Head of Saint Denis

The Head of Saint Denis was an ancient head-shaped lantern, which encased an Apple of Eden. Following the Apple's removal, the Head of Saint Denis became a regular, albeit self-illuminating lantern, requiring no fuel.
==Owners==
*Unknown succesor of Saint Denis (3rd century)Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris – Notes from Eivor's travels: "Ancient Stone Tablet 2"
*Suger of Saint-Denis (c. 1140)Assassin's Creed: Unity – Dead Kings
*Arno Dorian (August 1794 - ?)
*David Brewster (February 1868)Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
==History==
The Head of Saint Denis was created by a succesor of Saint Denis of Paris in the 3rd century. This person was inspired by Saint Denis' work using the Apple of Eden retrieved from the Saint-Denis Temple and sought to continue it following the saint's execution by the Romans. Using the Apple, he was able to make the population believe that Saint Denis had walked with his head in his hands all the way to his final resting place. In time, however, the Apple began to corrupt the successor's mind and he chose to return it, along with the Head, to the temple.
In the first half of the 12th century, the temple and the Head were discovered by the Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis. He used the knowledge attained from the Apple of Eden housed within the lantern to create the Eagle of Suger—a powerful sword—and later hid the artifact back in the temple.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Dead Kings – Suger's Legacy
In August 1794, Arno Dorian battled a group of tomb raiders sent by Napoleon Bonaparte in order to retrieve the artifact from the Saint-Denis Temple. The Assassin killed their leader, Philippe Rose, and used the power of the Apple contained within the lantern to repel the remaining raiders. Realizing the dangers of the lantern's power should it fall into Napoleon's hands, Arno removed the Apple housed within and contacted the French Assassins, asking them to send the Apple to Al Mualim in Cairo. Upon delivering the artifact to its escort, Arno kept the relic, the Head of Saint Denis itself, as a memento.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Dead Kings – A Crown of Thorns
By 1868, the lantern had been obtained by the British Rite of the Templar Order, and was kept by David Brewster inside his laboratory. It was likely destroyed when the device he used to experiment on another Apple of Eden malfunctioned, causing the Piece of Eden to detonate and collapse the laboratory.Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – A Simple Plan
==Abilities==
Without the power of the Apple of Eden it housed, the Head of Saint Denis was a regular, but self-illuminating lantern which required no form of fuel to burn. Even dipping it in water would not damage or reduce its effects.
When the Head of Saint Denis was fueled by the Apple of Eden's power the artifact emitted a shimmering blue light and possessed the power to conjure up terrifying illusions which would scare people to the point where they would die from heart failure caused by the intense fear. It could also imbue weapons with a mystical power.
==Behind the scenes==
The Head is a reference to Saint Denis becoming a after his martyrdom. According to his hagiography, he was so successful at converting the local populace that the Roman religious leaders had him beheaded. After his execution, Saint Denis picked up his head and continued his sermon as he walked several miles from Montmartre in Paris to his final death site, which would later become the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Unity – Dead Kings 
*Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
*Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris 
== References==
Category:Tools
Category:Precursor relics
fr:Tête de Saint-Denis