M. J. Gallagher (Final Fantasy mythology)
@mjgallagher
I write books about Final Fantasy and mythology/religion. Mythos (FF16), Norse myths in FF7, and Greek myths in FF7 all available NOW on Amazon! 🏴 All links and FF TACTICS book pre-order in pinned post 👇 Teaser connections at #FinalFantasymythology
What do you think of this new video format?
I'm attempting to get my TikTok account off and running at tiktok.com/@m_j_gallagher for some Final Fantasy myth content. All follows greatly appreciated.
The two-headed Typhon and octopus-like Ultros are recurring fiends in the Final Fantasy series, with the latter also called Orthros. In Greek myth, Typhon is a serpent-limbed monster and Orthros is a two-headed dog, suggesting their names were mixed up in FFVI’s development.
In FFXVI, Clive can buy drinks for himself - or even a round for the whole hall - at the hideaway's Tub & Crown from the barkeeper, Maeve. The girl's name is an anglicisation of Medb, a figure in the Ulster Cycle of Irish myth, which can be translated as ‘she who intoxicates’.
A famous Viking legend has Thor, God of Thunder, disguise himself as a bride to enter the hall of the giant Thrym and reclaim his stolen hammer. In FFVII, Cloud has to dress up in a frock to enter Don Corneo's mansion and rescue Tifa - who Corneo has chosen as a bride. #FinalFantasymythology
Chocobos and moogles are iconic creatures in the Final Fantasy series. FFXVI features both races, naming Clive’s mount Ambrosia and the pompom-headed huntmaster Nektar. In classical myth, ambrosia and nectar are the food and drink of the gods, associated with eternal life.
It is a genuine privilege to have my latest book, Mythos: Final Fantasy XVI, listed among the course reading material of a UCLA class. 'Gaming as the Avatar: Video Games and the Religions of India' from instructor Spencer Pennington will be running in the Fall Quarter of 2026.
With the Odyssey movie releasing this weekend, now’s as good a time as any to reaffirm that large portions of the epic will feature in my forthcoming book ‘Final Fantasy VII and the Trojan War’, with heavy focus on parallels in Crisis Core. Due out in 2027. #FinalFantasymythology
In Norse myth, the chief deity Odin often wanders among men in disguise. One such disguise is believed to be a boatman named Hárbard (Greybeard). This is reflected in FFXVI, where the silver-haired Harbard is an "extension" of Barnabas, the Dominant of Odin. Learn more in Mythos: Final Fantasy XVI
Two very common themes in ancient mythology are that male gods conspire to overthrow their fathers, and supreme deities typically sire multiple illegitimate sons. A blend of this is seen in Final Fantasy VII's Rufus, Lazard, and Evan, with the former two actively working against President Shinra.
Chief Verdot, that silhouette at the bottom is your gun holster, right? Right…?
I’m not typically one for prayer, but I humbly ask the Square Enix gods to deliver us these characters in FFVII Revelation. Amen.
In Greek mythology, the Moirai are three goddesses responsible for determining the destiny of all. They are also known as the Fates. FFVII Remake’s Whispers serve the same function, enforcing the Planet’s desired destiny. In the German script, the Whispers are even called Moiren.
The Japanese name for Red XIII's father in FFVII is セト, which is most often translated as Set, not Seto. In ancient Egyptian art, the Set animal is an imaginary doglike beast that represents Set, the warrior god of deserts. Seto himself is a quadruped guardian of Cosmo Canyon.
You know how it’s insinuated in Final Fantasy Tactics that Cloud is transported to Ivalice during the period in FFVII that his mind is overwhelmed by mako poisoning…? Do you reckon he’ll instead regain consciousness in Zack’s reality during FFVII Revelation?
"No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus! By god, I'd rather slave on earth for another man—some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive—than rule down here over all the breathless dead." - Achilles in the afterlife (The Odyssey, Book 11)
It is officially 22nd June in the UK and I can now legally celebrate the anniversary of Final Fantasy XVI, one of my favourite games in the whole world. A huge thank you to Maehiro-san, Yoshi P, Koji Fox, Ben Starr, and the whole team for making it a truly special experience.
In Final Fantasy XVI, the Mothercrystals are named after body parts of a legendary dragon called the First Wyrm. The primordial mother goddess in Babylonian myth is Tiamat, who takes a draconic form and whose corpse shapes the known world. Tiamat is a common dragon name in FF.
Phase one of the Kickstarter rewards is underway for Myths & Traditions That Inspired Final Fantasy Tactics. Artwork by @chibipanda.bsky.social and @kingcael.bsky.social
In FF Tactics, the siblings Rapha and Marach can use their mantras to channel the power of Sky and Nether, respectively. This alludes to the Gemini Zodiac myth, in which Pollox shares his immortality with his twin, Castor, to spend alternate days in heaven and the underworld.
Midgardsormr is the great serpent of Norse myth that lives in the ocean encircling the known world, Midgard. At Ragnarök, the snake will fill the air and sea with poison. In FFVII Rebirth, Midgardsormr attacks with Toxic Waters to exhale poison, contaminating its surroundings
The Vikings had a fatalistic culture, meaning they believed everyone had a predetermined fate, and the highest honour was to die heroically in battle. Zack’s story in Crisis Core embodies this. Not only is his death inevitable, but he aspires to become a hero through battle.
Hey folks, just a reminder for those who backed MYTHS & TRADITIONS THAT INSPIRED FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - the campaign surveys are available to complete for you to claim your reward items. You can access them via your account. Thanks.
The first book of the Christian Bible’s Old Testament is Genesis, while the last book of the New Testament is Revelation. In turn, ‘revelation’ is another word for ‘apocalypse’. This is why the limit break for Genesis - the main villain of Crisis Core - is called “Apocalypse”. #FinalFantasymythology
"I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him." - REVELATION 6:8 This is just the beginning...
Called it 3 years ago. (Then uncalled it, to my eternal shame) #FinalFantasyVIIRevelation #FF7R #Revelation
Lich, Fiend of Earth in FF1, is an undead sorcerer based on similar creatures in D&D. Such wizards become immortal by hiding their soul in objects. It derives from Slavic folklore, most famously from Koschei the Deathless, commonly depicted as a robed, skeletal villain capable of decaying the land.