High Priestess (ハイプリエステス（女教皇）, Hai Puriesutesu) is the Stand of Midler featured in the third part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Stardust Crusaders.
It has the troublesome ability to transform or assimilate into anything comprised of minerals, even something as large as a seabed.
High Priestess is a rather small Stand, capable of fitting into a grown man's mouth.[1] Its appearance is that of a head and arms attached to a ball of short fur. Its face is in a constant frown with its teeth bared while the eyes have flat pupils, forming an overall menacing expression. Its eyebrows are perfectly arched, and a marking on each side of the face goes from the edge of the cheek to just below the eye. Several dots also mark the forehead of High Priestess. Its hair is tied into a short topknot. High Priestess's arms are muscular with claws sharp enough to cut metal.[2]
The design is based on the traditional dress of an African shaman.[3] Its face and fur is modeled after a Nigerian Igala Agba mask.[4]
Before Midler begins to talk through High Priestess, it acts like a savage beast. It mainly emits shrieks and laughs at the group's pain. It acts cunning, taking a variety of forms to catch the group by surprise.[1][2]
It represents the tarot card, The High Priestess, which symbolizes intuition and arcane knowledge.[5]
High Priestess is a formidable opponent physically speaking. Its small size and nimbleness make it difficult to strike and its claws are very dangerous, being able to cut through Joseph's metal hand.[6] This, combined with its ability that multiplies its options, makes for a fearsome opponent.
Moreover, because it is a long-range Stand, Midler can sit away from danger while she commands High Priestess. On the other hand, it also means that Midler can be taken out through defeating High Priestess.
High Priestess possesses teeth harder than diamonds, making them almost unbreakable.[7] It can use them to bite hard on or crush the opponent by chewing them.
High Priestess possesses the ability to shapeshift and assimilate itself into any type of inorganic matter, be it metal, glass or plastic.[2] Moreover, it can also replicate rather complex structures, transforming into a spear gun to shoot itself at the Joestar Group.[1] The transformation is convincing enough that cautious examination or even trying to touch it will fool anyone. Because of that, it can disappear into a wall and then reappear elsewhere to strike.[2] Its small size by default belies an ability to turn gigantic if it can assimilate a great amount of material like the stone of the sea floor.[1]
Manga Appearances
Anime AppearancesHigh Priestess's design is particularly based on an "Egu Agba" (エグウ・アバ, Eguu Aba) mask made by Igala people in Nigeria. "Egu" refers to the spirit of the dead. The mask is on display in the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan.
High Priestess' first appearance
Tarot Card
High Priestess disguised as a mug
High Priestess hiding between the gauges
High Priestess disguised as a handle
High Priestess as a razor blade
High Priestess disguised as a diving regulator
High Priestess as a harpoon gun
High Priestess' mimicry of a large rock
inside High Priestess' mouth
High Priestess' teeth shattered by Star Platinum's punches
High Priestess' stats
High Priestess' second stat backdrop
High Priestess cuts Joseph's artificial hand off
High Priestess disguised as a handle
High Priestess defending
High Priestess lands an attack on Jotaro
High Priestess disguised as a diving regulator
High Priestess as a harpoon gun
High Priestess mimicry of a large rock
High Priestess' first appearance
High Priestess furious at the group
Jotaro gets struck by High Priestess's tongue
High Priestess' teeth punched out by Star Platinum
Tarot card representing the High Priestess
High Priestess alongside Midler in Heritage for the Future
Color B
Color C
Color Stand
Color Start
High Priestess Sprite
Chara Heroes; Part 3 Vol.3
Weekly Shonen Jump #13, 1997
