Agartha Dreamcast and the Hollow Earth Theory: Origins, Myths, and Influences

Agartha—a name tinged with obscurantism for both initiates and newcomers—brought with it, from its very introduction into the world of video games, a sense of mystery, and more besides. Its approximate translation could mean “the city of the sun,” or, in the form Agartha, “elusive to violence, inaccessible to anarchy.”

Indeed, a quick look into the origins of this underground world—drawing its mysticism from 19th-century fictional works (notably The Sons of God (1873) by Louis Jacolliot), which enjoyed considerable success at the time—reveals that its roots go back to some of the oldest Indo-European legends, particularly those transcribed in Sanskrit, and indeed…

Saint-Yve d'Alveydre was the first to refer to it directly and in detail (following his encounter with Central Asian initiates in Russia). A Breton aristocrat and Grand Master of the Martinist Order, he reportedly published a book and later destroyed most copies out of regret for revealing information about Agartha. Only one copy is said to have survived and to have contributed to the creation of the Order → more details on their website: Ordre Martiniste (ordre-martiniste.org). An occultist, with deep knowledge of Sanskrit and the Jewish Kabbalah, he was also a precursor of the theory of synarchy (an ideal world unified under a single universal empire with a shared historical foundation).

Thus, the story could be summarized as follows: thousands of years ago, a cataclysm is said to have brought an end to the “highly advanced” Gobi empire (our Atlantis?). Its survivors allegedly found refuge deep within the Himalayas, where they split into two groups. On one side, the people of Agartha, who chose not to communicate with the surface world and live in wisdom; on the other, Shambhala, where violence is permitted and the surface world is regarded as dangerous and evil.

With this narrative foundation, Frédéric Raynal’s team had plenty to work with… but surprises kept piling up as the project’s progress was uncovered.

Aleister Crowley ...

Yet, even at first glance through the game’s archives (the appearance of its book, its depiction during a ceremony on the loading screen), I find myself thinking that this title goes far beyond what is being done… even today.

To summarize, the English character is the very embodiment of depravity, accumulating a range of vices along with black magic, even earning the title of the most depraved man in the world—an unmatched title to this day. This reflects a trend toward occultism, which he embraces through a form of satanism supported by his strong moral influence; Shambhala, here I come!

Freemason, writer, tarot reader, astrologer, and poet—and above all, depraved—he would align himself with the Greek party Golden Dawn (still active today), whose views are far right and which uses a symbol reminiscent of some of the darkest hours of our history. This Greek party may seem harmless, but it is considered a precursor to racialist ideology.

And here we touch on the core interest of the title: the legend of Agartha is indeed said to be linked to Tibet, and access to it would even be a secret held by the “Green Gloves Lama” (a rank below the Dalai Lama). It is also said that a certain Nazi group (the SS research organization led by the Ahnenerbe) made contact with him in an attempt to reach Agartha (the film Seven Years in Tibet is often cited as a reference recounting the expedition). This same Lama is said to have been found in 1945 by the Red Army, having committed suicide in Berlin along with some of his entourage… adding yet more mystery!

To understand Hitler’s interest, it is useful to go back to his influences, including the Thule Society (the occult branch of the Nazi Party), which is often cited as an inspiration for racial laws and the dictator’s mystical leanings (also using the swastika as a symbol, or the Big Dipper star as an emblem for initiates). The dictator’s desire to impose a new religion based on Norse legends encountered similar themes across the Eurasian continent, between the legend of the “Chakravarti” (the Wheel-Turning King) in Europe, or the Fisher King symbolized by a swastika (in its many variants), the Celtic cross, or even Yin and Yang (representing renewal, continuity, duality, and possibly the path to reaching Agartha). The symbol of the balance between good and evil is also found among the Templars, in Japan, and in Tibet, where the tradition remains very much alive, not to mention a variant found in the game’s beta.

You’ve understood! The source is there… The SS used Wewelsburg Castle as a research center for the Aryan people, another name given to the Avatars (inhabitants) of Agartha, known for their great height and very pale skin, sometimes even tending toward a pale blue (referenced in films like Avatar, Stargate Atlantis, or Prometheus), in contrast to the beings of Shambhala, who are depicted as much darker.

Some will call this nonsense and tales from alien enthusiasts or other hoaxes… But the Nazi Party believed in it so strongly that the return of the expedition brought back data reported as follows:

A certain Schaeffer (the leader of the expedition) is said to have reported the ritual of the Kalachakra Tantra, as well as its associated initiation (such initiations were already common, among others in Thule, and continued to be practiced after the war, as they still exist today). One of the rites takes place at the site where the Irminsul once stood (a sacred Saxon tree cut down by Charlemagne, referenced in The Lord of the Rings with the people of Gondor). The initiate is required to lie down with others on a pagan ritual stone, covered with branches, for an entire night, after which enlightenment is said to occur—in reality, the learning of Sanskrit and runic language… coincidentally. Returning to Schaeffer and the initiation, it was said to allow rebirth in Shambhala (land of enlightened souls) at the time of the final battle between good and evil, a theme similar to the pagan Ragnarok.

The Nazi regime’s view of Agartha and the chakras, which considered Hitler to be the last of the Avatars (in the second image, you can see the origin of the “Sieg Heil”: a chakra represented by an inverted S shape sewn onto SS uniforms, which also signifies the double sun rune—namely the sun of the outer world and the sun of the hollow earth).

This is enough to send shivers down your spine by the fireside—and even better, here I am in Săpânța, the village of origin of the game in Transylvania, Romania. And you’ll never guess: the town is located just a stone’s throw from Hungary and Ukraine (remember that Hungary and Romania were allies of Germany during the war). Romania had a significant German population between the wars, as well as a Jewish population (which suffered greatly during the horrors of the conflict). But we are also very close to Dracula’s castle and the legend tied to the 15th-century Prince of Wallachia. His father was named Vlad II and was nicknamed Dracul, or “the dragon.” Vlad III would therefore become known as Drăcula, “the son of the dragon.” He came into conflict with the Ottoman Empire (while he was still a vassal). Impalement and burning—this is what befell the Ottoman army, where a forest of impaled bodies (at least 25,000 people) managed to rout the colossal army that had advanced into the center of the country (the canceled game D2 on M2 references this; a new version of the title was later released on Dreamcast in the U.S. and Japan). It is said that the Sultan’s army captured some of Vlad’s soldiers, and under torture, their only response was: “Torture me—yours will always be milder than that of my lord.”

Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, was inspired by the writings of Emily Gerard, an English writer, on Transylvanian folklore. In these accounts, we find the “vâcolac,” meaning “undead” in Romanian, representing zombies in the game.

Should the use of Romanian folklore be seen as tied to the virus and contamination? Is Dracula present, and if so, does he open the way to the harmful world of Shambhala? Finally, how does the hollow earth theory fit into the game and the discovery of Agartha? One thing is certain: the choice between good and evil was up to us as players.

Text by Romain Villez, a history and video game enthusiast!!!