What is the name of the mysterious artifact central to Assassin's Creed's story?

The Apple of Eden is the mysterious artifact central to Assassin's Creed's story.

In the series, Apples of Eden are Pieces of Eden created by the Isu, an advanced civilization that existed before humanity's recorded history. The artifacts can influence human perception and behavior, making them valuable and dangerous objects in the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order.

The first game introduces an Apple connected to the Templar pursuit of power. Later games show that there is more than one Piece of Eden, so the phrase does not necessarily refer to a single object across the entire franchise.

The Apple is often confused with other Pieces of Eden, such as the Swords, Staves, and Shrouds. Those artifacts belong to the same broader category, but the Apple is the series' most recognizable spherical relic.