Steam Community :: Guide :: The Story Behind ABZÛ

Store Page

ABZÛ

All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos News Guides Reviews

ABZÛ > Guides > Trondheim's Guides

97 ratings

The Story Behind ABZÛ

By Trondheim

So you've played through ABZÛ, and if you are like me, you really enjoyed it. But then you wondered, what is this game REALLY about? What does it all mean? In this guide I will offer some thoughts in an attempt to better understand the ABZÛ experience.

Award

Created by

Trondheim
Offline

Category: Story or Lore

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

14 Mar, 2019 @ 9:46pm

29 Dec, 2019 @ 6:26pm

3,593	Unique Visitors
62	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Pt 1: What's in a name?

Pt 2: ABZÛ's story

Pt 3: More influences

Pt 4: Conclusions

Comments

Pt 1: What's in a name?

At first I didn't think much of the game's name. I thought it was just the character's name, end of story. Upon further research, however, I found that Abzu (or Apsû) is one of two primeval gods from the ancient Babylonian creation myth, described in the Enûma Eliš tablets. Apsû represents fresh water, and the other primeval god, Tiamat, represents oceanic waters.

The soundtrack of ABZÛ also gives clues: most of the titles are translated lines from these tablets.

Therefore, the first clear connection or reference that we have from ABZÛ is Babylonian mythology.

Pt 2: ABZÛ's story

There will be spoilers.

Looking deeper into the storyline of the game, we have our main character, and we also have these mysterious triangular machines.

At first they seem harmless enough, we just swim through them to reach new areas. We also see them in the art depicted on the walls.

I am just speculating, but this image from the screenshot gives me the sense that it is Apzû and Tiamat.

At first, there is harmony between Apzû and Tiamat, but they come to disagree about the fate of the younger gods, who are annoying them by being so loud. Apzû wants to destroy them, but Tiamat warns the god Ea. Ea then puts Apzû to sleep with magic and kills him. Though our main character does not exactly die, we do have elements of a conflict with the triangle machines (aka Tiamat).

Even though Tiamat warned the younger gods about Apzû's plan to destroy them, she isn't exactly happy that Apzû is dead. Long story short, she gathers her forces and minions to fight the younger gods, but she is defeated by Marduk, chosen champion of the younger gods. Marduk then uses Tiamat's corpse to fashion the earth and the sky.

I know I'm being selective in what I am analyzing, and that a lot of other factors in the game have been left out (yes, our shark buddy, I know). Maybe it doesn't all add up, but I think this still has some significance.

Pt 3: More influences

Continuing our ponderings concerning the influence of Babylonian mythology on ABZÛ, one of the most compelling evidences is the blue brick theme. It instantly reminds me of the Ishtar Gate (what it once might have looked like):

However, when it comes to the actual architecture, it looks Moorish to me, with its ornate patterns, arches, and ceilings.

There is also something Atlantean about the sunken city...

And Egyptian about the frescos...

These bring to mind Babylonian lamassu or Egyptian sphinxes...

Pt 4: Conclusions

While I haven't really "solved" anything, it's clear that ancient mythology plays a key role and influence in the storyline of ABZÛ. I think a bit of mystery certainly helps to leave one in awe of the beautiful atmospheres presented in this game.

If you think I'm wrong about something or have other ideas and inspirations for this magnificent game, please leave a comment!

19 Comments

< >

zipcatnap 20 Mar @ 1:22am

My apologies. I posted these in reverse order. Start at the bottom post, and read upwards.

zipcatnap 20 Mar @ 1:20am

The constellations of the Zodiac were considered gods by many cultures. When three constellations of the Zodiac were marked out by the Great Trigon, these were called the 'gods of Triplicity'.

If you've watched "Avatar: The Last Air-bender", you've already learned a bit about the four Elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, and how they run in a 200 year cycle.

If you've watched "Dark Crystal", you've already learned a bit about the Great Trigon and how it is associated with the ends and beginnings of 'worlds'.

"Ends, beginnings, they're all the same." - Aughra, from the "Dark Crystal"

zipcatnap 20 Mar @ 1:20am

Over the course of about 800 years, the Great Trigon has rotated through all Twelve constellations of the Circle of the Zodiac. The Great Trigon has rotated through all four Elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, in that order.

According to Plato, all four of the Elements having been marked out creates a 'cosmos' or 'world'. With the end of that 'world', another 'world' begins. The Great Trigon continues to rotate in the sky. Thus 'worlds' end and begin approximately every 800 years.

Until the Renaissance, Europeans believed the Element that was marked out by a Great Trigon in the sky had a profound influence on events on our mortal world below. In the Elizabethan Age astronomers watched the movements of the Great Trigon with fear and trepidation.

zipcatnap 20 Mar @ 1:19am

Enki/Ea warned the man Utnapashtim/Ziusudra/Atrahasis about a Great Flood. The man built a great Ark, and put two of each animal on the Ark, saving life on Earth. The Greeks called him Dukaleon/Deucalion. Afterwards, the man was rewarded with eternal life, and made into constellation Aquarius the Water-bearer.

The Great Conjunctions of planets Saturn and Jupiter, when marked on a sky map, gradually form a huge Great Trigon or Triangle in the sky. Astronomer Johannes Kepler famously drew a picture of this Great Trigon, also called a Great Triangulum.

The three corners of the Great Trigon intersect with three constellations of the Circle of the Zodiac. This is said to mark out an Element. Gradually, after about 200 years, the Great Trigon rotates and shifts, sliding over into three other constellations of the Circle of the Zodiac, and marking out another Element.

zipcatnap 20 Mar @ 1:18am

In Babylonian myth, Abzu or Absu, which gives us our English word 'abyss', was also a place in the sky. Abzu meant 'the Deep', the subterranean waters. The 'watery part' of the sky was 1/4 of the sky said to be controlled by the Moon and planet Venus. In the ancient Western theory of the Four Humors, Moon and Venus are associated with Winter (especially Winter Solstice), Water, and Phlegm.

A few thousand years ago, constellations Pisces the Fishes, Aquarius the Water-bearer, and Capricorn the Goat-fish were the 'watery part' of the sky.

Constellation Pisces the Fishes belonged to the god known as Enki or Ea. He was pictured with water and the Pisces fish pouring from his shoulders. His temple was called E-Abzu.
Enki/Ea created mankind from mud and blood, first forming the Seven Sages.

Kaifloof 16 Feb @ 11:36am

I'd love to see your take on TGC's other popular game, Journey!

mikabracais 3 Apr, 2023 @ 5:28am

This honestly does sound about right! I didn't know about the origins of the architecture though, so thanks for telling us! I did realize that some of the ceiling domes in the Atlantean-esque city resembled those in the Abzû Temple, including the final area of the city, which looks almost 1:1 with the main area.

I remember someone drawing comparisons between the red lights of the tetrahedron machines, and the red amphoras and pitchers used to carry the Abzû. Perhaps they're meant to represent the artificial constructs made to carry the primordial waters, going more advanced and hostile in their purpose as time went on.

Laykan 29 Jan, 2023 @ 9:57am

Darren 31 May, 2021 @ 10:05am

There's an excellent article on mandatory.com that takes your ideas and explains it further. If you liked the game, its worth a read.

Article is here: https://www.mandatory.com/culture/1017857-abzu-ending-explained-theory-journey-successors-plot

Agent Zirdik 23 May, 2021 @ 9:54am

Great! This is far more interesting to think about. After I finished, I mostly got the impression that it was a simple-minded story about how nature good and technology bad.

< >