Empyrea

The Acolytes: Azrael, J’son, Stef and Damian – Azrael, Robin II (Jason Todd), Robin IV (Stephanie Brown), Robin V (Damian Wayne)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:Waiting_in_the_Sky
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Acolyte_Azrael
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Acolyte_J%27son
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Acolyte_Steff
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Acolyte_Damian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azrael_(DC_Comics)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_(character)

Aeriel – Ariel from The Tempest
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Aeriel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_(The_Tempest)

Airfred – Alfred Pennyworth
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Airfred
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Pennyworth

Alyvia – Olivia Newton John
Zanadu – Xanadu
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Alyvia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Newton-John
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanadu_(film)

Baane – Bane
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Baane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bane_(DC_Comics)

Barbata – Whiskered Velvet Shrimp (Metapenaeopsis barbata)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Barbata
https://www.fws.gov/species/whiskered-velvet-shrimp-metapenaeopsis-barbata
https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=241291

Bat – The Batman
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Bat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman

BatBot Tank – The Dark Knight’s Tumbler, the Bat Pod, and fight sequences from ’66 Batman
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:BatBot_Tank
https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Tumbler
https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Batpod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPaTv98wUsE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZaG_13ZIYY

Beans – Dr. Leonard H. “Bones” McCoy
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Beans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_McCoy

Beastman Fight Club – Fight Club
Beastie Guys; Mykedee, Adrok, and Yowck – The Beastie Boys; Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Michael “Mike D” Diamond
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Location:Beastman_Fight_Club
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:Fight_For_Your_Right
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Mykedee
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Adrok
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Yowck
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beastie_Boys
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(You_Gotta)_Fight_for_Your_Right_(To_Party!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabotage_(Beastie_Boys_song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergalactic_(song)
https://youtu.be/eBShN8qT4lk
https://youtu.be/z5rRZdiu1UE
https://youtu.be/qORYO0atB6g
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight_Club

Ben’ana Foster Kane – Charles Foster Kane aka Citizen Kane and Bananas Foster
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ben%27ana_Foster_Kane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Foster_Kane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane
https://bakefromscratch.com/bananas-foster/

Blue Oxen – Babe the Blue Ox
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Blue_Ox
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bunyan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bunyan_and_Babe_the_Blue_Ox

Bookworm Jimm – Earthworm Jim
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Bookworm_Jimm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm_Jim

Cabal Lambaster Balkhi – Balki Bartokomous
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Cabal_Lambaster_Balkhi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_Strangers_(TV_series)

Caleban – Caliban
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Caleban
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliban

Caleban’s Minions: K’Vort, K’Tock, K’Tinga, Vor’cha, and Flunki – Klingon Starships
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:Beasty_Mountain_High
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:K%27vort
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:K%27Tock
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:K%27tinga
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Vor%27cha
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Flunki
https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/K%27vort_class
https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/K%27toch_class
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/K%27t%27inga_class
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Vor%27cha_class
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flunky

Captain James T. Pork – Captain James T. Kirk
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Pork
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_T._Kirk

Coach Landri – Coach Tom Landry
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Coach_Landri
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Landry

Cretan Bull – The Cretan Bull from Greek Mythology
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Cretan_Bull
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretan_Bull

Crusher – Doctor Beverly Crusher
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Crusher
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Crusher

Deputy Fife – Deputy Barney Fife
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Deputy_Fife
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Fife

Doctor Demented – Dr. Demento
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Doctor_Demented
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Demento

D’viss – Al Davis (most likely) or Mark Davis
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:D%27viss
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Davis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Davis_(American_football)

Dynt – Harvey Dent “Two Face”
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Dynt
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Dynt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Face

Erasmus the Interpreter – Erasmus
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Erasmus_the_Interpreter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus

Fear of Gremlins – Gremlins and the “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” 1963 episode of the Twilight Zone
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Fear_of_Gremlins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gremlins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare_at_20,000_Feet

Fear of the Future – Admiral James T. Kirk
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Fear_of_the_Future
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_T._Kirk
https://youtu.be/BdUMICxLXhM

Fear of Being Surpassed – Captain Jean-Luc Picard
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Fear_of_Being_Surpassed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Luc_Picard

Floxx – Phlox
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Floxx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlox_(Star_Trek)

Fosse – Bob Fosse
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Fosse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Fosse

Frog Prince – Grimm’s Fairy Tales “The Frog Prince” and Lord Humungus from The Road Warrior
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Frog_Prince
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frog_Prince
https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Lord_Humungus

Gannon – Rich Gannon
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Gannon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Gannon

General Ellectryk – GE, General Electric
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:General_Ellectryk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric

Gerri – Jerry Seinfeld’s character on Seinfeld
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:We_Are_Gobblers
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Gerri
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Seinfeld
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seinfeld

Giles – Rupert Giles
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Giles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Giles

Greys’in aka the Masked Stranger aka Nightwyng – Dick Grayson aka Robin aka Nightwing
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Greys%27in
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Masked_Stranger
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Nightwyng
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Grayson

Ground Patrol Captain Celliers – Piers John Sellers
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ground_Patrol_Captain_Celliers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Sellers

Ground Patrol Col’ins – Michael Collins
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ground_Patrol_Col%27ins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(astronaut)

Ground Patrol Mor’ris – Major Tom from Space Oddity retroactively given the surname Morris
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ground_Patrol_Mor%27ris
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Oddity
https://simonbird.bandcamp.com/album/ground-control-to-major-tom-morris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo

Helena – Helena Rosa Bertinelli aka The Huntress and Amanda Grayson
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Helena
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntress_(Helena_Bertinelli)
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Amanda_Grayson

Helgar Goldenvoice – Mythological Lovers separated by some impenetrable abyss, Helgar Longplaits from WarHammer 40K
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Helgar_Goldenvoice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus_and_Eurydice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cowherd_and_the_Weaver_Girl
https://warhammerfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Helgar_Longplaits

Hercules Poirot – Hercules and Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Hercules_Poirot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labours_of_Hercules
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirot

Huuver – Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company and GLaDOS from Portal
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Huuver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hoover_Company
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLaDOS

Ignus Ferric – Grinning Ignus from Magic the Gathering and Scotty from Star Trek
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ignus_Ferric
https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=513581
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty_(Star_Trek)

Jareth – Jareth
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Jareth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jareth

Khan – Khan Noonien Singh, Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Kublai Khan Emperor of Yuan China
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Khan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Noonien_Singh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubla_Khan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kublai_Khan

Killer Krok – Killer Croc & Tick-Tock the Crocodile from Peter Pan
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Killer_Krok
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Killer_Krok
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_Croc
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Tick-Tock_the_Crocodile

Le Pingouin – The Penguin
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Le_Pingouin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_(character)

Madd’n – John Madden
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Madd%27n
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden

Major Tom – Major Tom from David Bowie’s song “Space Oddity”
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Major_Tom
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:House_Oddity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Tom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Oddity
https://youtu.be/iYYRH4apXDo

Medulla – Krang and the Medulla oblongata
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Medulla_(Standard)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulla_oblongata

Miranda – Miranda Jones (Star Trek) & Miranda (The Tempest)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Miranda
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Miranda_Jones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is_There_in_Truth_No_Beauty%3F
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tempest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_(The_Tempest)

Morwen Misteyes – Mythological Lovers separated by some impenetrable abyss, Tolkien’s Morwen, and Morwen from the Elder Scrolls
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Morwen_Misteyes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus_and_Eurydice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cowherd_and_the_Weaver_Girl
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Morwen
https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Morwen

Neumian Lion – The Nemean Lion and Alfred E. Neuman(?)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Neumian_Lion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemean_lion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman

Newt – Rebecca “Newt” Jorden from Aliens
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Newt
https://alienfilmspedia.fandom.com/wiki/Rebecca_%22Newt%22_Jorden

Newt’on – Newtons, Nabisco’s fruit cookie
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:We_Are_Gobblers
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Newt%27on
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newtons_(cookie)

Nikola – Nikola Tesla
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Nikola
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

The Nimbari – The Minbari from Babylon 5
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Category:Nimbari
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ione_Virga
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Sparck
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5

Pandalus – Pandalus (cold-water prawn)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Pandalus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandalus

Poison Oak – Poison Ivy
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Poison_Oak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_Ivy_(character)

Praetor Drusilla – Drusilla from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Praetor_Drusilla
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drusilla_(Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer)

Presporo the Elder – Prospero
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Presporo_the_Elder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero

Qhatlady – Catwoman
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Qhatlady
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catwoman

Quizzler – The Joker and The Riddler
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:The_Quizzler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joker_(character)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddler

R0S1E – Rosey (or Rosie), the Jetson’s robot maid and Rosebud, Charles Kane’s sled from Citizen Kane
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:R0S1E
https://thejetsons.fandom.com/wiki/Rosey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane

Ruumba – iRobot’s Roomba and GLaDOS from Portal
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ruumba
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLaDOS

Sani-Bots – Robot Vacuums, The Borg, and Sani-Flush
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Death)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Balance)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Fire)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Ice)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Life)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Myth)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Bot_(Storm)
https://vacuumwars.com/history-of-the-robot-vacuum-cleaner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sani_Flush

Sani-Leader – The Borg Queen
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sani-Leader
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Borg_Queen

Screaming Byrin – Screaming Lord Byron
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Screaming_Byrin
https://david-bowie.fandom.com/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Byron

The Shade of Sycorax – Sycorax the Witch and The Sycorax
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Shade_of_Sycorax
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sycorax
https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Sycorax

Snipe – The Snipe Hunt
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Snipe_(Ice)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:A_For_Real_Snipe_Hunt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipe_hunt

Sphinx – Sphinx and the Riddle of the Sphinx
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sphinx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza

Sparck – Spock
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Sparck
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spock

Tez’la – Nikola Tesla
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Tez%27la
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

Thomás – The Thomas Cookie Company and Thomas Aquinas
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:We_Are_Gobblers
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Thom%C3%A1s
https://www.thomascookie.com/
https://www.thomascookie.com/pages/about-us
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins

The Three Goats Gruff; Littlest, Billy, and Capricorn – The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Capricorn
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Quest:I_Ain%27t_Afraid_of_No_Goats
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Littlest_Gruff_Goat
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Billy_the_Gruff_Goat
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Capricorn_the_Gruff_Goat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billy_Goats_Gruff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capricorn_(astrology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capricornus

Trinculo – Trinculo from The Tempest
The Hollow Deck – The Holodeck from Star Trek
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Trinculo_(Rank_16)
https://www.shakespearegeek.com/shakespeare_characters/the_tempest_trinculo.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodeck

Tumbler – The Dark Knight’s Tumbler
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Tumbler
https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Tumbler

Tyler the Aero Smith – Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Tyler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Tyler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_On_(Aerosmith_song)
https://youtu.be/89dGC8de0CA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dude_(Looks_Like_a_Lady)
https://youtu.be/nf0oXY4nDxE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_This_Way
https://youtu.be/4B_UYYPb-Gk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Don%27t_Want_to_Miss_a_Thing
https://youtu.be/JkK8g6FMEXE

Vigilant Sargun – Sargon, from Star Trek episode “Return to Tomorrow”
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Vigilant_Sargun_(Rank_17)
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Sargon

Voltergeist – poltergeists and Poltergeist (1982)
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Voltergeist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_(1982_film)
https://youtu.be/E7nFf-ld7Fk

Water Keeper – Mario as Poseidon, written by Terry Pratchett and sponsored by Gatorade.
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Water_Keeper
https://waters-end.fandom.com/wiki/Hydro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waterboy

Wezlee – Wesley Crusher
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Wezlee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Crusher

Zigi Stardust – Ziggy Stardust
https://wiki.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Zigi_Stardust
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggy_Stardust_(character)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Ziggy_Stardust_and_the_Spiders_from_Mars
https://youtu.be/rpO1U-nEgRU

Unconfirmed references, Non-NPC, and cool references
The Aeriel Shores are named for the magical spirit Ariel whom Prospero freed in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Rachel K. points out that Athanor is referenced in the Silent Book of Hermatic Alchemy. In alchemy, an athanor is a furnace used to provide a uniform and constant heat for alchemical digestion. Etymologically, it descends from a number of Arabic texts of the period of the Caliphate which use the term “al-tannoor” in talismanic alchemy, meaning a bread-oven. The athanor was chiefly used in slower operations, and because when once filled with coals, it keeps burning a long time. For this reason the Greeks referred to it as “giving no trouble”, as it did not need to be continually attended. It was also called the Philosophical furnace, Furnace of Arcana, or popularly, the Tower furnace.

Sycorax’s Hollow Deck that Trinculo used to make fake versions of himself is a direct reference to the Holodeck as seen in Star Trek the Next Generation.

Christian C. points out the Lux Capacitor that powers The Ark looks a LOT like Doctor Brown’s Flux Capacitor from “Back to the Future”. Christian also thinks the Alphoi look like a lot like the aliens in Avatar.

Zanadu is named for Xanadu, the summer capital of Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty in China. Xanadu also inspired the title of the 1980 Olivia Newton John film “Xanadu” (from which the Alyvia character is inspired). Xanadu was also the name of Charles Foster Kane’s estate in the 1941 film “Citizen Kane” (Thank you Ashley D.).