Secret within the 5th ed Rule Book Cover?!?!

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Warboss Spleenstaba**

Ok well Ii noticed this a while back and figured I should post it up here to see what you lot think, so here it goes: The image on the shield on the rulebook cover is of a man fighting serpents amongst flame this is a clear reference to Hercules (or Heracles if you wish). This in turn symbolizes mankind (the man) fighting off the threats (the snakes) assailing them, ie - Chaos, xenos, etc. Now the man in the image has a halo symbolizing divinity of some sort leading me to believe the symbol has a duality in that it represents both mankind and the emperor. Now looking at the spikes on the shield and the symbol just below them and going in a clockwise motion from the 1st spike (with the Inquisition symbol, btwn about 12 and 1 o'clock) and continuing to the eighth spike at around 7 o'clock. Look at the symbol (turn the rule book so the upper right hand corner is facing you it is of a phoenix and is drawn in the same style as the phoenix symbols on the High Elf modles. The phoenix is an ancient symbol of life, death, and most importantly rebirth (the phoenix bursting into flames and emerging from the ash reborn.

Now here is where it get's interesting this same symbol of the phoenix, of rebirth is emblazoned on the mans forehead! Why is this symbol out of all the one on the shield chosen to be on his forehead and that the man and the snakes are engulfed in the flames of death and therefore rebirth.

It is of my opinion that this symbolizes the rebirth of the Emperor and therefore mankind, and is not something to be overlooked if GW put it on the cover of the main rulebook.

Sry if this has been brought up b4, and I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter, cheers.

**ozzzy**

Me thinks personally being cynical, I dont think it should be read into too much because it just looks cool, however the imperium winning? Nevah, it is supposed to be grim-dark!!!

**Warboss Spleenstaba**

if it's just about looking cool than why would they do it like that with the symbol on his head an' all they didn't have to do that and it still would have looked cool.

**warpcrafter**

I think you're seeing what you want to see, personally.

**AlexCage**

I think this the exact same way prophecies and conspiracy theories are born.

**Warboss Spleenstaba**

I'm not saying I completely believe it, but what's there is there, simple as that.

**Exarch_Nektel**

It's an interesting theory- It will never happen in the 40k game, but they may be alluding to what happens after the game. I think that this is all GW will ever give us about this. That, and some Eldar fluff about "Ynnead" and the end of days.

**Warboss Spleenstaba**

Agreed Exarch GW will never stop milking their cash cow if they can help it.

**Exarch_Nektel**

Warboss Spleenstaba wrote:Agreed Exarch GW will never stop milking their cash cow if they can help it.

I'm actually glad about that. That means the game will go on.

**Warboss Spleenstaba**

samesies, then what would I have to come up with theories on? lol

**darkkt**

So, like the Davinci code (hidden secrets about Jesus and his disciples), this is the 'Alesso Calvatore' code?

I like it!

**EarlyEscaper**

i think its very symbolic, buuut could just be for the artistic value

what gw might be planning, is a whole new phase to the game, like, the emprah reborn and numerous larger threats coming in from outside, so basically turning the galactic warfare up to 11, kind of like a progression,

besides, if the emprah is reborn, that doesnt mean 40k will end, just change, as the other races will probs get something similar happening

**Xav**

I likes Edwards idea.

Like Abbaddon will defeat Cadia and sacrifice them all, that should make enough energy for the deamon primarchs to get out of the warp, well most of them anyway.

The dragon will escape.

The full nid force will come in, or something.

The eldar will.....what can the eldar do?

Dark eldar will not change keep on torturing and raping.

**Manchu**

Thanks for that great description, Spleenstaba. I think you've interpreted it correctly but I don't think it actually points to GW bringing the Emperor back anytime soon.

**combat_hobo**

Well i like this theory and may tie into "the bomb will be dropped" at the gamesday events, maybe some loyal primarchs willshow up, come on Russ.

**JubJubMarine**

I reckon that you are onto something here, SpleenStabba.
Do you have positive identification on this guy or is he just another random guy in the 40k universe?
Could this have anything to do with the Blood Raven's Unknown Primarch?

**aflax1**

I Believe what you're saying but have you considered that the arrival emperor was not the rebirth but that the fight between hercules (heracles) was a downhill battle until he found his inner courage or something to that point, in other words the imperium will fall into greater crisis and that the rebirth will be a different force?

Thanks for listening

**Manchu**

Good point, aflax1. I think that's a better interpretation than thinking the Emperor will be returning in this edition or even the next.

**Lord of battles**

JubJubMarine wrote:I reckon that you are onto something here, SpleenStabba.
Do you have positive identification on this guy or is he just another random guy in the 40k universe?
Could this have anything to do with the Blood Raven's Unknown Primarch?

There Primarch is Magnus the Red

**Tyras**

I think there will have to be a major event to herald the return of the Emperor. The fluff all points to the end times for humanity, but nothing has really happened.

The Golden Throne failing, cutting off the various human worlds from each other and paralyzing the Space Marines and Imperial Navy from delivering forces and war material to key worlds like Cadia or Armageddon and the Imperium of man fracturing into thousands of independant realms trying to hold what they have with what resorces they they have without interstellar travel would pretty much be it IMO.

Many human systems would fall, either because of the lack of reinforcement in ongoing wars, or the lack of food or goods provided by other planets they have lost contact with. There would be a need to reunite the human worlds again, and drive back the forces that would no doubtedly swoop in and take vulnerable systems in the absence of the Astronomican.

**EarlyEscaper**

therefore, NEW GREAT CRUSADE! woo, and the marines would get a whole rash of new units and all sorts of crazy tournaments and suchlike would take place

**Thor665**

Just as a thought, if you want to get quite literal with what the image shows - it is representative of Herakles as a babe strangling the serpents sent to kill him. The arising phoenix could then simply be showing the emergence (birth) of his divine power.

As a connection to the Emperor it could be meant to show his rise to divinity and how he strangled and defeated the forces of darkness. The imagery behind the shield then shows how all of this is for naught, as looming in the future is the coming of eternal war as humanity loses the guiding hands that should be wielding the shield and hammer as the Emperor is struck low and removed from an active role in the Imperium.

It seems equally symbolic of the past as it might be as a statement of the future yet to come is all I guess I'm saying.

My thoughts,
Thor.

**Great Unclean One**

There was acctually an article in a white dwarf about the hidden meanings of the picture so I think due to the fact they acctually hinted at a hidden meanings, I think brings this out of the realms of conspiracy theorism. Also, look carefully, he isn't fighting two snaked but a two headed serpent, could this represent Horus? Also, in a timeline in the new rulebook there is an entry that states that the techmarines have found a fatal flaw in the golden throne and are unable to fix it. I think it was WD 343.... Just some things to think about, also there is still Lionel Jonson under the rock and Robute Guilliman held in stasis, all they need is an antidote. Also Lionel stated that he would arise in a time of great need, I predict a major storyline change and some form of ressurection of the primarchs and return of the emperor, also I think they will make the other races have equal rebirths and events to make the other races still comparable. Maybie even so we can use the emperor and primarchs or even norn queens and if we are lucky a ressurected horus or chaos primarch to control? Probably in the form of something like Apocolypse....

**The Unending**

Actually there is a serpent in nordic mythology called Jormungandr(a.k.a the world serpent) that is sometimes pictured as two headed.

It is one of the children of the god Loki (who also happens to be the god of fire,evil, and CHAOS

)

Here's what wikipedia says about it.

Jörmungandr ['jœrmuŋgandr], mostly known as Jormundgand, Midgårdsormen, or World Serpent, is; in Norse mythology, a sea serpent, and the middle child of the giantess Angrboða and the god Loki. According to the Prose Edda, Odin took Loki's three children, Fenrisúlfr, Hel and Jörmungandr. He tossed Jörmungandr into the great ocean that encircles Midgard. The serpent grew so big that he was able to surround the Earth and grasp his own tail. When he lets go the world will end. As a result he earned the alternate name of the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent. Jörmungandr's arch enemy is the god Thor.

now I wouldn't put this forward as he isn't normally pictured with two heads (only occasionally) but someone also mentioned the myth of hercules defeating the serpents. Many have drawn a connection pointing to Thor being the Nordic version of hercules.

Thor is said to have a final battle with the midgard serpent at the end of time which will ultimatley end in both of them dying.

And in regards to the phoenix on the forehead of the man. The phoenix does not only represent rebirth but also light(Astronomicon).
It is also positioned where many believe the third eye is(supposed source of psychic ability in humans).

The emperor controls the astronomicon with his psyker abilities.

No idea what this means but if someone could piece all of this together it would be nice as I have no idea how to interpret all of this together.

**Thor665**

Just out of curiosity, when have you seen ye olde Midgaard Serpent depicted with two heads? I hardly consider myself anything close to an expert, but I've done more then my fair share of reading Norse Mythos (since I am both part Norse and my name really is Thor) and can't recall ever seeing anything of the sort. Can you point me towards any particular source?

For the record, I'm also not certain one could really say with any certainty it's a double headed snake - they're so wrapped up around the figure that to my eye they very much appear to be two separate snakes.

I will point out one double-headed snake myth I am aware of - and that is Nehebkau, a two headed serpent who guards the gates to the Underworld...in Egyptian Myth. All you Horus lovers may feel free to insert your theories below (though for the record I still call it two separate snakes)

I really like your read on the phoenix symbol at the third eye spot - that was clever and hadn't occurred to me at all.

**Orkeosaurus**

I would guess the two snakes/heads of the snake represent mankind's external and internal threats. If it's one snake it's also a parallel to the Aquila.

However, the Midgard Serpent is something I hadn't thought of.

**The Unending**

Thor665 wrote:Just out of curiosity, when have you seen ye olde Midgaard Serpent depicted with two heads? I hardly consider myself anything close to an expert, but I've done more then my fair share of reading Norse Mythos (since I am both part Norse and my name really is Thor) and can't recall ever seeing anything of the sort. Can you point me towards any particular source?

I think its in a book I own but i can't remember. It was on a piece of jewlry IIRC.

**Thor665**

Cool, if anything clearer comes to you drop me a line. I've seen some Ouroboros style jewelry before,though only single-headed. As I said, I'm interested in the Norse mythos, so if you get any more info let me know.

**H.B.M.C.**

darkkt wrote:this is the 'Alesso Calvatore' code?

We needn't worry then, as Alessio can't count higher than 5, so it's not going to be a very complex code.

**General Stubbs**

As Great Unclean One said, Games Workshop had an atricle on this but they did not stait who the Emperor was fighting. The the symbols around the shield thing are ment to be the symbols of Imperial Organisations I think.

My opinion is that the Emperor is fighting betrayal. Not literally but that anyone could betray him, that is why the snake has 2 heads (Two-faced). That sad it could be representing Horus, being his favourite and then turning on the Emperor (Two-faced once again).