In Destiny, there are many different weapon perks, each of which has a different effect. Usually, you can tell from the name what advantage the respective perk offers. But what about “Sword of Aegeus”, “Hannibal” and “Malleus Maleficarium”?
The weapons in Destiny are characterized by various perks that offer the Guardian customization and enhancement options for their weapon. In general, the higher the weapon rank, the more options are available for perks. Often the name of the perk reveals what it does. Otherwise, there is always a description text that clarifies most uncertainties. But why are some perks named as they are? We want to look at the perks “Sword of Aegeus”, “Hannibal” and “Malleus Maleficarium”.
The meaning behind the Sword of Aegeus
Sword of Aegeus is a random perk that various weapons can have, such as the legendary pulse rifle Griff von Malok.
The description reads:
This weapon deals bonus damage to Vex Minotaurs.
But why specifically against Vex Minotaurs? What does a Sword of Aegeus have to do with it? Both Aegeus and the Minotaur are figures of Greek mythology.
- Aegeus was the father of Theseus, a later king of Athens.
- The Minotaur was a creature with a human body and a bull’s head, which was trapped in a labyrinth created by King Minos of Crete.
And to cut the story short: Theseus, the son of Aegeus, killed the Minotaur.
Aegeus also left his sword under a heavy stone. Once Theseus was strong enough to roll the stone away, he could take hold of the sword.
This establishes the relationship between Vex Minotaurs and the Sword of Aegeus
What is the perk Hannibal about?
The Hannibal perk is also part of the random perk selection and can enhance several weapons, such as the legendary scout rifle Star Threads.
The description reads:
This weapon deals bonus damage to Cabal Centurions.
Why is that? The Carthaginian Hannibal is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity, who inflicted several severe defeats on the Roman Empire during the Second Punic War. Centurions were officers of the Roman Empire who commanded “hundreds”.
It is noteworthy, however, that Hannibal lost the war and the perk is named after a general who ultimately fell to the centurions. Nevertheless, he certainly dealt them solid damage.
What does Malleus Maleficarum mean?
Now we come to a perk that many may find difficult to imagine just by hearing the name. Malleus Maleficarum is a random perk that can be selected for various weapons.
The description reads:
This weapon deals bonus damage to Hive witches.
And what is the connection between the name and the description?
This time, the name takes us into German history. The Latin term means “Hammer of Witches”. The Hammer of Witches is a work that legitimized witch hunting. According to current research, the first edition was published in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer, a Dominican, in Speyer.
This written treatise aimed to justify witch hunts against those who opposed them. However, this work received neither ecclesiastical nor secular recognition.
This is how Malleus Maleficarium relates to the Hive witches.
At Bungie, there are evidently some employees who are also somewhat familiar with history. Have you ever wondered about the names of these perks? Whether yes or no, now you have ammunition to bombard your friends with.
More curiosities about names in Destiny can be read here:
