A History of the Golden Saints: Aries, The Surging Life Force of Rebirth
In the classic anime Saint Seiya, the legacy of the Golden Cloth is celebrated as the most tragic and breathtaking saga of the Holy War. Among these, the inheritance of the Aries Gold Cloth stands out as a particularly gripping legend. For generations, the Aries Gold Cloth has been passed down through the Jamir tribe, who reside in the highlands of Jamir. This clan is renowned across the world for their formidable psychic abilities and their core technique of repairing the sacred Cloths.
The Jamir Lineage and a Warrior from the Future
The previous Pope, Shion, was an outstanding representative of the Jamir tribe, and his pupil, Mu, became the Aries Gold Saint. In the Omega era, the Saint known as Kiki ascended to become the inheritor of Aries. All three of these Aries Saints hailed from the Jamir bloodline. However, beyond this lineage existed another destined bearer: a Saint from the future named Aphonicus.
Aphonicus hailed from a parallel timeline ravaged by a brutal Holy War. In his reality, the Specters of Hades invaded the Sanctuary, capturing both Athena and the Pope, who were ultimately beheaded by Hades himself. Witnessing this cataclysm shattered Aphonicus’s faith and plunged him into profound despair.
A Second Chance and a Heavy Burden
The God of Time, Chronos, intervened, transporting Aphonicus five hundred years into the past to the era of Hakurei. There, he replaced the deceased Saint, Getcard, becoming the new Aries Gold Saint. He vowed to defeat Hades in this era and alter his doomed future. Yet, his path was inextricably tied to a warrior’s death.
During this time, a young Shion was merely a blacksmith within the Jamir tribe, yearning with all his heart to inherit the Aries Cloth. His mentor, Hakurei, resolutely refused him, leaving Shion confused and disheartened. Hakurei believed that while Shion was worthy of a Gold Cloth, he should not inherit Aries, for to do so meant inheriting the memories—and trauma—of all its previous bearers.
The Trial of Inheritance
A man known as Little Horse appeared, attempting to plead Shion’s case. Hakurei remained unmoved, even pushing them both to the ground. Undeterred, Shion persisted in his requests. Finally, Hakurei relented and allowed him to touch the Aries Cloth upon the altar. The moment he did, the memories of his predecessors, particularly the agonizing experiences of Aphonicus, flooded into his mind like a torrential river, nearly overwhelming him. Yet, he persevered and made the resolute decision to accept the mantle of Aries.
He and Little Horse then embarked on a quest to find the Aries Gold Cloth, which had been sealed away by the God of Time. As Shion approached it, he inadvertently triggered a trap set by Kairos, causing his body to age rapidly. In this critical moment, Shion finally touched the Aries Cloth. He fully inherited Aphonicus’s memories, witnessing the horrific scenes of the future Holy War: the Specters’ massacre, the capture of Athena and the Pope, and their eventual execution.
The Birth of a New Aries
On the verge of mental collapse, Shion found the strength to endure. He took up the will of Aphonicus, overcame Kairos’s trap, and emerged as the new Aries Gold Saint. This path of succession, paved with struggle, immense courage, and ultimate sacrifice, remains an indelible part of the Saint Seiya legend, perfectly embodying the resilient and reborn spirit of the Aries archetype.
