There's no doubt the similarity is intentional, but that doesn't mean that it foreshadows events in the game. However, with five months before release this is exactly the kind of thing that's fun to speculate about. Here's a quick comparison of positioning (identification of disciples in the Da Vinci painting comes from here; I'm accepting the companion identification from here), from left to right:
Bartholomew / Cullen
James (son of Alphaeus) / Vivienne
Andrew / Varric
Judas / Cole
Peter / Solas
John / Cassandra
Jesus / Inquisitor
Thomas / Iron Bull
James (son of Zebedee) / Dorian Pavus
Philip / Leliana
Matthew / Sera
Jude / "scribe"
Simon the Zealot / gray warden
Beginning with the obvious, the Inquisitor mimics Jesus' position (incidentally, they both have their hands on the table). Both are leaders, and the overt religious association of the Inquisition (has anyone made that comparison yet?) is another similarity. Could our character be sacrificial? Do we die for the cause? I suspect it's a possibility, albeit the same existed for the Hero of Ferelden (Origins). I like the idea that the Inquisitor can choose to be either a punishing, uncompromising leader just like the historical Inquisition, or go the route of Jesus in trying to bring peaceful resolution and compromise to the various factions.
There's all sorts of diverse folklore and theories about the disciples (a basic overview is here), but that's less relevant than the creative team's intentions and we don't know what those are. Accepting that there's some meaning in it, I'd guess the broadest possible associations are the most likely to matter (there's no real payoff in picking something obscure because players won't get the connection). The most intriguing parallel is the location of Judas (the disciple who betrays Jesus) in the Dragon Age image, which matches that of Cole. Is he the kind of character who would sell out and betray the Inquisitor? Or is the image broader than that, suggesting several of the companions and NPCs could do so? Betrayal is an interesting story element. It's worth noting that Varric's pose is similar to Judas' (both lean on the table [quick correction: Varric is not leaning]), even if he's in the wrong place in the lineup, but the idea of the affable dwarf selling out the Inquisitor is an intriguing one.
Other than Judas (whose story is well-known), what about the other disciples? Putting aside scholarly debate, we'll start with the best known:
Peter (Solas). The staunch disciple (the "rock", which is what "peter" means in Greek--his actual name was Simon) who famously denied knowing Jesus three times (and then became one of the pillars of the church). If there's anything to take from this, I'd say that Solas is extremely devoted to the Inquisitor.
John (Cassandra). A former follower of John the Baptist who was known as the "beloved disciple." Faithfulness is the primary component I'd draw from this, although Cassandra (like the disciple) has switched who she follows (from the Chantry to the Inquisitor).
Matthew (Sera). Best known as a former tax collector (a "sinner") who became a disciple when called. If there's a connection to be made it could be that she begins on a side opposed to the Inquisitor (or at least not in agreement with the Inquisition principals), but changes her mind when she's heard what the Inquisitor has to say. It could even be as simple as Sera being a "sinner" prior to the Inquisition, although that connection seems too flimsy to be meaningful (as it doesn't require the biblical reference).
Moving on from the best known, we'll look at the other disciples:
Andrew (Varric). The brother of Peter, but initially a follower of John the Baptist; I can't see how the sibling connection matters (Varric-Solas), although one could certainly say Varric has moved on from following Hawke (John the Baptist) to the Inquisitor. If Bioware had followed the standard of using Scottish accents for dwarves we might have had more substance to work with here (Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland).
James, son of Zebedee (Dorian Pavus). The brother of John, but otherwise only noted for being hot-headed; presumably Dorian has a temper (as with Varric above, the sibling relationship--Cassandra--makes no sense).
Philip (Leliana). Most notable for asking Jesus questions; perhaps Leliana will be the one who wants the Inquisitor to justify his or her actions.
Simon the Zealot (gray warden). Little is said about Simon, but the fact that he's called a Zealot (those who used violence against the Roman regime in Judea as an attempt to drive them out), might suggest that our unnamed gray warden prefers violent resolutions to problems.
Bartholomew aka Nathanael (Cullen). There's very little to glean here, although he's associated with Philip (Leliana); the only possible connection I can make is that both Cullen and Leliana are assumed to be NPC's, so that's an association of sorts.
James, son of Alphaeus (Vivienne). There are no specific actions or attitudes attributed to him, so I have nothing to add for Vivienne.
Jude aka Thaddaeus ("scribe"). Much the same problem as above, as there's no real substance to grab onto and ascribe to our most mysterious companion/NPC.
Does any of this matter? Likely not, but we'll find out October 7th. If any of you can add to this please let me know!
This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)
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