Marduk Institute

Appears in Episode: 5, 15, 17

An advisory body of 108 corporations established by the Human Instrumentality Committee to oversee the identification and selection of children suited to be Evangelion pilots. It is however a mere dummy organization with no actual body, and NERV itself had been selecting the pilots. The only exception is the Fifth Child, Kaworu Nagisa, who is sent directly from SEELE to replace Asuka Langley Sohryu.

Based on Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum: 05 DVD Booklet

Analysis

• Mythology of the Marduk Institute
  
  The Marduk Institute was named after Marduk, a god from ancient Babylonian mythology who possessed over 50 different names. Under his reign humans were created to bear the burdens of life so the gods could be at leisure (which according to some myths, included child sacrifices). In astrology, Marduk was also connected to the planet Jupiter, and as the ruler of the late Babylonian pantheon, he was equated with the Greek god Zeus (Latin Jupiter), hence the name of the planet.

• 108 Dummy Corporations
  
  The number 108 may refer to the number of sins in Japanese Buddhism, and the number of beads on a typical Buddhist rosary.

• Created to mislead SEELE?
  
  The Marduk Institute is a front and has little to do with selecting Evangelion pilots. It was not however, created to mislead SEELE. This is a common misconception caused by Ryoji Kaji's investigation of the Marduk Institute. While Kaji secretly deals with SEELE, he also works for NERV and the Japanese Government. In fact, his investigation reveals that Kiel Lorenz—a prominent member of SEELE—is listed as an executive for one of the fake companies (along with Gendo Ikari and Kouzou Fuyutsuki). Furthermore, Kiel Lorenz openly questions Gendo about 'giving that toy (Evangelion Unit-01) to his son,' implying that he and the Human Instrumentality Committee are aware the Marduk Institute has nothing to do with selecting pilots.