| Book of Styx | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Original Name |
スティクスの書 |
|
Romanized Name |
Suteikusu no Sho |
|
Author |
Charon (カローン Karōn) |
|
Debut |
|
|
Powers |
It summons a barrier. |
|
User |
Hugh Anthony Disward; |
|
Status |
Inside the Dantalian's Bookshelf |
Book of Styx or Book of the Styx's Shield (スティクスの楯の書 Suteikusu no Tate no Sho), by Charon, is a Phantom Book used by Hugh to block the Golem’s attacks. Later, Hugh explored its powers once again to neutralize Diffring's shots. It also appeared in the manga as Στύξ, Styx in Ancient Greek.
It’s a book written with strange letters.[1] The Phantom Book is seen as a heavy and old book with a red, ornate cover in the anime adaptation.[2]
Background[]
The Book of Styx was written by the immortal wise man Charon,[1] the ferryman of Hades, which is the name of both the underworld and its ruler, the God of the dead from the Greek mythology.[3] Charon would carry the souls of the deceased from the world of the living, across the rivers Styx and Acheron, to the world of the dead.[4]
It has registers about the deity Styx, here called the Goddess of the Underworld, the personification of the river. The Book of Styx is contained inside the Labyrinth Library.[1]
Powers[]
From the Book of Styx, an impenetrable, invisible wall is raised. It's a barrier which will not be pierced even against a thousand spears. Magical sparkles appear at the user's feet as he reads the passages of the Phantom Book.[1] The shield is capable of blocking the bullets from a shotgun and the powerful punches dealt by a Golem.[1][5] It can also produce a powerful shock wave, wrapping the attacker in flames. The user gets tired after using the shield for a brief time, since his spirit is consumed as magical power.[1] In the manga, bullets shot against the invisible wall stop in the air and fall to the ground without hitting the target.[6] This adaptation also shows that the Phantom Book can block the powerful burst of energy released by the Loge.[7]
In the anime, the translucent golden shield shows some images, including what appears to be a Chimera, a Pegasus, a peacock and a Gorgon head. Occasionally, it also displays stars of David, with symbols of a crescent moon or a lightning.[2]
Script[]
Hugh reads a passage from the Book of Styx to summon the shield.[2]
one which separates the underworld from the material world, the mortals from the immortal gods.
Test one's vows with thy roaring stream!
The Goddess smiles, permitting my stay,
blessing eternal body and soul, harming naught.
The lives of the Gods on Mount Olympus shall be eternal, gifted by the world."
Plot[]
Book of Fetus[]
After Estella tried to stab Hugh, the Golem broke through a wall. The Golem was created to hide the evidences of the murders committed by Estella, including the bodies. Hugh and Dalian are attacked by the monster. Hugh opens the Labyrinth Library to obtain the Book of Styx and The Clay Tablet of Ugarit. The former is used to protect Hugh and Dalian from the Golem. The creature pushes the invisible wall, only to be pushed back by a shock wave. Soon after, the invisible wall is repeatedly hit by the creature. Since the Phantom Book was consuming Hugh's spirit, he finds himself exhausted. Eventually, the Golem is defeated after Hugh destroys the 72 Sacred Notes of the Shem-ha-mephorash, the Phantom Book controlling the artificial being.[1]
Book of Gap[]
Serial killer Benjamin Diffring was trying to kill Jessica Elphinstone, a schoolgirl who witnessed his attack on Matilda Linker. He removes a shotgun from the gap between the pages of the Book of Gap, using the power of the Phantom Book itself. He shoots at the young girl, then at Dalian when she teases the man. The bullets are obstructed by an invisible wall. Diffring was not the only one using a Phantom Book, since Hugh was holding the Book of Styx. Finding himself in disadvantage, the serial killer runs away. Hugh calmly closes the Phantom Book. He already knows where Diffring is heading.[5]
Book of Wisdom II (manga-only)[]
Norman and his soldiers surround Hugh and Dalian during their discussion with Rasiel and Charlotte. After seeing how Norman was threatening Eric and her parents, Charlotte releases the hidden power of the Book of Wisdom. Then, Rasiel opens the Labyrinth Library to summon a giant. The Professor reads the Loge to make the monster release a powerful attack. Dalian appears exhausted, holding the Στύξ. She had used the Phantom Book to protect Charlotte and Eric.[7]
.jpg "Styx Shield (1).jpg (668 KB)")
.jpg "Book of Styx (manga).jpg (217 KB)")
Trivia[]
- The Odyssey is one of the books that appears at the end of Episode 2. This Greek epic poem mentions the river Styx.[8] Additionally, some myths describe Charon carrying Odysseus to the underworld and back.[9]
- Charon and Styx are moons of Pluto. Curiously, the loss rate of Pluto's atmosphere is reduced by Charon, which acts as a shield against solar winds.[10]
- The Sage's Plate is also used to summon a barrier.[11]
- Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and notable in Greek mythology as the home of the gods.[12]
- The Book of Styx is seen in the opening.[13]
- A mock Book of Styx is included in the special edition of Codex 2, the second volume of the Japanese DVDs and Blu-ray discs.[14]