1. There are images of eyes found in the Catacombs and the Underworld, both of which are areas inhabited by the dead.
2. The Eye of Janthir is used to select those "Chosen" who will be sacrificed to power the Bloodstones.
3. Abaddonian lore includes several references to the eating of eyes by Abaddon and his minions,, and eyes can be found (in physical form, as opposed to artisticly) throughout the Realm of Torment.
While I am not going to get into the discussion concerning the pictographic resemblence between the Catacombs/Underworld and Janthir portrayals, I do find it interesting that the eyes all have to do with death in some form.
An old saying states that the "eyes are the window to a person's soul". Could the depictions of eyes have to do with a person's soul, either with their passage to another realm (Catacombs/UW) or marking for a purpose (Janthir/Chosen and Abaddon/cursed)?|||I've always liked to think that the reference of "Will Eat Your Eyes", meant that since Abbadon was the God of Secrets, he could look into your soul and by eating your eyes, he was actually eating away at your soul. Once again, this is what "I", meaning just me", have always liked to believe. No idea if it actually means this.|||Quote:
I've noticed that there is a connection between the image of the eye and physical death.
1. There are images of eyes found in the Catacombs and the Underworld, both of which are areas inhabited by the dead.
2. The Eye of Janthir is used to select those "Chosen" who will be sacrificed to power the Bloodstones.
3. Abaddonian lore includes several references to the eating of eyes by Abaddon and his minions,, and eyes can be found (in physical form, as opposed to artisticly) throughout the Realm of Torment.
While I am not going to get into the discussion concerning the pictographic resemblence between the Catacombs/Underworld and Janthir portrayals, I do find it interesting that the eyes all have to do with death in some form.
An old saying states that the "eyes are the window to a person's soul". Could the depictions of eyes have to do with a person's soul, either with their passage to another realm (Catacombs/UW) or marking for a purpose (Janthir/Chosen and Abaddon/cursed)?
Interesting idea. It'd explain why there's eyes on that Abbey in Pre-Searing|||Haha, no wonder Abaddon is at odds with the Mursaat, their symbol is a giant eye, which is apparently an Abaddonian delicacy.
But seriously, I think you are on to something there. Philosophically it has been said that death watches us at all times, so an "all-seeing eye" seems appropiate as a symbol for "death". But not for the concept of death, or even the status of death, but rather the nature of death, if you follow my logic here.|||Kinda like when you die you will be judge, because everything you have done cannot be hidden from death?|||like AshG said, the eyes are "windows" to a soul, and as said by Zaa, Abaddon eating away your soul. Maybe all the eyes are simply showing connection to death, seeing as a being without a soul is as good as dead...
As for the eye pictures of the Abbey, its most likely that churches/abbeys holy-related places have a connection between life-//-death, and again, leading to the fact that eyes have their own connection to death.
|||About the "Abaddon will eat your eyes", quoted from the charming miss Kahyet, she means it literally; abaddon's demons have a taste for eyes. one ravages kormir at Gandara, making her go blind, and we are told that "[Abaddon's demons] have a taste for eyes".|||Quote:About the "Abaddon will eat your eyes", quoted from the charming miss Kahyet, she means it literally; abaddon's demons have a taste for eyes. one ravages kormir at Gandara, making her go blind, and we are told that "[Abaddon's demons] have a taste for eyes".
But why are only his demons the one that have a "taste" for eyes? To me that just means that Abbadon himself told them to eat their eyes. Maybe he is literary(sp) eating their eyes to make his point. Its the same as saying, "I will smack you upside the head with a hammer!" and then going ahead and doing it.|||I was somewhat skittish in posting this follow-up, as it branches a little from my original theory.
What if the symbol of the eye isn't connected with death except as a reminder to the living that they are being watched over?
In relation to the Mursaat...
- The symbol of the Mursaat, the eye of Janthir, appears in places that may be used to remind the citizens that they are being watched over and protected by the Unseen Ones.
- The Enchanted creations in the Crystal Desert are marked with the Eye of Janthir, possibly representing that even though the Mursaat are no longer there that the desert is still being watched over by them.
- The Eye of Janthir selects those who have been marked by genetics to be the Chosen who will protect Tyria - through sacrifice, in their case.
- The myriad pictographic images of eyes in places associated with death and the dead may act as reminders that even in death our ancestors watch over us. Conversely, the variations in pictographic representation may represent that the dead are watched over by the gods, with the variations in depiction possibly being attributed to different symbols fo the gods
- Abaddon's predilection towards eyes may be an affront to the other Gods, that by robbing men of their eyes he is proving that the Pantheon is no longer "watching" over humanity
- The addition of eyes to the followers of Abaddon represents Abaddon's represented presence in watching over the world as he comes closer to entering it, cementing his presence over those who must use simple drawings and emblems to conjure faith in their gods
- The use of real eyes, as opposed to pictographic depictions, in the Realm of Torment is meant as a form of psychological torture in that he really is watching them, as opposed to the situation mentioned in the point above.
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