Bayek’s tattoo functions as a personal list of targets. In the opening scene known as the Heron assassination, he shows the names on his arm and crosses out Rudjek’s after killing him. The scene connects the tattoo to Bayek’s pursuit of the men responsible for his family’s loss, rather than establishing it as a general Medjay symbol.
How the game shows what the tattoo means
The clearest explanation comes from the opening Heron assassination scene: Bayek reveals names on his arm, then crosses out Rudjek’s name after the killing. In that moment, the tattoo works as a running record of targets—an intimate reminder of the people he is pursuing.
The scene supports that story function, but it does not provide an authoritative translation of every mark or motif. It is safest to read the visible names and the crossed-out target as evidence of a personal list, not as a complete key to the tattoo.
Is it a traditional Medjay symbol?
Ubisoft describes Bayek as a Medjay, “a protector of Egypt and its people,” in its feature “Assassin’s Creed Origins Made Me Feel Accepted As An Egyptian”, published April 23, 2018. That identity helps explain why Bayek sees himself as a protector, but it does not establish that his tattoo is a standard Medjay badge or a documented historical tradition.
#1 Best Overall
- The Discovery Tour by Assassin’s Creed: Ancient Egypt is available now as a free update!Ancient Egypt, a land of majesty and intrigue, is disappearing in a ruthless fight for power.
- An origin story – Start here, at the very beginning, with the never-before-told origin story of Assassin’s Creed. You are Bayek, a protector of Egypt whose personal story will lead to the creation of the Assassin’s Brotherhood.
- Embrace action-RPG - Experience a completely new way to fight as you loot and use over one hundred weapons with different characteristics and rarities. Enjoy deep RPG progression mechanics, choose your preferred abilities and challenge your skills against unique and powerful bosses.
- Each quest is a memorable adventure – Pick and tackle quests at your own will and pace – each of them tells an intense and emotional story full of colorful characters and meaningful objectives.
- Explore a full country - From deserts to lush oasis, from the Mediterranean Sea to the tombs of Giza, fight your way against dangerous factions and wild beasts as you explore this gigantic and unpredictable land.
Does the tattoo show the weighing of hearts?
Not on the evidence available. Ubisoft discusses a separate feather ritual in the optional quest “The Bride”: Bayek explains that, in a Siwan belief, Anubis weighs the dead person’s heart against Ma’at’s white feather. That religious detail is not a translation of the tattoo and does not prove that the tattoo depicts the weighing of hearts.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- LEGENDARY SPARTAN HERO Embark on your journey from outcast to legendary Spartan hero
- ANCIENT GREECE AWAITS: Explore an entire country full of unexpected encounters in untamed environments and bustling ancient cities
- Choose your path your choices shape the world around you. Play in a living world that constantly reacts to your every decision
- FIGHT EPIC BATTLES Charge into epic clashes between Sparta and Athens in battles pitting 150 v 150 soldiers against each other
- SAIL THE AEGEAN SEA: Recruit crew members and customize your ship as you explore and battle your way on the open seas
Rank #4
- LEGENDARY SPARTAN HERO Embark on your journey from outcast to legendary Spartan hero
- ANCIENT GREECE AWAITS Explore an entire country full of unexpected encounters in untamed environments and bustling ancient cities
- Choose your path your choices shape the world around you. Play in a living world that constantly reacts to your every decision
- FIGHT EPIC BATTLES: Charge into epic clashes between Sparta and Athens in battles pitting 150 v 150 soldiers against each other
- SAIL THE AEGEAN SEA: Recruit crew members and customize your ship as you explore and battle your way on the open seas
Rank #3
- Assassin's Creed Origins: Over 50 E3 awards and nominations
- Unearth the pharaohs' tombs, solve the mysteries of Egypt, and come face to face with ancient gods
- Reveal the origin story through a tale of the first Assassin on a fearless quest for redemption
- Attack multiple enemies at once and string together devastating combos with all new combat mechanics
- Play the deep and meaningful missions in any order you choose no two experiences are the same
Rank #2
- Assassin's Creed Origins: Over 50 E3 awards and nominations
- Unearth the pharaohs' tombs, solve the mysteries of Egypt, and come face to face with ancient gods
- Reveal the origin story through a tale of the first Assassin on a fearless quest for redemption
- Attack multiple enemies at once and string together devastating combos with all new combat mechanics
- Play the deep and meaningful missions in any order you choose no two experiences are the same
What can—and cannot—be concluded
- Shown in the story: Bayek uses names on his arm as a target list, with Rudjek’s name crossed out after the assassination.
- Character context: Bayek is a Medjay and protector of Egypt’s people, as Ubisoft describes him.
- Not established: a complete official translation of every mark, or proof that the tattoo is a traditional Medjay symbol.
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