Summary

  • The Tibia Mariner in Elden Ring are mysterious characters with very little lore, summoning the dead with giant horns.
  • A new theory suggests a connection between the Tibia Mariner and the Greek mythology figure Charon appears in the DLC.

The Tibia Mariner are mysterious characters in Elden Ring. The skeletal figures float around in various locations in The Lands Between, summoning the dead with their giant horns. But, while the bosses feature frequently in the game, very little actual lore exists about them.

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In Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring's DLC, a new Tibia Mariner is present, and a fan theory suggests that this is the missing piece of the puzzle to discovering who the boat-bound skeletons are.

This article contains minor spoilers for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. If you've not finished the DLC yet, bookmark this page and come back later.

An Ancient Greek Mythological Connection

The new theory is actually less about the Tibia Mariner and more about where the boss resides.

Heading down the new, giant, unnamed dragon's wing, players will arrive at a hard-to-reach section of the Cerulean Coastline called Charo's Hidden Grave. Here, the first major enemy players are likely to encounter is another Tibia Mariner.

It's here that new connections can be drawn. Charo's Hidden Grave is an area blighted by death. Unlike the Cerulean Coastline's glowing blue flowers, Charo's Hidden Grave is covered in red. The land is inhabited by creatures synonymous with death, including a Death-Rite Bird, Gravebirds, and, of course, the Tibia Mariner itself. While it's no secret that the Mariners are associated with the afterlife, being surrounded by so much death is the first hint.

The second hint, which is a bit more "on the nose", is the name of the location. Charo's Hidden Grave is likely a reference to Charon from Greek Mythology. Charon was a ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the rivers Acheron and Styx in his boat to the afterlife, which fits the figure of the Tibia Mariner perfectly.

Occasionally, in-game, the Tibia Mariner's eyes will glow, adding another layer to the theory. The name Charon is theorized to come from the ancient Greek word χαρωπός or charopós. Charopós, which contains the word Charo, like the hidden grave, is speculated to mean "fierce, flashing or feverish eyes", something which the Mariner can and does display.

While these comparisons between the Tibia Mariner and Charon are nothing new, this idea gives credence to the theory that the Elden Ring boss is, in fact, the same mythological figure as that found in ancient Greece.

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Elden Ring

RPG Action Systems 10.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 95/100 Critics Rec: 98% Released February 25, 2022 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) From Software Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software Engine Proprietary
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