Hydaelyn, The Shards & How They Work

[MrThinker]

My main citation for the Primary Moon being known by Eorzeans as 'Menphina' is that Dalamud was known in-universe as Menphina's loyal hound, which makes sense - Dalamud orbited the Primary Moon (as shown by the models of Hydaelyn and it's moons on the Astrolabe), but like real life where Luna is the fancy 'traditional' name for Earth's moon but officially is simply called the 'Moon' by the IAU (and pretty much everyone on Earth), it's never really called that by Hydaelyn's inhabitants, including Eorzeans - instead the smallfolk simply call it the 'moon' or 'the Primary Moon' when Dalamud was still around.

If Zodiark really was the name for the Primary Moon, I think that would have ended up somewhere in Hydaelyn's culture, yet it is the Ascians' who first reveal Zodiark's existence, his name not even being uttered at all until the final stinger of 2.0's initial main scenario and absolutely no sign of his name anywhere in Hydaelyn.

So even if Zodiark literally is the Primary Moon (an idea I don't buy myself), no one on Hydaelyn seems to know about that.

Again, all good points and evidence towards the Moon being named Menphina by Eorzeans.

Also, apologies if my previous response seemed aggressive.

Edit: Here is a still from that Elidibus-moon scene


Here is a picture of the statue from the Chrysalis


You can see that the sculpture on the moon has the hands and arms, the head, and the Halo of the statue from the Chrysalis, and the tip of one of the 'wings' can be barely made out as well. Though admittedly it is very dark, cause the camera almost immediately pans away from the thing when we fade into the scene.

[ObsidianFire]

There's one more view we (the Warrior of the Light, not just the player) has gotten of Zodiark. Or at least, what is probably him. At the end of 2.0 after the credits, we have an Echo-vision of a giant crystal that looks exactly like Hydalyn does. Only it is dark purple and glows red.

If I had to take a guess, Zodiark is probably off in his own quarantined area of an Aetherial Sea in the Moon where he can't mess with the part of the Aetherial Sea Hydaleyn is in...

[MrThinker]

Considering that crystal appears to match the colouring of the crystals of darkness we see from time to time, as well as the statue in the Chrysalis, I am inclined to agree.

[Anonymoose]

As much as I'd like to lurk a bit more before interfering in this thread's natural habitat at all, I can at least say that the "Statue of Zodiark on the Moon" thing has been floating around since 3.0 and it usually spawns a hunt for a citation, attempted screenshots, and debates over whether it's pareidolia, but - yes - it's a statue of Zodiark on the moon, lol. (It's not the only oddity there, either...)

[MrThinker]

As much as I'd like to lurk a bit more before interfering in this thread's natural habitat at all, I can at least say that the "Statue of Zodiark on the Moon" thing has been floating around since 3.0 and it usually spawns a hunt for a citation, attempted screenshots, and debates over whether it's pareidolia, but - yes - it's a statue of Zodiark on the moon, lol. (It's not the only oddity there, either...)

I have 2 things to say:

Firstly; Thank you for that clarification Mr Moose.
Secondly; There is MORE in that scene? I always thought myself as observant but the Zodiark statue was the only thing that really stood out from the natural progression of the scene. Guess I'm gonna have to strain my eyes to get more details.

[Anonymoose]

Guess I'm gonna have to strain my eyes to get more details.

Don't strain yourself too hard, it's nothing quite as cool as the statue. There's another not-quite-a-rock there somewhere (I think it was a dev joke), and if you watch the sand by their feet, you can juuust baaarely see the beginning of an outline, as if something has made an impression in the moondust...

[Enkidoh]

As much as I'd like to lurk a bit more before interfering in this thread's natural habitat at all, I can at least say that the "Statue of Zodiark on the Moon" thing has been floating around since 3.0 and it usually spawns a hunt for a citation, attempted screenshots, and debates over whether it's pareidolia, but - yes - it's a statue of Zodiark on the moon, lol. (It's not the only oddity there, either...)

Curses! Out-lored by the Loremaster!

Although, there is precedent, FFIV and it's Moai on the moon and all could be more what that is a reference to (I admit, I'm in denial here and just vainly trying to keep my tattered arguement alive!).

Either way, thank you for clarifying that Moose.

[MrThinker]

Aha, I see. I will check it as soon as I am able, though if there is some invisible presence there, that opens a whole can of worms (I'm not sure what it would be in regards to though).

[Anonymoose]

Although, there is precedent

Fwiw, Yoshida has joked several times that we can't be sure Elidibus didn't just take him to the equivalent of a NASA-conspiracy soundstage...

[MrThinker]

Fwiw, Yoshida has joked several times that we can't be sure Elidibus didn't just take him to the equivalent of a NASA-conspiracy soundstage...

That would be hilarious in the moment but disappointing in the long run, if it were true lol.