Half-exposed ovoid emerald in the ampule room

That is their acidic circulatory fluid.

@Michelle Johnston: Can you please provide the link to the "over 7 minutes long" interview?

What doesn't make sense re: Prometheus, is that it reveals the Engineers intended to drop bacteriological drums of shit on us 2,000 years ago and yet Shaw's notes show they were still watching over us until 1,000AD (i.e. Toltec Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Xochicalco, Mexico and Chaco Canyon, New Mexico respectively)!?

@Kethol: Can you please provide the reference where "One of the designers said it was also a monument to science, art and religion"?

@Nathan Adler

The remarks are mid point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo30bZc10D0

@Ketho

"I always presumed it held the original form or the pathogen"

My apologies I had missed you believe it is an empty container. My problem with that is I can see elements of black and green within it as if it is frozen tissue. This for me is the dormant dead material that echoes the material that David extracts from a vial. The Deacon is part humanoid and therefore in death would contain elements of the humanoid catalyser and the introduced Xeno strain. The reason its green is for matters of presentation so you can see it and thematically the holographic key is also green as well as the vials.

On the matter of the dialogue freeze frame the movie Charlie looks at the mural, looks at the submerged elongated shape and says its just another tomb. Prometheus is so low on exposition dialogue every piece that is in their crunches out key back story much of which comes from David "in order to create first one must destroy" I see very few examples of dissembling elements of the narrative unlike Covenant David lies about the destruction about Shaw and in my view the Egg. Therefore my instinctive reaction which I had five years ago was wow this shape its like an Alien (if they didn't want that connection then why not leave an example of the sacrificial bowl which then connects as you would want directly with the catalyser from the opening frames an empty bowl which contained the catalyser) and when Charlie said its just another tomb "Bang the Alien related creature is buried here".

What if the rock is an alien version of amber, and what is inside is a fossilized creature. Something that has religious significance for the Engineers.

@joylitt That would be badass lol

" I have studied many artefacts, artistry of Judo/ Christian/ Hindu and even Moslem tradition and the idea a spreadeagled creature is embracing rather than crucificalo is outside of my experience."

I think its a interesting point and also the Christ Statue in Brazil and so indeed we cant rule out the Sacrificial Pose as being something else... Thus the only other reasons are this Creation had offered the Engineers something that was important,  maybe its a way they could Create Life by giving Birth and thus incubating Life within them... if this was something they had lost or was never able to do (Procreate by Giving Birth) Then the Mural would indeed be valued by them... i think this is what the Mural stands for.. but they Sacrificed this Creation because it was Perfect in their eyes and so to use its DNA to use to pass on to all Life they would now create.

Another option is if this Mural Deacon offered the Engineers some kind of Freedom?  The Christ Cruciform pose not only was about his Sacrifice, but its to inform us that through Christ Mankind can be Saved... his very being allowed for Redemption and Savior, and thus without his Birth Mankind would have none.

So the Deacon in some way could also be some kind of Savior of the Engineers, or those on LV-223.   Maybe it provided them a Freedom from Bondage?

"I don't think Ridley mis-spoke at all. When he said "this thing designed to make human beings", the "thing" he was referring to was the creation goop we see in Prometheus prologue. He was just saying if you think the Engineers made that stuff, you are wrong. That's what I heard, anyway."

I dont think there is enough evidence to suggest any theory is wrong, i may be wrong or i may be close, only RS and Lindeloff should know what the deal was and those who worked close to them... but even so we dont know how much things get Evolved as they go along, i would almost Guarantee after they started to Shoot Prometheus that doing a Sequel where David is revealed as the Xenomorph Creator, and a movie that skips Shaw completely... is NOT the Intention back then... so things can progress and change.

I think my theory is accurate but its not set as FACT, its just a conclusion i made, i feel at the Time it was fitting, but as things Evolve this theory can seem less and less likely.

I will say that "the "thing" he was referring to was the creation goop we see in Prometheus prologue"

Is a interesting take on what RS had said, i would be pretty open to considering this kind of theory also, we really do-not know how far or deep RS is going with the Origins of Life in General. And so for sure it could be the Goo is they KEY to All Life, maybe the Engineers were created from it, and they had then used the Tool of their creation to create Mankind.

The Beauty of the Plot in Prometheus is it leaves it open as far as who created MANKIND it could have been explored in a number of ways, just as how it could fit with so many Ancient Cultures and Religions...  The Sacrificial Scene showed a Engineer who looked very related to the LV-223 Engineers, it showed the Elders who look related too (but this was removed) So there are connections... 

The Sacrificial Scene could just have been how those beings on Paradise came to be,  in which case early Mankind could have been a Failed Experiment, where our Ancestors were kicked out of Paradise or Deemed to be Destroyed/Re-booted but somehow a few of us were taken away to Earth maybe by a Rogue Faction of Engineers who then had tried to subjugate us, maybe these Engineers even created us via Sacrificing one of those Humanoids, in a attempt to subjugate their own followers and thus play GOD.

Its so open.... the only way i can say the Engineers did not create us, is by looking at the Sacrificial Scene and then if they answer who is the Race who had Roped in that Sacrificial Engineer to do what he did.   The Engineer thus may not have created us, just that his DNA was used to lead to us.  Thus its in a way who ever created the Sacrificial Goo who truly created us, as this TOOL is what was needed, the Engineer merely the Genetic Genepool from which is required to create us.

If this Engineer acted in accordance with the Elders and the Elders are the same Race then in a way the Engineers still created Mankind, because those Ordering the Sacrifices are Genetically Related.  

Another aspect is the Sacrificial Scene again was not on Earth or how mankind was created, but it must mean that Mankind was created or Originated from the beings who were created via that Sacrificial Scene.

RS had said that the Sacrificial Scene was how these beings Seed Worlds and Create Life, not just on Earth.. that Scene could have been anywhere... but he did Ultimately say the Engineers had been back over thousands and thousands of years to Re-Engineer us over and over to thus Evolve us Genetically and Technologically.

The Ultimate Creator (Origin of Man) thus can be attributed to the Source of the Sacrificial Goo, we dont know how far or deep they will delve into this Substance, what its True Purpose is and how it was obtained... it could at the very least had been STOLEN/MISS-USED by the Engineers and not something they had ever created.

I could mention some of the stuff the Source said about P2 as this seems to offer a lot of clues. But again i cant even say if there is a single element of truth in it... unless Paglen/Green Draft comes to light

I will add the Alien Creature Remains Theory is also something to consider... i thought Holloway was referring to whats behind the Mural as another Tomb.  As it surely looked like a Door that could lead somewhere..  My Prometheus Re-write i actually took a look behind this and it had a Room with Sacrificial Murals and was more like the Star Beast Mural Room..... but also had Sacrificial Pods around where Sacrifices could be Held.

I interpret the object the Green Crystal is on as a Altar and i thought as the Engineers Culture revolved around Sacrifice, that it was maybe some kind of Sacrificial Altar?

The alternative one with the Cup/Bowl is clearer to see that it is positioned centrally and under it there was Canals running off it, groves in the Altar.  You could almost imagine if a Sacrificial Host is positioned inside this Altar and the Sacrificial Goo poured down and leaks into the Groves/Canals and then inside the Altar and onto what ever is inside.

I think its interesting to read all the theories and there is NO Single One that can be taken as 100% because RS/Lindeloff have never 100% confirmed in detail what this Mural and Altar and Crystal Purpose is... they left it open for interpretation.  I personal still lead towards what i came to, mainly because also Spaights Draft seems to give clues to this, especially the way the Scarabs work and the Sacrificial Cruciform Pose the Engineer had taken during his Sacrifice.

@Nathan Adler

Thats a good Question, we was intended to be Wiped out, but then the Outbreak prevented this... so we have to wonder why latter visitations had came along after 2000 years ago.

Was there a Faction who Sabotaged the Intended Mission to Destroy us?  But then why did they leave us similar Star Maps, was it a Warning... were beings who visited us trying to Warn us as far back as 35'000 years ago?  But then we have to then ask so was LV-223 Producing those Bio-Weapons for over 35'000 years?

Its very open to debate... it could be more likely the Engineers saying this is where YOU came from, without ever being a invitation... after we upset the Engineers and proved to be a Failed Experiment/Creation they then intended to Destroy us.

So then a Faction who did not agree with this, then made similar Maps as a Warning? But then where did they go?

My Personal Favorite Theory is the Space Jesus one... YES.. but not in Literal Sense... but how RS had said the Engineers sent down a Emissary to try and put us on the right track but we Killed him.

Now what if there were Many Such Emissaries on Earth, Once we had started to Kill them, the Engineers Abandoned us and then went onto to create the Bio-Weapons... but some Emisaries had remained in other Cultures that had not contact with other Continents.  For Example Hawaii and Mayan Ones.

These Cultures were maybe keeping more in tone to what the Engineers had intended for us as far as how we behave, and Worship the Gods, and Sacrifice to them etc.  So i will assume that Emissaries on those continents had educated those civilizations after the other Engineers had abandoned Earth.

Thats about best Logical Way i can explain it, other than that it could just be how by Word of Mouth these Maps get passed on over and over through culture and culture, just like in the Theory that all Religions and Mythos of Gods all came from a Actual Event/Gods and they are just told in slightly different ways through Civilization to Civilization.

Which Basically is what Prometheus was trying to show us.

@BigDave: If we interpret LV-223 as Leviticus, then this suggests the 'gazpacho' in the ampule room, etc. was a gift given to the Engineers.  The gifts given to God in this chapter were brought to him by the Israelites.  So was this suggesting a tribe of had brought God the black goo? In addition, it further advises that the 'priests' must show respect for these 'gifts' and if they don't, they are showing that they don't respect God's name; and that whoever makes physical contact with the 'gifts' will not only become 'unclean' but be separated/ cut off from God.  So does this finally resolve that LV-223 was originally a sacred place where the 'gift' of the black goo was brought to be revered, and the Engineers were 'priests' who disrespected it and were deemed 'unclean' and therefore 'cut off' from God?  And so they set about attempting to destroy God's other creations?  So were the cave paintings not invitations to us but records/ warnings from 'unfallen' Engineers warning us of the fate of the 'elegant, dark angels' for tampering with the black goo 'gift' and where not to go?  Was it actually a xenomorphed organism that killed the Engineers in the recording on LV-223, or was it discovered by their brethren who were those depicted in the Starmaps on Earth that had been tampering with the 'gift' to wipe out creation and they were subsequently punished for this iniquity?

Or were we the ones who 'gifted' the black goo to God, then at some point sought physical contact with it and were subsequently deemed as 'unclean' and deserving of being separated/ wiped out?  Dr. Shaw's notes of the pictograph from Val Camonica in Italy from the early Bronze Age, approximately 3,000 B.C. showed that humans there had seen a Space Jockey's seated not only in the cockpit, but initiating the navigation hologram for launch off.  So might this suggest they had previously taken a group of humans to LV-223 at some point and this is how those who drew the pictograph knew what the interior of a Juggernaut looked like?  Had they chosen an elect group of humans in 3,000 B.C. to LV-223, and we had stolen some goo from the temple/ ampule room (ala stealing the forbidden fruit)?

@Nathan Adler

Your passionate questioning reminds me of ALL of the questions that have been speculated on since 2012. The tragedy of Covenant, and its dealt with politely by Damon in a recent interview , is based on his conversations with Ridley as to where they would go after Prometheus in Covenant they have not reached the "place of answers".

Can you imagine my frustration when I sat through a routine Alien movie which wasted 2/3 rds of the movie reintroducing a step on from the Deacon and in the other 1/3rd we received unsatisfactory answers to the David/Shaw story line. 

Prometheus's failings are quite simple :-

1) They did not make the link between the Engineers and mankind clear enough. Evidence that mankind had been taken to LV223 and experimented on would have made the Charlie/Shaw discoveries whilst David pursues Weylands Agenda more terrifying and invested the wake up with even more terror. 

2) The precise relationship between the catalyser and the Alien pathogen would have made clear something discussed between Pietro and Ridley LV 223 represented the fallen angels of Paradise Lost. 

If together with a much more taught Fifield arc (Oubliette/hugged/creature in the tunnel that we glimpse before being destroyed by security) which ramps up the terror for the Engineer awakening.  

If those matters had been handled correctly Prom would have been bullet proof as a creation myth movie and Prom 2 would have been able to bat A 5 off and move forward to the really fertile ground of David/Elizabeth and the Engineers mythos.  

@Big Dave 

Just to finish the statue in Rio is a welcoming redemptive pose with christ's face looking out and welcoming offering redemption. The crucifio images have that all important down cast "lost" pose where the face drops into the shoulders"  which is reflected in the sacrificial Deacon pose with its beautiful head stooped and in full view.

Right thats it I really must exercise more self discipline, though I congratulate you for going over and over the same ground with others.      

Or Steve just thought it looked cool when he sculpted the head that way :)  I actually think he intended the relief to come across as facing forward though. This is his 3D sculpt. Notice the 'eye' indentations.

@Nathan Adler - "Can you please provide the reference where "One of the designers said it was also a monument to science, art and religion"?"

Here is one.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/08/09/the-many-meanings-of-rios-massive-christ-statue/?utm_term=.9b6e03a87c35

Indeed i can see the  other side of the coin if we try and connect the Brazilian Christ the Redeemer Statue as Christ with open arms to embrace his followers and to embrace peace.

But then how does this apply to the Deacon Mural if we suppose the pose is in a form of open armed welcome and embrace....?

I did  a few posts back try and offer how we can look at it as this, but i see it still when i take the other side of the coin as the Engineers Embracing the Mural and not the Organism in the Mural actually demanding or implying the Engineers Should embrace it...

But then i guess the same can be said with the Christ the Redeemer Statue.... it may not say that its from Christ saying Embrace Peace and Embrace Christianity in my Name.

But maybe more those who created the Statue saying "look lets Embrace Christ, and this monument is their so we can Embrace Christ in the name of Good Will and Peace"

If we look at it like that and then take the view of those who built the Statue and apply that to the view of those who build the Mural in Prometheus, then i kind of can see how this could be.  

"But then how does this apply to the Deacon Mural if we suppose the pose is in a form of open armed welcome and embrace....?"

I don't recall anyone saying the pose of the alien figure in the mural was in the form of open armed welcome and embrace. I stated what I think the mural means (in my mind) several posts above.

Steve Messing was designing this room back when they were working with the Spaith's script, when when what became the Deacon was the Ultramorph. He designed and made the 3D sculpt for the mural. He is also the only one who has really said anything about the altar and mural:

• The altar area was meant to pay homage to Giger.

• The mural included some 'easter eggs', which were the early Giger face hugger designs that were not used in the original film, and maybe some queen visual reference (although he never said "queen")

• He thought an Engineer had sacrificed himself to create the ultramorph using the virus. In his words, that was an earlier, purer form of the xenomorph.

• The mural had a relief sculpture that gave the impression of an alien form with flowing structures surrounding it. He said this was the ultramorph.

• The Engineers worshipped the ultramorph. The mural was a religious sculpture.

That is all he said about it. Even though the ultramorph was later changed to the Deacon in the Lindelof drafts, that really does not require altering his back story on the mural. But it only seems to be HIS back story. That said, Messing's explanation works perfectly for me.  

I think trying to come up with deeper meanings for a piece of set dressing that is not in the script and practically never mentioned by the writers or director, is just making up your own fiction. Nothing wrong with that, but it does not appear they had any deeper thoughts on it, just Messing.

The altar and green gen is another story though. Ridley obviously had something in mind when he changed the bowl to the gem. It could have just been that visually he wanted something more interesting, or it could be that he and the writers had an idea for back story involving the gem, to be developed later.