For other uses of Relic, see the disambiguation page.

A Relic is a piece of item that you find on a map. They can only be picked up with a Hero-type unit and taken to a Temple to receive a certain and specific bonus. Players can collect and store multiple Relics. One temple can only store five relics. For the Egyptians, priests may pick up relics after researching the Hands of the Pharaoh technology.

There are 47 types of Relics in Age of Mythology:

• A Pair of Golden Lions

Effect: Spawns a pair of golden lions from the Town Center, they respawn one minute after they are killed.

Mythical Reference: The story of Atalanta, who was turned into a lion (along with her lover) when they fornicated in a Temple devoted to Artemis.

• Ankh of Ra

Effect: Provides a slow trickle of Favor to the player.

Mythical Reference: Ankhs were regarded as symbols of eternal life in ancient Egypt.

• Anvil of Hephaestus

Effect: Technologies at the Armory cost 10% less.

Mythical Reference: Being the God of Smithing, Hephaestus was commonly identified with an anvil.

• Armor of Achilles

Effect: Infantry units take 5% less hack damage.

Mythical Reference: Achilles, the legendary hero of the Greeks who was invulnerable in all but one spot - his heel. After the Trojan War, Ajax and Odysseus competed for possession of Achilles' armor.

• Arrows of the Alfar

Effect: Towers, Greek Fortresses, Egyptian Migdol Strongholds, Norse Hill Forts, Atlantean Palaces and Town Centers deal 20% more damage.

Mythical Reference: The Alfar, the Norse word for Elf. They lived in Alfheim, one of the nine worlds of Norse myth.

• Black Lotus

Effect: Worker units collect Food from Farms 10% faster.

Mythical Reference: Asian folklore. The Lotus was regarded as a symbol of purity by numerous Asian cultures.

• Blanket of Empress Zoe

Effect: Buildings take 20% less crush damage.

Mtyhical Reference: Possibly named after one of several Byzantine empresses named Zoe.

• Boots of Kick Everything

Effect: Hero units move 20% faster.

Mythical Reference: Magical boots that grant the wearer super-speed found in numerous fairy tales and myths. The name of the relic itself, however, is something of a joke.

• Bow of Artemis

Effect: Archer units cost 15% less resources, Norse Trolls cost 15% less Wood, and Greek Centaurs cost 20% less wood.

Mythical Reference: Artemis, the virgin Goddess of the Hunt, was a master archer.

• Bridle of Pegasus

Effect: Summons a Pegasus for free, respawns after one minute if killed.

Mythical Reference: Possibly the same bridle used by Bellerophon to tame the original Pegasus.

• Buhen Flagstone

Effect: Walls cost 25% less resources.

Mythical Reference: The ancient Egyptian settlement of Buhen, famously known for the fortress located there.

• Canopic Jar of Imsety

Effect: Infantry units are trained 15% faster.

Mythical Reference: Imsety was one of the four sons of Horus and is commonly depicted as a mummified man.

• Catoblepas' Scales

Effect: Myth units take 20% less crush damage

Mythical Reference: The Catoblepas was a mythical beast from Greek folklore. Described as having the body of a bull covered in scales and the head of a boar, its gaze or breath could petrify people.

• Dwarven Calipers

Effect: Siege weapons cost 20% less resources.

Mythical Reference: Dwarves were said to be master smiths and craftsmen, capable of creating almost any object imaginable, from Mjollnir, Thor's hammer, to Gullinbursti, Frey's animated golden boar statue.

• Eye of Horus

Effect: Town Centers support +2 population.

Mythical Reference: The Eye of Horus was a symbol of protection, good health, and royal power in ancient Egypt.

• Eye of Ornlu

Effect: Hypaspists, Axemen and Throwing Axemen deal 5% more damage.

Mythical Reference: Ornlu, the alpha male wolf from the first scenario of the Genghis Khan campaign from Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

• Fetters of Fenrir

Effect: Worker units can kill nearly all wild animals in a single shot.

Mythical Reference: Gleipnir, the ribbon that held the monstrous wolf Fenrir shackled until Ragnarok comes, where he would eventually break free of his bonds.

• Girdle of Hippolyta

Effect: Greek Toxotes, Egyptian Chariot Archers and Norse Throwing Axemen gain 5% more HP

Mythical Reference: The Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. One of Heracles' Twelve Labours involved stealing her girdle.

• Harmonia's Necklace

Effect: Worker units collect Gold 10% faster.

Mythical Reference: Harmonia, the Greek goddess of harmony and concord.

• Harter's Folly

Effect: Scout units gain +2 Line of Sight.

Mythical Reference: Unknown.

• Head of Orpheus

Effect: Buildings gain +8 Line of Sight.

Mythical Reference: Orpheus, the ancient Greek poet, musician and prophet who failed to rescue his beloved Eurydice from Hades.

• Hera's Thundercloud Shawl

Effect: All human soldiers take 5% less pierce damage.

Mythical Reference: Hera, Wife of Zeus and Goddess of Motherhood and Marriage. The Thundercloud Shawl in question is probably an allusion to her husband's role as God of Thunder.

• Khopesh of Horus

Effect: Hero units' damage multiplier against myth units is increased by one.

Mythical Reference: Khopeshes were a type of bladed weapon in ancient Egypt.

• Kithara of Apollo

Effect: Worker units move 20% faster.

Mythical Reference: The kithara was a Greek musical instrument and a variant of the lyre. Apollo was also indentified as the God of Music.