The Curse of the Pharaohs is an expansion pack for the Ubisoft game Assassin's Creed Origins. It was released on March 13, 2018, and continues the story of the main game. The expansion takes place four years after the events of Origins and introduces a new storyline involving the revival of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. In this expansion, the protagonist Bayek arrives in a new region called Thebes, which is suffering from a plague of undead pharaohs. These pharaohs, known as the "Pharaoh's Shadows," have been brought back to life by a curse and wreak havoc upon the land. Bayek, along with his new ally and historian, Tahira, must uncover the origin of this curse and find a way to put an end to it.

Inside the Conversion Tactics of the Early Christian Church

The triumph of Christianity over the pagan religions of ancient Rome led to the greatest historical transformation the West has ever seen: a transformation that was not only religious, but also social, political and cultural. Just in terms of “high culture,” Western art, music, literature and philosophy would have been incalculably different had the masses continued to worship the gods of the Roman pantheon instead of the one God of Jesus—if paganism, rather than Christianity, had inspired their imaginations and guided their thoughts. The Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modernity as we know them would also have been unimaginably different.

But how did it happen? According to our earliest records, the first “Christians” to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus were 11 male disciples and a handful of women—say 20 people altogether. These were lower-class, uneducated day laborers from a remote corner of the Roman Empire. And yet, within three centuries, the Christian church could count some 3 million adherents. By the end of the 4th century, it was the official religion of Rome, numbering 30 million followers—or half the Empire.

A century after that, there were very few pagans left.

Christians today might claim that their faith triumphed over the other Roman religions because it was (and is) true, right and good. That may be so. But one still needs to consider the historical contingencies that led to the Christian conquest, and in particular the brilliant strategy the Christian evangelistic campaign used in winning converts. These are five aspects of that strategy:

Bayek, along with his new ally and historian, Tahira, must uncover the origin of this curse and find a way to put an end to it. The Curse of the Pharaohs brings a unique twist to the Assassin's Creed Origins gameplay by introducing a supernatural element. Players must navigate through haunted tombs, solve ancient puzzles, and battle formidable enemies, including mythical creatures like giant scorpions and Anubis warriors.

The Christian Church Created a Need

The Last Judgment,’ showing heaven on the left and hell on the right, illustrates Christianity’s unique promise of eternal salvation, something no pagan religions offered. Painted by Fra Angelico (1400-1455). (Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Strangely enough, Christianity did not succeed in taking over the ancient world simply by addressing deeply sensed needs of its target audience, the pagan adherents of traditional polytheistic religions. On the contrary, it actually created a need that almost no one knew they had.

Everyone in the ancient world, except for Jews, was “pagan”—that is, they believed in many gods. These gods—whether the state gods of Rome, the local municipal gods, the family gods, the gods of forests, mountains, streams and meadows—were active in the world, involved with humans on every level. They ensured that crops would grow and livestock would reproduce; they brought rain and protected against storms; they warded off disease and restored the sick to health; they maintained social stability; and provided military victories for the troops.

The gods would do such things in exchange for proper worship, which at all times and everywhere involved saying the right prayers and performing the appropriate sacrifices. If the gods were not worshiped in these ways—if they were ignored—they could bring disastrous retribution: drought, epidemic, economic collapse, military defeat and so on.

But the key point is that the gods were principally active—for good or ill—in the present life, to worshippers in the here and now. Almost no one in the Roman world practiced religion in order to escape eternal punishment or receive an eternal reward—that is, until the Christians came along.

Unlike pagans, Christians claimed there was only one God and that he should be worshiped not by sacrifice but by proper belief. Anyone who didn’t believe the right things would be considered a transgressor before God. And, most significant of all, rewards and punishments would be dispensed not only in this life, but in the life to come: either eternal bliss in heaven or everlasting torment in the fires of hell. Religion had never promoted such an idea before. Christians created a need for salvation that no one knew they had. They then argued that they alone could meet the need. And they succeeded massively.

Jesus cures a sick man who is unable to reach the pool at Bethesda, which contains healing waters. (Credit: Culture Club/Getty Images)

The expansion also introduces new weapons, outfits, and abilities for Bayek, allowing players to further customize their gameplay experience. The storyline of the expansion delves deep into ancient Egyptian mythology, with references to famous pharaohs such as Ramses the Great and Tutankhamun. Players will explore famous landmarks like the Valley of the Kings and the city of Thebes, all meticulously recreated in stunning detail. The Curse of the Pharaohs is praised for its rich and immersive gameplay experience. It offers players a substantial amount of content, with new quests, side missions, and activities to engage in. The expansion also expands on the leveling system of the main game, allowing players to reach a maximum level of 55. Overall, the Curse of the Pharaohs expansion pack brings a fresh and exciting addition to Assassin's Creed Origins. It offers a captivating storyline, challenging gameplay, and an opportunity to explore the mystical side of ancient Egypt. Whether you are a fan of the main game or simply intrigued by Egyptian mythology, this expansion is definitely worth a try..

Reviews for "AC Origins: Curse of the Pharaohs - A Love Letter to Egyptian Culture"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited for the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC for Assassin's Creed Origins, but I ended up being extremely disappointed. The new region of Thebes looked great, but the storyline was lacking and felt disjointed. The quests felt repetitive, and I quickly lost interest in the expansion. Additionally, the gameplay mechanics felt buggy and unpolished. Overall, I don't think the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC added much value to the base game and I wouldn't recommend it.

2. Sarah - 1 star - I love the Assassin's Creed series, but Curse of the Pharaohs was a major letdown for me. The DLC was extremely glitchy, with frequent crashes and gameplay issues. The new enemies in the expansion were frustratingly difficult, and I often found myself dying repeatedly. The main storyline felt rushed and poorly executed, leaving me feeling unsatisfied with the overall experience. I was really hoping for a great addition to the game, but Curse of the Pharaohs fell flat for me.

3. Mike - 2 stars - I've been a fan of Assassin's Creed Origins, but I was disappointed by Curse of the Pharaohs. The DLC was visually stunning, with beautiful Egyptian landscapes and detailed designs. However, the gameplay felt repetitive, and the quests lacked depth and variety. The addition of mythical creatures was interesting, but they often felt out of place in the historical setting of the game. I was hoping for a more engaging storyline and more meaningful interactions, but unfortunately, Curse of the Pharaohs didn't deliver on those fronts.

Unraveling the Mysteries Behind AC Origins: Curse of the Pharaohs