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Xenopedia
"Every hundred years, the Gods would return, and when they did, they would expect a sacrifice. Humans were used to breed the ultimate prey."
Sebastian (from Alien vs. Predator)

An unnamed sacrificial maiden was one of the individuals selected by ancient humans and offered up to visiting Yautja as a host for a Xenomorph, as part of the Yautja's hunting rituals carried out on the planet Earth.

Biography[]

"They weren't bound in any way. They went to die willingly. Men and women. It was considered an honor."
Sebastian, describing the sacrifice (from Alien vs. Predator)

The sacrificial maiden was one of the "chosen ones" selected by their people to act as a host for a Chestburster, a human sacrifice offered to the Yautja so that young members of their race may undertake an initiation hunt against the Xenomorphs that were born as a result. The victims would go to their deaths willingly, considering it an honor, fulfilling the pact between humans and their "Gods", the Yautja. As such, the maiden lay on one of the plinths inside the sacrificial chamber and allowed a Facehugger to attach to her face. After implantation was complete, the maiden remained where she was until the Chestburster emerged from her chest, killing her and signalling the start of the hunt.

Despite not being bound or otherwise restrained and thus could be viewed as a potential threat to the implantation process by the parasites, the Facehuggers attached themselves to the maidens in a non-aggressive manner. While such behavior is common when the host is cocooned and therefor unable to be a threat, this does not apply when hosts are capable of resisting, as they are attacked aggressively and instantly in order to ensure the success of implantion.

The bodies of the maidens remained untouched for centuries despite that apparently every hundred years, a new hunt would start anew in that chamber. It is likely that those that came after never had the opportunity to examine or move the bodies as the pyramid would be triggered by the Yautja retrieving their weapons.

Culture and sacrifices[]

While Sebastien speculated that both men and women were sacrificed, the last known sacrifices were all female, it is unknown if men were sacrificed in the hunts before or if the primitive culture that worshipped the Yautja always chose females. The sacrificial maidens seemed to be similar to the handmaidens sacrificed by the Mesopotamians, the handmaidens would also wear headdresses just like the sacrificial maidens. However, Warriors and Palace attendents would also be sacrificed. It is unknown if the same applied to the culture the Sacrifiial maiden belonged to, though Sebastien did rightfully deduce that the pyramid had features of multiple ancient cultures thus explaining the similariies in sacrifice choices and items worn during the ceremony.

Trivia[]

  • The pendant worn by the maiden around her neck carries the curled Xenomorph fetus design originally created for Alien3's marketing campaign.
  • The helmets worn by both the Maidens and the priests are shaped to resemble a Facehugger, the maidens also have a chestburster-like image painted on their chests.

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Paul W. S. Anderson (writer and director). Alien vs. Predator (2004), 20th Century Fox [DVD].
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