The Secret Passage and Underground Lake

The subplot of the hidden architecture beneath the Opera, including the lake and the house on the lake.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Opera's Hidden Depths

The Opera's Hidden Depths The Architect's Challenge When building the Paris Opera House, the architect Charles Garnier had to drain a vast underground lake. The cellars are five stories deep, with a complex system of passages and a man-made lake. Erik, as a contractor, used this to create his secret lair. Erik's Construction Erik built a house within the double foundation walls, accessible only through secret passages. He installed trap-doors, revolving mirrors, and a torture chamber. He also built a boat to cross the lake. The Communist Prison During the Paris Commune, the cellars were used as a prison. The Communists' Road is a passage that leads to the lake. Erik later used this road to abduct Christine and imprison Raoul.

The Siren's Song

The Siren's Song The Persian's Attempt The Persian once tried to row across the lake to Erik's house. He heard a beautiful singing coming from the water. The voice lured him to lean over, and then two arms grabbed him from the water. It was Erik, using a reed to breathe and sing underwater. The Trick Revealed Erik later showed the Persian his trick: a long reed that allowed him to stay hidden underwater and sing. This is the 'siren' that guards the lake. The Persian realized that any intruder would be drowned. The Lake as a Barrier The lake becomes a formidable obstacle. Raoul and the Persian cannot cross it. They must enter the house through the third cellar, avoiding the siren's clutches. The lake is also the site of Count Philippe's death.

during the construction of the Opera

when the Persian tries to cross the lake