Does Niobe appear anywhere in destiny lore prior to this? I've been reading through the black armory papers looking for some kind of clue, but can't come up with anything aside that it originated from Project Niobe. I feel like there might be something to learn about why they called it Niobe labs in the first place.
Link to Google Doc with all Black Armory papers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HI0hLuVGpSt1SZtwiUfVkYoo5UyuY6llkShnx9AYXjQ/edit?usp=sharing
External link →I think its a symbolic nod to Niobe being an early literary archetype of a grieving mother. Her children were killed by Apollo and Artemis as a result of Niobe's boasting that her children where more beautiful than those of Leto.
Niobe's hubris attracted the wrath of the powerful and vain Greek gods. Kind of like how the blessings of the Traveler allowed very rapid expansion of Human culture, and technology during the golden age that attracted the attention of the darkness and associated races, who rained death and destruction on the children of Earth.
So, I think that the name was used by Bungie as a metaphor and reminder of the rise and fall of humanity during the golden age.
Niobe was turned to stone, and continues to weep over the loss of her children and the sorrows that the gods had sent their way.
I don't think that there is any real connection between the two other than a common poetic theme of loss, powerlessness, and mourning. Ada-1 is kind of like Niobe, frozen in an eternal vigil, forever missing those she lost.
Niobe is also said to have had 7 sons and 7 daughters, and everyone knows Bungie LOVES 7's.
😏
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