Atola Nox Philius

Atola Nox Philius

Origin:	Latin
Japanese:	アトラ・ノクス・フィリウス
Appears In:	Ys IX

Origin

Atola is derived from Atra, Latin for 'Dull Black'. Nox means 'Night' and Philius is derived from Filius, meaning 'Son'. So a more accurate name would be Atra Nox Filius, though the twisting fits with the Ys series' love of taking a real name and changing it slightly while still leaving it recognizable. The combined name means roughly 'Black Son of the Night'.

Appearances

• Atola is the final alchemical creation of Zola in Ys IX, a perfect being created from Adol's own memories and the powers of divinity that he has held, with the intention of making someone powerful enough to control the Grimwald Night phenomenon. He serves as the first phase of the game's final battle and his title is Black Being Born of the Night (夜から生まれし黒き者), which is fairly close to the Latin words that compose his name. Upon his defeat he transforms into Anima Ergastulum.

Trivia

• While the game itself does not directly draw the connection, it is possible that Atola's name and association with the color black plus his appearance being based upon Adol with his red hair is a reference to the alchemical process by which the Philosopher's Stone was said to be created, beginning with nigredo ('Blackness') and culminating in rubedo ('Redness').
• Even with the proper spellings, Atola's name is not particularly good Latin. Two alternative renderings that better convey the intended meaning are Filius Noctis Atrae ('Son of the Black Night') and Atra Nocte Filium ('Black One Born of the Night').

Credit

• Wuolong77 on Falcom Romancia provided the translations into more accurate Latin. Give it a read for the details.