| “ | My friend, there is a fine line between coincidence and fate. | „ |
| ~ Ardeth Bay. |
Ardeth Bay is a major character of both the Mummy and the Mummy Returns.
He is a chief member of the Medjai, descendants of the royal bodygauards of several pharaohs of Egypt, he aides Rick O'Connell and his family in destroying the twice resurrected mummy, Imhotep. He is also the narrator of the prologues in the films. In the first film, he is viewed as an antagonistic hero, but by the end, he is a true hero, as well as throughout the second film. He primarily uses a sword in battle but knows how to handle machine guns.
In the films, he was portrayed by Oded Fehr.
Biography[]
The Mummy[]
In the 1999 remake of The Mummy, he narrates the story of Imhotep and how he protects the mummy's tomb today from grave robbers or those who wish to revive him. The film opens with Ardeth and his army in a battle against soldiers of the French Foreign Legion. They quickly outnumber the legion and their only survivor is the series protagonist: Rick O'Connell.
Ardeth lets him live and finds interest in him. Three years after the battle, an expedition is set out to locate Imhotep's tomb and Ardeth tries to stop them. He warns Rick about how unearthing the mummy would be catastrophic, but Rick's would-be wife, Evie, accidently resurrects Imhotep. After several expeditioners are killed, Ardeth pledges his service to help Rick kill Imhotep. When they arrive at Hamunaptra, Imhotep summoned several soldiers to stop them. Ardeth sacrifices himself and lured the soldiers away.
When the O'Connell's succeeded, Ardeth appears behind them, having survived. He thanks them, welcomes them as his friends, and offers to be of service in the future
The Mummy Returns[]
In the sequel, he returns to help the O'Connell's to stop not only Imhotep again but also the Scorpion King. An Egyptian cult worshipping Imhotep overran the city of Hamunaptra and located Imhotep's body as well as his two magic books. The cult invaded the O'Connell's home in London and kidnapped Evie O'Connell. Ardeth arrived to help but was defeated in a swordfight with the cult's strongman, Lock-Nah. Imhotep is resurrected at the British museum and Rick and Ardeth barge in and start a shooting gallery. They escape but only to be chased by Imhotep's mummy soldiers once again. Ardeth is almost slain by one but is saved by Rick.
When the cult kidnaps Alex O'Connell and travel to the Scorpion King's tomb, the O'Connells follow them in hot pursuit. Afraid that the Scorpion King will surely rise, Ardeth calls upon every Medjai warrior to fight if the Scorpion king's army arises. He uses his peregrine falcon, Horus, to send messages to his army of where to go. When they reach the tomb and the oasis surrounding it, Lock-Nah spots Horus and shoots the bird, hoping to stop the Medjai in their tracks. At nightfall, Imhotep and his followers are ambushed by tiny mummified natives and as they are being attacked, Rick and Ardeth charge in again and take down the remaining followers. Ardeth engages in another duel with Lock-Nah and is victorious as he slains him. Ardeth's army was not far behind and he goes to gather them. The next day, the Army of Anubis is risen and a climatic battle is set between the army and the Medjai.
They kill every single soldier and celebrate but Ardeth feels like it was too easy. The army then see millions of Anubis soldiers charging towards them. The Medjai hold their ground and are prepared to fight to the death. As the army of Anubis were about to strike, they disappeared. Ardeth knew that Rick killed the Scorpion King and sent his army back to the underworld. Although Ardeth did not know it for certain, he was also sure Imhotep was dead for good; because he later saw Rick rejoicing with his family and knew Rick was determined to bring down the Mummy he would not let Imhotep go without a fight. As the O'Connells ride away, they spot Ardeth, who thanks them once again.
Quotes[]
| “ | Thebes, City of the Living. Crown jewel of Pharaoh Seti the First. Home of Imhotep, Pharaoh's high priest, keeper of the dead. Birthplace of Anck-su-namun, Pharaoh's mistress. No other man was allowed to touch her. But, for their love, they were willing to risk life itself. To resurrect Anck-su-namun, Imhotep and his priests broke into her crypt and stole her body. They raced deep into the desert, taking Anck-su-namun's corpse to Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, ancient burial site for the sons of Pharaohs... and resting place for the wealth of Egypt. For his love, Imhotep dared the gods' anger by going deep into the city, where he took the black Book of the Dead from its holy resting place. Anck-su-namun's soul had been sent to the dark Underworld, her vital organs removed and placed in five sacred canopic jars. Anck-su-namun's soul had come back from the dead. But Pharaoh's bodyguards had followed imhotep, and stopped him before the ritual could be completed. Imhotep's priests were condemned to be mummified alive. As for Imhotep, he was condemned to endure the Hom-Dai, the worst of all ancient curses - one so horrible, it had never before been bestowed. He was to remain sealed inside his sarcophagus, be undead for all of eternity. The Medjai would never allow him to be released, for he would arise a walking disease, a plague upon mankind, an unholy flesh-eater with a strength of ages, power over the sands, and the gory of invincibilty!... For three thousand years, men and armies fought over this land, never knowing what evil lay beneath it. And for three thousand years, we - the Medjai, the decenandts of Pharaoh's sacred bodyguards - kept watch. | „ |
| ~ The Mummy intro. |
| “ | Five thousand years ago, a fierce warrior - known as the Scorpion King - led a great army on a campaign to conquer the known world... After a viscious campaign which lasted seven long years, the Scorpion King and his army were defeated, and driven deep into the sacred desert of Ahm Sher... One by one, they slowly perished under the scorching Sun, until only the great warrior himself was left alive. Near death, the Scorpion King made a pact with the dark god Anubis, that if Anubis would spare his life, and let him conquer his enemies... he would give him his soul. Anubis accepted his offer, and spared his life. Anubis gave the Scorpion King command of his armies, and like an evil flood, they washed away all that lay before them. When his task was done, Anubis forced the Scorpion King to serve him for all time. His army was returned to the sands from wence they came, where they wait... silently... to be awakened once again. | „ |
| ~ The Mummy Returns intro. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the 1932 original, Ardeth Bay was the alias used by Imhotep.
- Ardeth's character was similar to Kazim, from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Both men devoted their lives to protecting the mummy and the holy grail. Both men tried to kill the protagonists as they thought both Rick O'Connell and Indiana Jones were going to use the mummy and grail for evil purposes. They were prepared to do anything to keep their treasures safe.
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