[EVA] The Evangelion English Mailing List FAQ [2/7]: General Information
Widya Santoso
wsantoso at nyx.net
Mon Jan 27 18:26:00 EST 2003
EVA FAQ version 0.6.3
New information delinated with "(*"
Contents
Section 1. General information about the series.
1.0) Story Background.
1.0.1) What does "Shin Seiki Evangelion" translate as?
1.1) Tell me about Genesis 0:0, 26 TV episodes, and the two movies.
1.1a) What are the different versions of the films?
1.1.1) What is Genesis 0:0?
1.2) Who are the characters?
1.3) The EVAs.
1.4) The Angels.
1.5) Timeline.
1.6) Religious glossary
1.6.1) What is the tree-like image seen in the opening credits?
1.6.2) What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
1.6.3) What does NERV mean?
1.6.4) Where did the motto for NERV come from?
1.6.5) What does "Seele" mean?
1.6.6) What does "Gehirn" mean?
1.6.7) Who are the Magi?
1.6.8) What is the Spear of Longinus? (was 5.6)
1.6.9) Who is Adam, Eve and Lillith?
1.6.10) What is the seven eyed logo?
1.6.11) What is Marduk?
--
Section 1. General information about the series.
1.0) Story Background.
On September 13, AD2000, a disaster later known as the Second Impact
strikes the earth. A large explosion at the South Pole said to be caused
by a meteor melted the ice caps, causing the sea level to rise and the
earth's axis to tilt, and causing the death of two billion of the world's
population in the aftermath.
In the year 2015, an unknown object approaches Tokyo-3. At the same time
Ikari Shinji was called to this city by his father after a long separation.
{...}
1.0.1) What does "Shin Seiki Evangelion" translate as?
Literally, it translates as "The Gospel of a New Century". However
Gainax has used its discretion to name the English title "Neon Genesis
Evangelion", which is a combination of three Greek words. "Euangelos"
is the Greek word for Gospel, composed of "eu" (good) and "angelos"
(news).
1.1) Tell me about Genesis 0:0, 26 TV episodes, and the two movies.
The canon of Evangelion is the 26 episodes of its TV series. There
was also a videotape, Genesis 0:0, {which is a promotion of the
series}. A movie "Evangelion: Death and Rebirth" was released March
1997, and another one "The End of Evangelion" was released July 1997.
The director's cut of "Death (True)" and "Rebirth" was shown on
Japanese satellite TV (JSB), 2 January, 1998, from 10:10pm to 12
midnight.
A new movie, "Revival", was released on March 7th, 1998, and includes
a re-edited version of the "Death" sequence of the first movie
"(True)" (second edit), and comprises of all three segments ("Death
(True)", "Rebirth" and "End".)
Special screenings of "Death", "Death/True^2 Air Magokoro Kimi Ne" was
shown on July 24-30, 1999.
In addition, the Red Cross Book (RCB) lists a glossary of terms as
used in the series and films, and claims to be the final explanation
of the secrets and mysteries of Evangelion. (See 5.8) for a list of
the definitions given in the RCB.)
1.1a) What are the different versions of the films?
Death & Rebirth (March 1997): Original theatrical motion picture;
Death is a retelling of the first 24 TV episodes with augumented
animation. Rebirth is an original feature, which chronicles events
directly following episode 24.
End of Evangelion (July 1997): Original theatrical motion picture,
which chronicles events directly following Rebirth. It is divided
into two sections, "Air" and "Magokoro Wo, Kimi Ni".
Death (True) and Rebirth (January 1998): Japanese satellite broadcast.
Death (True) is a second edit of the original Death feature.
Revival (March 1998): Theatrical motion picture compiling all three
segments, the first segment being a second condesation of the first 24
episodes, the second and third being Revival and End.
1.1.1) What is "Genesis 0:0"
The tape is filled with video images of the art design for the series.
There are eight parts to the tape, each describing different art
designs, such as characters, mecha, etc. It is intended to be an
introduction to the series.
1.2) Who are the characters?
The description are mostly from the character description of the film
books. (Heights are estimations, and are not derived from any
reliable source.)
Character Description Seiyuu/Voice First
Actor Appearance
(Ep.)
Ikari Shinji The main character. "Third Ogata Megumi 1
Children". Pilot of Evangelion
Unit 1 (EVA-01). His mother
died when he was young, and he
has also been living apart
from his father for 10 years.
Was asked suddenly by his
father to come to Tokyo-3, and
thrust into the position of
pilot. 14 years old (2nd year
Japanese middle school).
Height approx. 4' 9"
Ayanami Rei "First Children". Pilot of Hayashibara 1
Evangelion Unit 0 (EVA-00). Megumi
Was trained specifically for
this since the early phase of
the project. Was heavily
injured in an accident during
development and is still in
cast and bandages in TV ep.1.
Silent and do not seem to
express her emotions. 14 years
old (2nd year Japanese middle
school).
Height approx. 4' 7"
Souryuu "Second Children". Pilot of Miyamura 8
Asuka Evangelion Unit 2 (EVA-02). Yuko
Langley Has both Japanese and German
blood, but her nationality is
American. Decisive and
competitive. A Genius who has
graduated from university the
year before the TV series.
Height approx. 5' 5"
Ikari Commander of NERV, an Tatsuki 1
(Rokubungi) organisation under the United Fumihiko
Gendou Nations that exists for the
purpose of investigating /
researching / annihilating
the beings called "Angels".
Also responsible for the
development of the
Evangelions. Father of Ikari
Shinji. Very secretive. 48
years old.
Height approx. 5' 7-8"
Fuyutsuki NERV's second-in-command. Kiyokawa 1?
Kouzou Commands NERV when Gendou is Motomu
away. 10 years older than
Gendou, and has known him from
his university days.
Katsuragi NERV HQ Tactics-Operations Mitsuishi 1
Misato Dept. Operation Office Sect 1, Kotono
Section-Chief.
The immediate superior of
Shinji, and also his guardian
and housemate. 29 years old.
Captain at the beginning of the
series, later promoted to
Major.
Height approx. 5' 3"
Akagi Head of the Evangelion Yamaguchi 1
Ritsuko development project. Has known Yuriko
Misato since both were
students. A beautiful lady who
is cool and intellectual. As a
scientist she is very capable
but sometimes comes across
being {detached and
unsympathetic}. Collects
little cat toys as a hobby. 30
years old.
Ibuki Maya MAGI operator, 2nd lieutenant. Nagasawa (*
As somebody on Miki
rec.arts.anime.misc once said,
"best identified by the line
'Dame desu!' (It doesn't work!
We can't!)".
Hyuuga NERV Bridge Operator, lieutenant Yuuki Hiro (*
Makoto Seems to have some sort of
attraction to Misato.
Aoba Shigeru NERV Bridge Operator Koyasu
Plays the guitar. Takehito
Kaji Ryouji classmate of Misato and Ritsuko Yamadera
in the University of Tokyo-2. Kouichi
He had lived together with
Misato in their university life.
He is also a double-spy of
SEELE and Japanese Government.
His position is Special
Investigation Department of
NERV, and Inquiry Section of the
Department of Interior of Japan.
Suzuhara At first a bully to Shinji, he Seki
Touji becomes Shinji's best friend. Tomokazu
Aida Kensuke A military otaku, he and Touji Iwanaga
become Shinji's best friends Tetsuya
Horaki Class President; Asuka's best Iwao Junko
Hikari friend; looks down on Touji and
Kensuke.
Pen Pen Described as a "warm-weather" Hayashibara
penguin, Pen-Pen shares Megumi
Misato's apartment with Shinji
and Asuka.
Nagisa Kaoru Born, September 13, AD2000, the Ishida Akira
Fifth children.
Ikari Yui Shinji's mother. Disappeared in Hayashibara
an accident when Shinji was Megumi
young.
Akagi Naoko Ritsuko's mother. Created the Doi Mika
MAGI Super-computer system.
girl A Miyamura
Yuko
announce Hiramatsu
Akiko
Keel Lorentz Mugihito
soldier Nishimura
Tomomichi
soldier Ugaki
Hidenari
soldier Naka Hiroshi
couple in Miyamura
theater Yuko
couple in Nagano
theater Hirokazu
Tokita Ohtsuka
Shirou Yoshitada
O.T.R. Nishimura
Admiral Tomomichi
nurse Matsushita
Miyuki
Asuka's Seki
father Toshihiko
Asuka's Kawamura
mother Maria
Kyoko Langley
female Katsuki
doctor Masako
professor Ohyama
Yutaka
Seele Seki
Tomokazu
committee Ishino
member Ryuuzou
1.3) The EVAs.
Evangelions are artificial beings created as versatile weapons against
Angels. They are piloted from "Entry plugs" situated in the EVAs'
backbones. A pilot needs to synchronise with an EVA in order to pilot
it. The EVAs' origin is part of the main plot of the series. Their
approximate height is about 40m and weight 700 Imperial tons
(estimation only- no factual evidence.)
Unit Description Pilot Owner
Evangelion Prototype. Orange in color. Went Ayanami Rei NERV
Unit 0 berserk a few days before Shinji
(EVA-00) arrived in ep.1, and heavily
Japan built injured Rei. Heavily damaged during
events in ep.6. Repaired and
upgraded to EVA-00' afterwards.
EVA-00 has one eye
Evangelion "Kai" means "modified". Blue in Ayanami Rei NERV
Unit 0 kai color. After severe damage during
(EVA-00') events in ep.6, armor was
Japan built completely rebuilt in blue color,
added shoulder blades (for battle
configration), and status was also
upgraded from ProtoType to
TestType. EVA-00' has one eye
Evangelion Test type. Purple in color. Seems Ikari Shinji NERV
Unit 1 to have some mysterious
(EVA-01) characteristic lacking in the other
Japan built EVAs. Only EVA known to restart
after total power failure, reason
unknown. Only EVA to have success-
fully have had an Dummy Plug oper-
ating inside it. Also carries
various other systems that
Production Models lack. EVA-01
has two eyes
Evangelion Red in color (same as the plug suit Soryu Asuka NERV
Unit 2 of its pilot). First production Langley
(EVA-02) model, designed in Japan, built in
German built Germany, but transported to Tokyo-3
at Gendou's request. EVA-02 has 4 eyes
Evangelion Second Production Model, built in Not revealed NERV
Unit 3 the US. After EVA-04's accident US until ep.18.
(EVA-03) handed its control over to NERV
US built Japan.
Evangelion Third Production Model, built in unknown / NERV
Unit 4 the US. During its test, EVA-04's unassigned
(EVA-04) S2 Engine, which was restored in
US built German and was installed in EVA-04
caused it to *sink* into the Sea of
Dirac, taking everything within
its 100mile radius; the cause
unknown.
Evangelion Mass Production model EVA units, Not revealed SEELE
Unit 5-13 built in various places of the world until End of
(EVA-05 - (SEELE member countries; see 3.9) Evangelion
EVA-13) Has some design change from older
EVAs.
1.4) The Angels.
If Unit One is credited with a kill, that means that it was not under
Shinji's control at the time. People who are credited with an assist,
that means they made significant progress toward defeating the angel.
Order Name Episode
The First Angel: Adam Intro, episode 12
"The first human"
Misato sees mysterious illuminating figure, just before
Second Impact of year 2000, also rumoured that EVA series
are clone of First Angel; the silhoutte of the First Angel
appears to be like EVA-01.
The Second Angel: ??? ???
(Unknown; some speculate that the mysterious wing like
figure that apears during second impact is the second Angel;
another source places the Second Angel in the US as the
subject of research; as yet unproven.)
The Third Angel: Sachiel Episode 1
"Angel of Water"
Defeated by Unit One.
Humanoid angel, first angel to shown in the TV series uses
illuminating spikes<?> for close combat attack Self
destructs itself after it was beaten by EVA-01
The Fourth Angel: Shamshiel Episode 3
"Angel of the Sun"
Defeated by Shinji.
Has ability to fly <but no wings>, looks like a giant
insect, uses light tentacles as weapons
The Fifth Angel: Ramiel Episode 5-6
"Angel of Thunder"
Defeated by Shinji, assisted by Rei.
Shaped like Giant diamond, semi-transparent <or fully
transparent> Uses very powerful particle beam as weapons, it
also has drill-like appendage to drill its way into the
GeoFront.
The Sixth Angel: Gagiel Episode 8
"Angel of Fish"
Defeated by Shinji and Asuka, assisted by the UN Fleet.
Only known water-dwelling angel, attacks UN fleet on route
to Japan, It doesn't have special weapons, as it generally
use ramming and biting as its weapons.
The Seventh Angel: Israphel Episode 9
"Angel of music"
Defeated by Shinji and Asuka.
Looks similar to third angel, however it has the ability to
divide itself into self-functioning halves. It appears to
have a weak AT Field; it was temporarily disabled by a N2
mine.
The Eighth Angel: Sandalphon Episode 10
"Angel of Embryos"
Defeated by Asuka, assisted after the fact by Shinji.
First discovered as embryo by Volcano research team, NERV
tries capture this angel, however it manages to "grow" to
break the cage. Has the ability to survive in extreme
temperature and pressure.
The Ninth Angel: Matriel Episode 11
"Angel of Rain"
Defeated by Shinji, assisted by Asuka and Rei.
Spider-like appearance, it secretes acid like substance from
eye that can melt steel, and even EVA armor
The Tenth Angel: Tzachquiel Episode 12
"Angel of the Sky"
Defeated by Asuka, greatly assisted by Shinji and Rei.
First discovered orbiting Earth, it tries to orbital-skydive
all the way down to surface, dropping bombs, then self
destruct.
The Eleventh Angel: Iroul Episode 13
"Angel of Fear"
Defeated by Ritsuko, assisted by Maya.
Computer Virus Angel, first discovered as contamination in
test body, it manages to hack itself into MAGI computer
core, in order to compel MAGI to set Self Destruct sequence.
It appears to be able to evolve exponentially.
The Twelfth Angel: Leriel Episode 16
"Angel of Night"
Defeated by Unit One.
It uses giant sphere like thing as decoy, when its target is
lured, it creates void 650m in diameter yet only 3 nano
meters thick, absorbing whatever is on it. The void is
described as the "Sea of Dirac".
The Thirteenth Angel: Bardiel Episode 18
"Angel of Hail"
Defeated by Unit One, under the control of the Dummy Plug.
Its real form is rather unknown, however it manages to take
over EVA-03 when it is passed through a cloud.
The Fourteenth Angel: Zeruel Episode 19
"Angel of Might"
Defeated by Unit One, assisted by Shinji.
Very powerful Angel, with enough power to blast through 18
of 21 armor of Geofront, it also has folded sheet metal like
appendages that it uses to cut/attack in close proximity, it
nearly destroys NERV base
The Fifteenth Angel: Arael Episode 22
"Angel of Birds"
Defeated by Rei.
Another orbital angel, rather then attacking NERV
base/EVA's, it targets EVA pilots. It attempts to psy-link
with Asuka, and as result Asuka gets Psychological Shock
The Sixteenth Angel: Almisael Episode 23
"Angel of the Womb"
Defeated by Rei.
First discovered looking like Ring of light, it doesn't have
definite shape it tries to physically takeover EVA-00 and
its pilot.
The Seventeenth Angel: Tablis Episode 24
"Angel of Free Will"
Defeated by Shinji.
Shinji finds a new friend after just everyone moves away, he
gets very close to him, later he takes over EVA-02 <in
remote control> and reaches Terminal Dogma. He's also known
as Nagisa Kaworu (Karou, Kaoru), or the Fifth children
The Eighteenth Angel: Lilim Episode 1-26
Mankind is the 18th Angel called Lilim, born from Lilith,
the source of life.
1.5) Timeline
[Some birthdates are estimations; these dates are marked
with question marks]
April 9 1957
Fuyutsuki Kouzou born
April 29 1967
Rokubungi Gendou born
1974
Kyoko (Asuka's mother) born
1977
Ikari Yui born
June 17 1984
Kaji Ryouji born in this period
November 21 1985
Akagi Ritsuko born
December 8 1986
Katsuragi Misato born
February 13 1990?-95?
Hyuuga Makoto born in this period
May 5 1990?-95?
Aoba Shigeru born in this period
July 11 1991
Ibuki Maya born in this period
1999
Fuyutsuki Kouzou teaches Ikari Yui at Kyoko University; meets
Rokubungi Gendou.
[Gendou marries Yui, takes "Ikari" as family name. Yui and Gendou
join HUMAN COMPLEMENTATION PROJECT.]
2000
September 13 2000- The Second Impact
Experiments in the Antarctic of the "reduction" of a foreign life form
causes the accidental and sudden melting of the Antarctic ice fields.
As a result 2 billion people are killed by the flooding of coastal
regions all over the world.
[Katsuragi Misato only? survivor of Antarctic base destruction.
Rescued by returning Gendou and Kouzou.]
September 13 2000
Nagisa Kaworu born (Fifth Children)
September 15 2000
An armed conflict occurs at the border of India-Pakistan.
September 20 2000
Tokyo annihilated by new type of bomb, the N2.
2001
Feburary 14 2001
"Peace Treaty of Valentine" ends disputes.
Feburary 18 2001
Horaki Hikari born
June 6 2001
Ikari Shinji born
September 12 2001
Aida Kensuke born
December 4 2001
Soryu Asuka Langley Zeppelin born
December 26 2001
Suzuhara Touji born
2002
UN explains Second Impact as a meteorite collision.
2003
GEHIRN formed to study ramifications and effects of research leading
up to and following Second Impact. Kouzou, Dr. Akagi Naoko join
Gehirn. Gehirn builds research facilities in what is presumably
Tokyo-3(?). Project E has now started. The research facilities is a
front for Gehrin and work begins in the Geo Front for what is to be
the future NERV headquarters. Dr. Akagi develops MAGI super-computer
system.
2004
Yui lost in Contact Experiment accident.
2005
Asuka Langley confirmed as Evangelion Pilot.
Kyoko commits suicide after unexplained incident. Asuka's father remarries.
Katsuragi Misato and Akagi Ritsuko meet in Tokyo-2 at the cafeteria in
Tokyo-2 University. Shortly after, Misato and Kaji meet and she
cohabits with him.
[Ikari Shinji fostered out by his father.]
2007
UN Headquarters moves to Tokyo-2.
2008
Dr. Akagi finishes programming the logic processes for MAGI. Ritsuko
joins Gehrin.
2009
Misato and Kaji join Gehirn.
2010
Rei Ayanami introduced.
Dr. Akagi commits suicide after completion of Magi project. Gehirn
dissolved, NERV created to continue Gehirn's work, with new charter.
2012
[The last meeting between Ikari Shinji and Ikari Gendou prior to
current events.]
2014
Asuka graduates from university.
[Rei and Asuka trained as Evangelion pilots; Rei takes seven months to
be fully synchronised.]
2015
[The present day; current events as outlined 1-24]
[The 2015/6 Timeline Project]
Day a - Start of episode 1.
Day b - Start of episode 3.
Day c - Not used.
Day d - Start of episode 5.
Day e - Start of episode 7.
Day f - Episode 8, when the gang lands on the "Over the
Rainbow."
x - Used to indicate unknowness. x is undefined, even in
an expression. (x+x != 2*x (actually, the truth
value of this is undefined).
i[n] - The value of i[n] is an unknow constant. So,
i[1] == i[1] is always true.
Day a-1
Day d-22 - Rei's accident occurs.
Most probably, Rei's accident occurs one day before the
start of the series.
Jun 6, 2015 - The earliest possible date for day a. Shinji turns
14 on this day, and Shinji is introduced in several
places as a fourteen year old.
***find some places***
Day a. - Episode 1 occurs.
- Episode 2 begins.
2a. Shinji seems to be out for a night, waking up the next day.
2b. On a+1, Gendou mentions that Rei will be able to pilot the
evangelion again in 20 days.
Day a+1. - Episode 2 ends.
Day a+9. - The earliest possible date of day b. (see 3a.)
Day b. - Episode 3 begins.
3a. Misato claims that the angels gave them "only three weeks"
between attacks, this time. 9 days is the shortest one could
have and still claim to be "three weeks."
Day b. - Episode 3 ends.
Day a+13. - The latest possible date of day b. (see 3a, 4a, 4b.)
Day b+5. - Episode 4 begins.
4a. Misato claims that Shinji has missed 5 days of school. She
strongly implies that the events of episode 3 are the cause of
this.
4b. Shinji sleeps overnight in Kensuke's tent. (Bringing us to day
b+6).
Day b+6. - Episode 4 ends.
Day a+20.
Day d+1. - Episode 5 begins.
5a. Rei's accident occured 22 days ago.
5b. One day passes before Rei's piloting test. (Shinji, Ritsuko,
and Misato eat, Ritsuko gives Shinji the card. It seems that
Shinji gives Rei the card the next day.) (This is d+1, or a+21)
Day a+21.
Day d+1. - Episode 5 ends.
- Episode 6 begins.
6a. Operation Yashima begins at midnight, meaning it occurs on
day d+2 (a+22).
Day a+22.
Day d+2. - Episode 6 ends.
Day e. - Episode 7 begins.
7a. On the first day, Misato visits Shinji's school.
7b. On the second day (e+1), Misato and Shinji stop the JA.
7c. On the third day (e+2), Misato and Shinji eat breakfast.
Day e+2. - Episode 7 ends.
Day f-i[0]-1. - Unit 02 leaves Sasebo port. (see 8a.)
Day f-i[0]. - Episode 8 begins.
8a. Gendou mentions Unit 02 leaving Sasebo "yesterday."
8b. When the convoy is less than one day out, the gang
choppers onto it. (Day f.)
Day f. - Episode 8 ends.
Aug 5, 2015 - Episode 9 begins.
9a. Nerv predicts the next attack will occur "6 days
later." Since that's Aug 11, the first attack must be on
Aug 5. (Derived from 9b.)
9b. Misato marks Aug 11, 2015 on the calender. Camera then
pans to Aug 8, which I assume to be the current day, and also
the day after the angel attack. (As a side note, the calender
they are using isn't correct for 2015. It's either 2017, or
more likely 1995.)
9c. Aug 11 is the day that was marked, so I assume it the day
of the second battle.
Aug 11, 2015 - Episode 9 ends.
--
2015
[Events as portrayed by Death & Rebirth and End of Evangelion]
2016 (TV)
[The Human Complementation Project is executed]
1.6) Religious glossary
The definitions given here are references outside the TV series and
motion pictures, and do not define them within them.
1.6.1) What is the tree-like image seen in the opening credits?
This is the Sephirotic System, devised by Athanasius Kirchner in 1653.
A German priest, he studied the Kabbalah, a tome of Jewish mysticism,
and created the diagram.
The Kabbalah appears to an influence in the conception of Evangelion.
Meaning "tradition" in Hebrew, the Kabbalah is claimed to be the word
of God, handed down to Adam and Moses, reveals the framework of God
and the Creation (the Sephirotic System.)
1.6.2) What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a shepherd in a cave in
Israel, about 1947. They appear to be the earliest records of Jewish
scripture. They were kept secret by the Jordanian and Israeli
governments until about twenty years ago, when photographs of the
scrolls were leaked. Now all the scrolls have been studied and
translated and published in an English edition.
Reasons why the scrolls were kept secret vary, but a likely
explanation is that the scrolls' contents, written by a Jewish sect
after the time of Jesus Christ, may have conflicted with sections of
the New Testament.
The following text is contributed by Charles King:
--
The Dead Sea Scrolls were the product of a small Jewish sect living
near the village of Qumran on the western shore of the Dead Sea around
the time of Christ. The Scrolls were first discovered by a shepherd in 1947,
but additional scrolls continued to be unearthed for the next ten years.
As the area came under the control of Jordan after the Israeli war of
independence, the scrolls came to be concentrated in the Jordanian
Archaeological Museum, where the task of editing them was given to
a group of scholars known as the International Team, led by de Vaux.
Although publication of the scrolls began in the 1950s, its progress was
extremely slow, largely because of the magnitude of the task and lack
of funds. At the same time, some editors made unfounded speculations
concerning the implications of the scrolls for Christianity, based on the
inaccurate assumption that the Qumran sect was related to the early
Christian church.
After the six-day war of 1967, the scrolls fell into the hands of the Israeli
authorities, who maintianed the status quo with regard to control of the
texts. By 1990, matters had reached a head, with many interantional
scholars demanding full publications of the scrolls. After a couple of
scholars released a partial reconstruction based on a concordance, the
Huntingdon library of San Marino, California released a set of microfilms
it had which had been deposited in the library back in the 1950s. Soon
afterwards further photographs appeared from an anonymous source,
and finally, in 1991, the Israeli government released a full set
of high-quality photographs.
Although there may still be a few very minor fragments left untranslated,
the vast bulk of the scrolls is available in English translation in various
editions.
--
Text by Charles King <king at axon.rutgers.edu>
1.6.3) What does NERV mean?
"Nerv" is German for "nerve".
1.6.4) Where did the motto for NERV come from?
"God's in his Heaven, All's well with the world" is taken from a poem by
Robert Browning (1812-89), "Pippa Passes", Part 1 1.222.
1.6.5) What does "Seele" mean?
"Seele" is German for "soul"
1.6.6) What does "Gehirn" mean?
"Gehirn" is German for "brain"
1.6.7) Who are the Magi?
The Magi are the so-called three wise men from the East, who came to
worship the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, following a star that pointed to
the place where they could find him. (Matthew 2.1-12) Folklore names
the three wise men as Balthasar, Casper and Melchior.
In addition, the Magi also held a high advisory position to the Persian
Emperor, during the reign of Cyrus and Cambyses.
1.6.8) What is the Spear of Longinus? (was 5.6)
This is the spear that pierced the side of Christ at the Crucifixion,
the wound from which blood and water poured out. Folklore names the
soldier that wielded the spear as Longinus.
Like the Holy Grail, the Spear is fabled to wield magical powers, such
as the ability to grant victory to anyone who holds it. An Arthurian
legend tells about the quest of one of Arthur's knights to find the
Spear. It is said that Adolf Hitler was interested in the legend of
the Spear (which was held in a museum in Austria.)
1.6.9) Who is Adam, Eve and Lillith?
Adam (man) was the final creation of God, "in his image". Eve (woman)
was created to be a companion to Adam, from a piece of Adam's rib.
Lillith, according to Jewish folklore, was the first companion of
Adam, but would not obey him, and was exiled from the Garden of Eden
("East of Eden"). She apparently became the wife of Cain (son of
Adam, who killed his brother, Abel), and gave birth to demons.
The following text is excepted from the Encyclopaedia
Americana:
"LILITH, lil'lith, a female demon with origins in
Babylonian, Jewish, and Muslim folklore. In one
tradition she was the first wife of Adam, with
whom she claimed equality because they were
created together. She refused to serve Adam and
was expelled from Eden before God created Eve."
"Lilith was believed to be the queen of demons
and Satan's consort. From her unions with [Satan],
or, in other accounts, with Adam, evil spirits
were born . . . In the guise of a beautiful woman
she had intercourse with men and gave birth to demons."
The following text is supplied by <Johnfav at aol.com>
Recently I came across Lilith:- the "Black Moon" in my research, I'd
like to bring it up. Interestingly, we can see that Anno only used
what he found from various historical records or knowledge for his
creation of EVA world, which also proves that, for instance,
Evangelion cannot interpret too much by following one direction or
approach such as religions- the quite common approach for viewers to
define or explain various things in Evangelion.
Now this is what I've found:-
Lilith, the "black moon", may well be a fiction. It has, after all,
only been seen by a few observers and that was in 1618 and 1700. In
his Astrologie lunaire, Alexandre Volguine, the founder of the Cahiers
astrologiques, studied the influence of Lilith, the "black moon",
second satellite of the Earth. Certain astrologers put the occurence
of the First World War down to its influence.
>From this, it is not hard to see that, Anno quite surely did came
across the "Black Moon" and the mystical name "Lilith" was used in
here. Then Anno delibrately called that white giant in terminal dogma
"Lilith", and area surrounded it is called "Black Moon", which is the
egg of Lilith. based on this assumption, Anno can be said that he was
inspired by this piece of astrological fact, and coincidently, he also
knew that the name "Lilith" is also a mystical being dated back the
time of Genesis, the first wife of Adam and later exiled from Eden.
So that, with all this background and cross-over of "Lilith", which
forms a fundamental infra-structure for the background of NGE.
Again, Lilith:- the Black Moon, and Lilith:- the first wife of Adam,
are two separate, independent, unrelated sources.
1.6.10) What is the seven eyed logo?
It is apparently the "seven eyes of God."
In Revelations, Chapter 5, Verse 6:
And I saw, standing midway between the throne and the four living
beings and among the elders, a Lamb as if it had been sacrificed. It
had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God
dispatched over the whole earth.
(version from the Bible, Gideons edition, published 1976.)
1.6.11) What is Marduk?
Marduk is a Babylonian god. According to Babylonian legend, the first
human being was created by mixing Marduk's blood with clay.
The following text is supplied by Stefano Brondi <bab at bab.net>
Marduk is the son of Apsu and Tiamat, the two primordial beings on the
Babylonian legend. Apsu was the water and void spirit, and Tiamat the
sea and chaos spirit, with the shape of a dragon's shape.
Marduk became the champion of all Gods born by the primordial beings
after Apsu was killed by one of Marduk's evil brothers. This caused
Tiamat to go crazy. The enormous dragon started to generate scorpion
men, demoniac lions, enormous serpents and shining dragons.
To stop her, Marduk took with him a net, a clave, poison (fiala), a
bow, arrows and a bag of lightning bolts. He used a chariot pulled by
four horses and followed the four winds and a strong tornado.
He captured Tiamat and he cut out her heart and decapitated her. He
cut her veins and he divided her body in two parts. From one of these
parts he moulded the sky and from the other he moulded the earth. In
the sky Marduk raised a shelter for the Gods, and installed the moon
and all stars as guardians of time. With one of Tiamat son's blood he
made human beings to serve Gods.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVA FAQ ver.0.6.3
Written by Stephen Lee.
Edited by Widya Santoso.
Last revised November 5, 1999.
Widya Santoso wsantoso at nyx.net +61 2 6288-0405
Those who cannot forget past love affairs are condemned to
repeat them. -- paraphrased from George Santayana
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