Old Tongue

Old Tongue
General Information
Effect	Various paranormal phenomena depending on the circumstances
Users	Fallen Angels Possessed people

“	I haven't heard the Old Tongue in eons.	”
	— The Dark Lord to the Sentinel.

The Old Tongue, alternately called Enochian, is the archaic language spoken by Fallen Angels. It was first spoken by John Sibley during a crisis, caused by the attempt of Cotton Mather to exorcise him.

Description

An ancient and mysterious language, loosely based on the Aramaic language. It can be interpreted as the language of some divine creatures, particularly of the spirit that presented himself under the name of "Legion." This Old Tongue is the primary language of angels, as can be seen from the first encounter between The Sentinel and the Dark Lord, although they are able to speak and understand any language profusely.

In some particular circumstance, this language proved to be a catalyst to create disturbances on a sensory, or even metaphysical level in both human beings and the surrounding natural area, causing terrible ultrasounds. Enochian inscriptions are also found on the surface of the so-called "Angelic Box of Anguish," a peculiar torture device used by the Sentinel on Mary Sibley.

History

In order to exorcise John Sibley, Reverend Cotton Mather surrounded the child within a magical circle, marked by unidentified cabalistic symbols. While the exorcism was underway, disturbing paranormal phenomena began to manifest. John Sibley began to be subjected to violent seizures, shaking his body in inhumane positions and vomiting swarms of insects.

As Cotton Mather kept chanting exorcising prayers, "little John" became more and more prey to supernatural phenomena, causing storms and metaphysical distortions that repercussed on the surrounding area. He then started to yell, "Mene Mene Tekel Persis. Shaytani, Shaytani lama sabachthani". A request addressed to the Devil himself while his vessel was being tortured by sacred prayers in the name of God, given the translation in English of said words.

When the Sentinel, a mysterious demonic individual, discreetly entered the House of the Seven Gables to reunite with long-lost brother, the Dark Lord, he started talking to the latter in the Old Tongue. However, the Devil ordered him to speak in English as hearing the Old Language awakened in him too many memories, a clear hint to their Fall from Heaven.

Memorable Quotes

Cotton Mather: "Why can't he say them? Go on, boy! Say the words! "Our father, which art in Heaven, hallowed... Say the words, child, if a child you be!"

Little John: "Mene mene tekel Persis. Shaytani, Shaytani lama sabachthani!"

– On Earth as in Hell

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The Devil: "Finally, brother, you are here."

The Setinel: "Nostoah nanaeel olani noasmi..."

The Devil: "Stop. I haven't heard the Old Tongue in eons. I can't say that I like it. Too many memories. But I quite like this one... English."

– After the Fall

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Trivia

• Demonic tongues are a recurring motif of religious beliefs and horror genre. Usually a bastardization of dead languages associated with Holy Scripture.
• Adam Simon confirmed that the Old Tongue is Enochian, a language that the mystic John Dee claimed to have received from angels. In Salem, however, the Old Tongue also includes other real-life languages different than Dee's Enochian, such as the Biblical references in the second season.
• The sentence in On Earth as in Hell is based on two famous lines from the Bible. The first part is the literal "Writing on the Wall" contained in the Book of Daniel (5, 25-28), about the arrival of the End of Days. The final part is a demonization of the last words of Christ on the cross, according to the Gospel of Mark (15:34), replacing the word for "My Lord" with "Satan". It roughly translates as "Satan, why have you forsaken me?".
• In After the Fall, The Sentinel asks the Devil if "[Has] the power become twofold.".