Castle Grayskull
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Castle Grayskull is a fortress located on the fictional planet Eternia. It forms a central location in the He-Man comic/animation universe, and also appears in the 1987 live action adaptation.
It has been the target of numerous attacks by Skeletor, Hordak and the Snake Men, all of whom believed that the secrets inside would allow them to conquer Eternia.
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[edit] Purpose and origins
During the original 1980s series of He-Man, Grayskull was a legendary/mythical location situated in a barren wilderness. It served as the base of operations for the Masters of the Universe and home to The Sorceress. Its origins were unknown except for the fact that it was constructed to protect an unspecified source of power from those who would misuse it.
As a location it had a limited number of internal scenes including a war room and an armory and was most commonly viewed from the outside
The castle's purpose and history were significantly expanded upon in the 2002 remake, as were the variety of locations shown in the castle. The most significant of the expansions made at this time were the addition of the council of Elders who reside in the catacombs beneath the castle and protected its secrets, and the updating of the castle interior to reflect a grander heritage than in the original series.
The castle was relocated to a rocky outcrop above a forest, on the outskirts of the regions capital at this time, and its status was also changed; becoming an apparently dilapidated ruin that had been all but forgotten about by the population at large. This was an image that the Masters of the Universe went on to maintain in order to help conceal the secrets inside.
[edit] King Grayskull
In the 2002 remake of He-Man, it is revealed that Castle Grayskull was once home to King Grayskull, an ancestor of Prince Adam's who died defending the castle's secrets from Hordak.
Upon his death, King Grayskull transferred his power into the sword which now forms the basis of He-Man's power. His wife became the original Sorceress and his advisers became the council of Elders.
[edit] Other appearances
Castle Grayskull appears during the transformation sequences of the He-Man spin-off series She-Ra.
[edit] Toys
Castle Grayskull was made as a playset for both the 1980s and 2002 Masters of the Universe toy lines. The 1980s incarnation was especially fondly remembered for being one of the most popular Christmas presents for young boys in the 1980s, as its price point was generally within reach of the parents of a child in the target age range for the toy line, and despite possessing many settings and functions suitable for the 5" action figures it was built to complement, it was small enough to be put away at the end of a play session, unlike some other toys of comparable cachet (such as the 7 1/2 foot long G.I. Joe USS Flagg toy).
[edit] External links
- 1980 Castle Grayskull Toy (half way down the page)
- 2002/2003 Castle Grayskull Toy
