Antiquity

Antiquity (古代文明, Kodai Bunmei^?) (also known as Dark Ages in the SNES/PS version) is the year 12,000 BC in Chrono Trigger. This is the era of the fall of the Kingdom of Zeal, which abused the power of Lavos and sank to the bottom of the sea. Those born after this time period are unable to naturally use magic.

Geography

The geography of 12,000 BC looks in some ways like the Present, but the entire surface of the planet is covered by a never ending blizzard. The Kingdom of Zeal floats above the clouds and dominates most of the planet. After the Ocean Palace incident, Lavos destroyed the Kingdom of Zeal and it fell from the sky. This caused a massive tidal wave which flooded most of the planet, as well as cleared the clouds in the sky and allowed the planet to warm again.

Gates

There is only one gate which the player finds after Lavos falls from the sky in Prehistory, which leads to a cave on the surface in 12,000 BC.

This gate is sealed by Schala at the Prophet's (Magus's) demands after Crono and his parent are forced to go back through. Crono then must find other means to get back to this age.

Native Characters

• Queen Zeal
• Magus (Janus)
• Schala
• Dalton
• Melchior
• Gaspar
• Belthasar

Major Visits

A great deal of the history of the Chrono Trigger world is explained in this time period, and its connection to magic and Lavos.

1st Visit

After defeating the Reptites, Crono and his party witness Lavos arriving at the planet. It quickly buries itself underneath the surface, and leaves behind a time gate which Crono and his party travel through. It brings them to the year 12,000 BC, a time when humans are divided between magic yielding Enlightened Ones and the cast away Earthbound Ones. The Earthbound Ones live on the surface of the planet, which is covered by a never ending winter which was caused when Lavos struck the planet. Crono and company find the Kingdom of Zeal, home to the Enlightened Ones, a floating paradise above the clouds. When they arrive at the Queen's Palace, they are identified as a threat by the "Prophet", who is Magus in disguise. Magus was sent back here during his encounter with Crono's team in his lair, and became a Prophet to the people of Zeal due to his knowledge of future events. Crono and his party are defeated by Queen Zeal and Dalton, and held prisoner in the palace. Schala frees them, but before they can get far the Prophet forces Crono and his friends back through the time gate, and has Schala seal it behind them.