Assassin’s Creed is a popular video game franchise that explores the history and mythology of various civilizations through the eyes of a secret society of assassins. The series features many memorable protagonists, each with their own unique skills, personality, and story. Two of these protagonists are Aya and Kassandra, who appear in Assassin’s Creed: Origins and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey respectively. But did you know that these two women are actually related? Here’s how.
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Who is Aya?
Aya, also known as Amunet, is one of the co-founders of the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassin Brotherhood. She was born in Alexandria, Egypt, around 85 BCE, and was a descendant of the Spartan mercenary Kassandra. She married Bayek, a Medjay (a protector of Egypt), and had a son named Khemu. However, their son was killed by the Order of the Ancients, a secret organization that sought to control the world through the power of ancient artifacts. Aya and Bayek then embarked on a quest for revenge, hunting down the members of the Order and eventually joining forces with Cleopatra, who was fighting for the throne of Egypt.
Aya was a loyal and skilled agent of Cleopatra, playing a pivotal role in the Alexandrine Civil War. She also met Julius Caesar, the Roman general who allied with Cleopatra, and helped him secure his victory over Pompey. However, Aya soon realized that both Cleopatra and Caesar had joined the Order of the Ancients, and betrayed her ideals. She then parted ways with Bayek, and founded the Hidden Ones with him, a group dedicated to fighting against tyranny and oppression. She adopted the name Amunet, meaning “the hidden one”, and moved to Rome, where she assassinated Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE. She also convinced Cleopatra to commit suicide by using a venomous snake, thus ending her reign. Aya later took Cleopatra’s son Caesarion under her wing, and trained him as a Hidden One.
Who is Kassandra?
Kassandra is the main protagonist of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, and one of the earliest known users of the Spear of Leonidas, a powerful Isu artifact that granted her enhanced abilities. She was born in Sparta around 458 BCE, and was the granddaughter of King Leonidas I of Sparta. She was also the older half-sister of Alexios, who was taken by the Cult of Kosmos, another secret organization that sought to manipulate the fate of Greece. Kassandra was thrown off a cliff by her father Nikolaos, who believed she had killed her brother. However, she survived, and was rescued by Markos, a con artist who raised her on the island of Kephallonia.
Kassandra grew up to become a misthios (a mercenary), and traveled across Greece during the Peloponnesian War. She encountered many famous figures from history and mythology, such as Socrates, Perikles, Herodotos, Hippokrates, Sokrates, Aspasia, Alkibiades, Pythagoras, Barnabas and many others. She also learned about her true heritage as a descendant of the Isu (an ancient civilization that preceded humanity), and met her real father Pythagoras, who guarded the entrance to Atlantis. She also discovered that she was chosen by Aletheia (an Isu who rebelled against her kind) to become the Keeper of Atlantis (a role that involved safeguarding the secrets and knowledge of the Isu).
Kassandra also fought against the Cult of Kosmos, who were responsible for many atrocities in Greece. She eventually confronted their leader Deimos (who was revealed to be her brother Alexios), and either killed him or redeemed him. She also reunited with her mother Myrrine (who had been exiled from Sparta), and either restored her family or lost them forever. Kassandra then sealed Atlantis with Pythagoras’ help (or killed him if he refused), and became its new guardian.
Aya and Kassandra are related through Elpidios (meaning “hope”), Kassandra’s son with Natakas (the son of Darius). Elpidios was born around 422 BCE in Macedonia (or Persia if Kassandra chose to leave Greece), and was targeted by the Order of the Ancients (the precursor to the Templar Order), who wanted to use his bloodline for their own purposes. Kassandra managed to save her son from them (or failed if she chose to kill Natakas), and entrusted him to Darius (or his daughter Neema if she was alive). Darius then took Elpidios to Egypt (or Persia if he stayed there), where he raised him as his own son.
Elpidios grew up to become an ancestor of Aya, who inherited his bloodline and his connection to the Isu. Aya also inherited the Spear of Leonidas from Kassandra, who passed it down to her descendants. Aya used the Spear as a hidden blade, and became one of the first assassins in history. She also passed it down to her own descendants, who continued the fight against the Order of the Ancients and their successors.
Why is this connection important?
The connection between Aya and Kassandra is important because it shows how the Assassin’s Creed series is interconnected, and how the actions of one protagonist can affect the lives of another. It also shows how the bloodline of Kassandra, one of the most powerful and influential individuals in history, shaped the course of events for centuries. It also reveals how the Hidden Ones and the Assassin Brotherhood were founded by the descendants of Kassandra, who carried on her legacy and her ideals. It also demonstrates how the conflict between the Assassins and the Templars (and their predecessors) has been going on for millennia, and how it is rooted in the struggle for freedom and order.
According to Fandom, Aya and Kassandra are two of the most popular and beloved characters in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and their connection adds more depth and meaning to their stories. They are also two of the most badass and inspiring female protagonists in gaming, who have proven their courage, skill, and wisdom in many challenges and adventures. They are both heroes in their own right, who have made a lasting impact on the world.
