[theory] back story

[JZY]

Lifted from somewhere, thought it was interesting enough. Good to get the mind going again on the subject since i havent thought about it for ages.
Sorry to not give credit to the writer, dont know it. Bit long winded but few chords were struck with me.

Alot of the start of this theory reminded me of a film i watched recently called the fountain by darren aronofsky.

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"Thousands of years ago the powers that were in the world were immortal, and had incredibly intense powers and understanding. They were beings from another time and place, with a direction and mentality we could never understand. Their true names have been lost, but they were known as the Annunaki by the ancient Mesopotamians, the sages and Rishis by ancient societies in India, and so forth.

To the Sumerian and Babylonian culture these beings were led by the Sky god Ea/Enlil. For some reason Enlil felt that humanity had lost its worthiness so it was decided that humanity would be destroyed via a catastrophic flood. There was those amongst them that did not feel this way, and decided to save the seed of humanity. Heading this group of opposers was another god, Enki.

He decided to advise one human, Utnapishtam, on how to survive the calamity by creating a massive vessel that was entirely sealed (like a medication pill you swallow). Utnapishtam survived with the seed of humanity, but the other Gods/powers were very angry! Enki was able to direct their anger into happiness that there were those amongst the humans that were actually able to survive! Wow. (these other Gods did not realize that Enki saved Utnapishtam).

Enlil awarded Utnapishtam by introducing him to the key to immortality, a special flower that was only found on a hidden island. Access to this flower alone did not grant immortality, it was what was discovered after ingesting the flower, and the events that played out immediately afterwards. Forever onwards Utnapishtam understood these secrets, and hid far away from humanity on this secret island.

Thousands of years later, a lonely figure arrived on his shores proclaiming to be Gilgamesh, who was searching for the secret to immortality. This was because he had seen his friend Enkidu decay and die, and he was determined not to have this happen to himself. Utnapishtam advised Gilgamesh that he would provide him with this secret if he could stay awake. Gilgamesh failed some tests regarding sleep, but Utnapishtam provided him with the flower of immortality. Gilgamesh left.

Again thousands of years pass, Utnapishtam had slowly realized that the island was the actual pathway to the Underworld, which was why the flower blossomed here. The flower represented the median between life and death, and so did the island. This is why the flower exists on the island. Utnapishtam also realized that immortality was more of a curse than the actual life or death, and found that he was truly trapped between life and death, trapped on the island between life and death, trapped as a sort of shade inbetween. Invisible to the dead, and unseen by the living. He also realized that anyone who lived or died on the island would also become trapped in the netherworld between life and death. Their voices and whispers forever traversing the island, almost perceptible by the living, and hardly discerned by the dead. Utnapishtam found that he was the master of these whispering souls on the island.

Utnapishtam was now the gatekeeper for the island, a position that needed to continuoulsy be filled. He now wanted to pass over to death…but someone would need to replace him. But who?

Miraculously, an old slave ship lands on the island. The occupants scour the island.(the black rock)

Utnapishtam watches them and through his ability to master the whispers, he has them collect together from their natural formlessness into a powerful shade of a creature…a smoke-filled shade between life and death. He sends this smoke-shade to gather his intelligence from the slave-traders searching for the one who has a mentality and karma strong enough to fulfill the needs of this role.

None are found that will fill the needs of the island, but a few are found that are on the correct path. Utnapishtam decides to take these few under his power and influence them. Richard is one of these chosen ones. Immediately he is allowed access to the flower of immortality, and starts on his shady path towards Utnapishtam's needs. Richard is led to believe that Utnapishtam's name is Jacob, but he is never allowed to see Jacob, for fear that the illusion of control would be broken.

**explains why he is the same age when he meets ben as a child and when ben is older...*** - JZY

Years pass, and there is a threat to the island. The coming technology of humanity has now brought so-called world-saving humans looking to change the factors of life and the universe. These humans have discovered certain secrets of reality and are determined to save the world. They base themselves on the island, calling themselves the Dharma Initiative, with the sole idea of discovering the secret of life through the secret of immortality.

Jacob/Utnapishtam is furious, and does not like this new technology and ideology. He sends Richard and the others with him to strike at them time and time again, as well as the smoke-shades. This can't fail! But wait, it does fail, and Jacob needs to determine another approach, for you see he could not account for the new technology of the humans.
The Dharma Initiative quickly adjusts their tactics and creates a protective barrier against the smoke shade. They become comfortable in their ability to stall the monster. Too comfortable.

Jacob probes the minds of the Dharma members located within their barrier. He noticed that one meets various criteria to replace him, but requires much more work…Benjamin Linus. He uses his mind to communicate with Ben, but the images that are relayed can only be images from the receivers mind. Ben sees his mother. Over the next decade Jacob works with Ben, molding him into what he needs.

Ben opens the barrier, and causes the purge incident at the Dharma base.

Jacob is pleased, and places Ben in the primary position. Richard becomes subservient to Ben.

Jacob does not let anyone know that the winner of power on the island will eventually replace him.

Ben keeps up appearances to the Hanso Foundation/Widmore Corporation/PAIK Heavy Industries that the Dharma Initiative is still active, but changes are needed and the project needs to go underground and stay hidden. I'm not sure how this is done, but the island now stays even secret to the Dharma Iniative in the outer world.

Over time Ben has his own agenda. He takes direction from Jacob, but truly wishes to overthrow him (even though this plays right into Jacob's needs). He receives direction from Jacob, but doesn't entirely play these directions out to Richard and his followers.

Using science and technology, Ben does something to gain a foothold over Jacob. Using his knowledge of science, he creates the inocculation against Jacob having an effect on him and the Others/Hostiles. Ben has Richard and the Others take this innocculation, even though they do not realize this has occurred. This viral agent is able to keep Jacob from communicating with Richard and the others. Jacob is somehow confined to the small shack.


Jacob is furious, but now trapped. What to do? He breaks his connection with Ben and does not communicate with him. But he needs help from others? Jacob has only his ability to relay images from the minds of humans to communicate with them on their level, but now he cannot do so with the Others/Hostiles (due to technology, science, the virus, whatever it is).

Against Jacob's wishes, Ben has Richard and the chosen ones move into the Dharma bases, and use the technology and science. They all absorb this knowledge over time. Through another Corporation, Mitteos, Ben is able to find new recruits for his plans. Ben has Richard traverse the world looking for subjects to fulfill his needs of trying to create children, etc. on the island so that he can create his clan. Richard and the others know something is not right, but they can't entirely work it out.

Jacob made a mistake with Ben. He knows that. But what to do? What to do?

New humans are on the island? More Dharma staff. More recruits from Mitteos. Jacob tries to communicate, but they immediately take the viral agent that stalls interactions with Jacob.

Then it happens. A plane crashes on the island. Outsiders that were not expected.

Jacob finds he is able to again communicate to humans via mind-images from their past. He does so with various Losties. He immediately realizes the instant of the crash that there is one amongst them that is similar to Gilgamesh, and on a similar journey. He might be the one to replace Jacob and let him finally sleep.

This story is about the journey of the various chosen ones."

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The fact that jacob can communicate to the 'losties' - would explain all the fucked up shit like Jack seeing his dad walk, hurley seeing his mate from the mental hospital, etc etc.

Also, in the episode "collision" John Locke is entering the name Gilgamesh on to the crossword he is doing.