Aglaophotis
Encyclopedia
Aglaophotis is a fictional herb mentioned occasionally in works on occultism. References to Aglaophotis and to Olieribos (both of which are said to be magical herbs) are made in the Simon Necronomicon
.
, is the source of Aglaophotis, but there is little evidence to prove this theory.
According to Dioscorides, peony is used for warding off demons, witchcraft
, and fever
. This is at odds with the presentation in the Necronomicon, in which it is used to call upon dark forces.
. Within the series, the substance appears as a crimson
liquid, and is also associated with a fictional drug known as White Claudia. In Silent Hill, it is also used to expel demons and the like from the bodies of possessed individuals.
In Silent Hill 3
, Heather's pendant, which was given to her by her father Harry (the protagonist of the first game), contained a small red jewel. It is later discovered that this jewel is a small capsule of aglaophotis. Towards the end of the game, Heather swallows it, causing her to vomit out the "god" growing within her.
Aglaophotis is also mentioned in the video game Amnesia: The Dark Descent
.
At the beginning of the game the main protagonist, Daniel, is suffering of one of the flashbacks when he enters the Laboratory, during this flashback he hears the recipe for some kind of potion which needs Aglaophotis.
Simon Necronomicon
The Simon Necronomicon is written by an unknown author, but is introduced by a man identified only as "Simon". Stories presented are a blend of Mesopotamian myths, Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian and a storyline of unknown authenticity about a man known as the "Mad Arab."The book was released in...
.
Historic uses
The Greek doctor Dioscorides named Aglaophotis as a member of the peony family, Paeoniaceae. It has been speculated that the species paeonia officinalis, or the European peonyPeony
Peony or paeony is a name for plants in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America...
, is the source of Aglaophotis, but there is little evidence to prove this theory.
According to Dioscorides, peony is used for warding off demons, witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, and fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
. This is at odds with the presentation in the Necronomicon, in which it is used to call upon dark forces.
Popular media
References to Aglaophotis are present in Konami's video game series Silent HillSilent Hill
is a survival horror video game series consisting of seven installments published by Konami and its subsidiary Konami Digital Entertainment. The first four games in the series, Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4, have been developed by an internal factor, Team Silent...
. Within the series, the substance appears as a crimson
Crimson
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
liquid, and is also associated with a fictional drug known as White Claudia. In Silent Hill, it is also used to expel demons and the like from the bodies of possessed individuals.
In Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. It is the third installment in the Silent Hill series and a direct sequel to the first Silent Hill game...
, Heather's pendant, which was given to her by her father Harry (the protagonist of the first game), contained a small red jewel. It is later discovered that this jewel is a small capsule of aglaophotis. Towards the end of the game, Heather swallows it, causing her to vomit out the "god" growing within her.
Aglaophotis is also mentioned in the video game Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a survival horror video game by Frictional Games, who previously developed the Penumbra series. Released for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms, the game features an unarmed protagonist exploring a dark and foreboding castle, while avoiding monsters and other...
.
At the beginning of the game the main protagonist, Daniel, is suffering of one of the flashbacks when he enters the Laboratory, during this flashback he hears the recipe for some kind of potion which needs Aglaophotis.