MIRROR THEORY

[Aquamaraqua]

So CandYs have been speculating since CROSS GENE dropped their date teaser that "MIRROR" was going to be a Greek-inspired concept as the font style was Greek. Seeing as how Shin said this was going to be an introspective album more-so than a romantic album, and the fact that the group was already broken up into two sub-units: Black and White (with one vocalists, rapper and visual in each) it can be inferred that this album has a lot more going on than what meets the eyes and ears.

 

This was later confirmed by the statue of Athena present in their 1 second teaser and later on the White Mind image teaser:

 

 

Then with further speculation I found out that the initial date teaser had the head of Medusa on the mirror:

 

 

This same head is also present on either sides of the mirror frame for the "Black Mind" sub-unit of CROSS GENE.

 

If you're not familiar with Athena and Medusa's backstory, here it is:

 

"Medusa was a monster, one of the Gorgon sisters and daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaea (Earth) and Oceanus (Ocean). She had the face of an ugly woman with snakes instead of hair; anyone who looked into her eyes was immediately turned to stone. Her sisters were Sthenno and Euryale, but Medusa was the only mortal of the three.

She was originally a golden-haired, fair maiden, who, as a priestess of Athena, was devoted to a life of celibacy; however, after being wooed by Poseidon and falling for him, she forgot her vows and married him. For this offence, she was punished by the goddess in a most terrible manner. Each wavy lock of the beautiful hair that had charmed her husband was changed into a venomous snake; her once gentle, love-inspiring eyes turned into blood-shot, furious orbs, which excited fear and disgust in the mind of the onlooker; whilst her former roseate hue and milk-white skin assumed a loathsome greenish tinge.

Seeing herself transformed into such a repulsive creature, Medusa fled her home, never to return. Wandering about, abhorred, dreaded, and shunned by the rest of the world, she turned into a character worthy of her outer appearance. In her despair, she fled to Africa, where, while wandering restlessly from place to place, young snakes dropped from her hair; that is how, according to the ancient Greeks, Africa became a hotbed of venomous reptiles. With the curse of Athena upon her, she turned into stone whomever she gazed upon..." -Source

 

 

 

 

When further researching, I came across this myth of Athena's shield, Aegis, which has the following story:

 

"Perseus was told to kill Medusa by Polydectes. Because the gods showed favor on him, he was given Hades' Helm of Invisibility, Winged Sandals from Hermes, a magnificent sword made by Hephaestus, and a shield from Athena which would later become the Aegis. This shield is sometimes called a mirror and other times called a shield of bronze that was polished so much it reflected quite easily.

 

Perseus used this shield to look at Medusa's reflection so he wouldn't be turned to stone. He killed her right when she had birth, which weakened her. After this, he returned to Polydectes' kingdom.  He gave the king Medusa's head and he was turned to stone when he looked at it.  After this, he returned the Shield, Helm, and Sandals. Athena also asked for the head, and, not wanting to upset a goddess, gave it to her. She fastened it to the shield so that any of her enemies would be turned to stone.  She uses it every time she goes to battle." - Source

 

Conclusion

 

The gruesome irony of Medusa's head being on the object that assisted in her death aside, it seems like Perseus was, in a way, Medusa's savior since she was finally put out of her life of misery.

 

Perhaps CROSS GENE are Perseus? Or are they simply a personification of the mirror and shield, Aegis, as they dance a literally mirrored dance in the 3 second teaser we have:

 

Of course this is pure speculation, I'm glad that they are not simply using Greek names but are also incorporating some sort of consistent myth. If you haven't already, be sure to check out their pre-release, White Mind, a sub-unit formed by Yongseok, Sangmin and Shin!

 

[Vip ex-Elvis]

r u a private detective

[╰☆╮]

cool

[Aquamaraqua]

r u a private detective

Only for CROSS GENE :^)

[MineMuses]

Just when you thought BTS had deep theories Cross Gene's are deeper 

[Aquamaraqua]

Just when you thought BTS had deep theories Cross Gene's are deeper 

I try :')

[EXOKingJongdae]

This is pretty extensive wow! good job

[Aquamaraqua]

This is pretty extensive wow! good job

Thanks haha. There's even more to the story, I'll update once the comeback is over and done with ^_^