Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Arabic Poems
Analysis
Welcome to the second article in a new series dedicated to decoding the secrets hidden within the Assassin's Creed series.
In this article, new recruit The Hidden Virtuals examines the mysterious text from recent Assassin's Creed Mirage gameplay footage, which can be seen in the background of the contracts board which Basim can interact with in the Hidden Ones Bureau.
Here is our analysis of the three poetry pieces!
Poem 1: Written by Ali bin Mohammed bin Abdul Rahim Al-Warznini Al-Alawi “Sahib Al-Zandj” (Leader of the Zanj Rebellion)
Died: 884 AD | Abbasid Caliphate
لهف نفسى على قصور ببغداد … وما قد حوته من كل عاص
The self weeps upon the palaces of Baghdad … and what they hold of sinners
وخمور هناك تشرب جهرا … ورجال على المعاصي حراص
Where Spirits are shamelessly chugged …and where men are thirsty to sin
لست بابن الفواطم الغرّ إن لم … أجُلّ الخيل حول تلك العراص
I am no Fatimi descendant …if my stallions did not surround those walls
“al-Ghor” was referring to Ali ibn Abi Talib prophet Mohammed’s cousin as an Epithet of Ali ibn Abi Talib which means “Leader of Believers” hence “the leader of the Zanj Rebellion” is claiming to be a descendant of his, something which scholars now argue to be false.
Poem 2: Written by Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws bin Al-Harith Al-Ta'i
Died: 846 AD | Abbasid Caliphate
يُتَرجِمُ طَرفي عَن لِساني بِسِرِّهِ…فَيُظهِرُ مِن وَجدي الَّذي كُنتُ أَكتُمُ
My eyes speak for secrets with that my tongue withholds…for they reveal from my sorrow what i kept untold
أَلَيسَ عَجيباً أَنَّ بَيتاً يَضُمُّني…وَإِيّاكَ لا نَخلو وَلا نَتَكَلَّمُ
How strange ! One place embracing us together you and i … yet apart
(Known for his literature in the 9th-century, including a collection of early poems known as the Hamasah, considered one of the greatest anthologies of Arabic literature ever assembled, featuring over 880 entries)
Poem 3: Source: Found in Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws bin Al-Harith Al-Ta'i's Poetry Collection
Died: 963AD
وإني لإشفاقي عليكَ وصَبْوتي ... إليكَ كأني في المنام أراكا
And as i worry and yearn for you …i vision you in my sleep
تُحدّثني نفسي إذا غِبتَ ساعةً، ... بأنّ لقاء الموتِ دون لِقاكا
For in your absence my soul wonders…if death would meet me before i meet you
This short poem was written by a servant of Ibn Asem, a Scholar who wrote literature covering history, poetry and religion. The poem was originally written on footwear belonging to the servant. The scribbles were then featured in Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws bin Al-Harith Al-Ta'i's Poetry Collection.
It may well have been written in times previous to or during the events of Assassin Creed Mirage, also potentially pre-dating the Abbasid Caliphate, but the exact date of it's creation remains unknown.
We hope that you found this article interesting. Look out for future articles in the Decoding the Creed series, as we begin to unravel mysteries hidden in plain sight.
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About the Author
Noon (@HiddenOnesN) is a Virtual Photography enthusiast and writer who joined TOWCB social media team in Summer of 2023 as an Arabic Translator.
In a series of Twitter threads decoding hidden messages within the Assassin's Creed Mirage Marketing campaign, Noon made a strong impression online as a codebreaker. By joining TOWCB, we boosted her findings with a larger audience, and are working together to improve our social media strategies and grow our community.
In late 2023, Noon notably be led our 'Decoding the Creed' series, diving deep into the mysteries hidden within the franchise. She also worked alongside the Virtual Photography Team to grow our Twitter community, and encourage interactions.
Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals)