--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a date inscribed on the base…" description: "\"“There was a date inscribed on the base, 1234, and words inscribed around it: NEPHILIM: FACILIS DESCENSUS AVERNI. “Is that meant to be the Mortal Cup?”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg" --- # There was a date inscribed on the base, 1234, and words… ![“There was a date inscribed on the base, 1234, and words inscribed around it: NEPHILIM: FACILIS DESCENSUS AVERNI. “Is that meant to be the Mortal Cup?” she asked. Jace nodded. “And that’s the motto of the Nephilim—the Shadowhunters—there on the base.” “What does it mean?” Jace’s grin was a white…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg) > ““There was a date inscribed on the base, 1234, and words inscribed around it: NEPHILIM: FACILIS DESCENSUS AVERNI. “Is that meant to be the Mortal Cup?” she asked. Jace nodded. “And that’s the motto of the Nephilim—the Shadowhunters—there on the base.” “What does it mean?” Jace’s grin was a white flash in the darkness. “It means ‘Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234.”” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The motto humorously mixes dark imagery with a tongue‑in‑cheek self‑description of the Shadowhunters. **In simple terms:** Shadowhunters claim they look better in black than their enemies' widows. Key Takeaway Recognize humor in dark, stylized group identities. Themes fantasy humor identity group dynamics Mood playful darkly comedic Type literary satirical When to use this quote - role‑playing games - fan discussions - costume design - themed events Key Concepts self‑parody mythic symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does the motto reveal about the Shadowhunters’ self‑image? - How does humor affect perception of dark groups? A Different Perspective Humor may obscure serious themes of conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ## Related quotes > [“He pointed at Brother Jeremiah, who had come to a halt in front of a statue just slightly taller than he was, its base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-pointed-at-brother-jeremiah-who-had-come-to-a-halt-in-front-of-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It means 'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-means-shadowhunters-looking-better-in-black-than-the-widows-of-our/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“As could the sarcasm in her voice. 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Jace nodded. “And that’s the motto of the Nephilim—the Shadowhunters—there on the base.” “What does it mean?” Jace’s grin was a white flash in the darkness. “It means ‘Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cassandra Clare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1234-and-words-inscribed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1234-and-words-inscribed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/cassandra-clare-9_death_there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1_1499614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was a date inscribed on the base, 1234, and words inscribed around it: NEPHILIM: FACILIS DESCENSUS…” — Cassandra Clare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cassandra Clare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There was a date inscribed on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1234-and-words-inscribed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-was-a-date-inscribed-on-the-base-1234-and-words-inscribed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```