**Dune: Prophecy** unveils an abundance of new lore from the *Dune* universe, highlighting crucial events such as the Butlerian Jihad, a conflict waged against sentient machines, and the nascent establishment of the Sisterhood that is destined to evolve into the Bene Gesserit.
Among the most notable new terminology introduced in the premiere episode is “Tiran-Arafel,” a phrase uttered by Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul (portrayed by Cathy Tyson) during her last moments. Her foreboding caution comes with a vision of the Sisterhood’s downfall, implying that Tiran-Arafel is a source of dread.
In the subsequent scene, the young Sister Valya Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) shares Raquella’s message with her Sisterhood peers. Sister Kasha (Yerin Ha) clarifies its meaning: “A reckoning,” she explains. “A divine judgment imposed by a tyrant.”
The notion of Tiran-Arafel, or more precisely “arafel,” is not exclusive to *Dune: Prophecy*. The term “arafel,” which means “fog” in Hebrew, is referenced at the conclusion of *God Emperor of Dune*, the fourth installment of Frank Herbert’s series. In the book, Leto II, the offspring of Paul Atreides (and a hybrid between a sandworm and a human), expresses the phrase as he passes away: “Do not fear the Ixians. They can create the machines, but they no longer can produce arafel. I know this. I was present.”
This obscure remark alludes to the Ixians, a society famed for their creation of sophisticated machines, alongside Leto’s prophetic insights. In *God Emperor of Dune*, arafel is subsequently depicted as a “cloud-darkness of holy judgment,” effectively heralding a cataclysmic occurrence for humanity.
*Dune: Prophecy* slightly modifies this interpretation by incorporating “tiran,” highlighting that the Sisterhood’s judgment will come at the hands of a tyrant. But who might this tyrant be?
Currently, all indicators lead to Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), a soldier possessing an enigmatic capacity to incinerate individuals without physical contact. His perilous abilities and hostility towards the Sisterhood imply he may be the tyrant accountable for their reckoning.
New episodes of *Dune: Prophecy* premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.