@RansomSubject_]

This is a seriously good video, well done!

[@CerealNumb]

In addition to being an avid gamer, as an actual archaeologist and a history geek, I am simply awe-struck! This was something I did not piece together at all. And this answers pretty much every question I was pondering regarding Elden Ring lore. I am just flabbergasted. Good friggin' job, keep it up.

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

What a lovely compliment. We plan to keep going as long as we have interesting things to say...