The origins of the Titans was a huge mystery in Attack on Titan as the series delved into where they came from. When discussing the origins of the Titans, the name Ymir Fritz name seems to pop up in its history.
As audiences learned more about the history of these beings, they found out that Ymir was actually the centerpiece of this mystery. As the series dug deeper into Ymir, fans were provided a look at where she came from and what links her to the world of Attack on Titan.
10 She Grew Up As A Slave
Ymir had a tough life during her existence in Eldia. She was a captive of the Eldian empire when her village was attacked and enslaved by them. Throughout her entire life, she obeyed the Eldian King Fritz by helping him build an empire, kill his enemies, and give him children.
Despite this life, she still worshiped Fritz, even going as far as to sacrifice herself in order to save him. Even after her passing, Ymir would remain loyal to the royal family creating Titans in a faraway land.
9 Ymir Was The First To Get Titan Powers
In the beginning, Ymir was the first person to obtain the power of the Titans. It was about 2,000 years ago when her village was attacked and captured by the Eldians. As a slave, Ymir was forced to be hunted by the Eldians.
As she grew desperate, a wounded Ymir ended up seeking shelter at a big tree where she fell into a sinkhole. Once she landed in a pool of water, a spine-like creature ends up fusing with her body to turn Ymir into the very first Titan. With this powerful form, she was able to serve the Eldians by helping them with the land until her death.
8 She Was The Only One To Fully Possess Powers of a Titan
Being the Founding Titan, Ymir came out as the only one among the Titans to fully possess the power of all of them. Others who came after her only hold a fraction of her power. With just her strength, she would wipe out Marley’s forces completely with her abilities.
Being the first of her kind, Ymir was in complete control of her Titan form whenever she changed into it. With this amazing power, it’s no wonder not everyone who had Titan powers could surpass her.
7 Her Power Was Divided Into What Was Known As The Nine Titans
As a reward for her services, King Fritz took Ymir in as his concubine and produced three children. After Ymir’s passing, her body was consumed by her daughters in order to preserve her powers and pass it down from generation to generation.
The tradition would continue to be done with every child in the royal line eating their mother’s blood so that the power of the Titans would not die out. Ymir’s power would be divided into what is known as the Nine Titans, with Ymir being the Founding Titan. This would create the Titans that the manga/anime's main characters would encounter throughout the series.
6 She Was Worshiped As a Deity
Ymir’s power was unlike anything that humankind has seen. The story of how Ymir got her powers varies among different regions. Among Eldian cults, Ymir was viewed as a goddess.
However, the Marleyans saw Ymir as evil and were under the assumption that her powers came directly from Devil since she wiped out all of their forces during their war against the Eldians. There are also those who think that Ymir got her powers from Mother Nature. Despite all these tales, Ymir was no more than an ordinary girl who was given a powerful yet accursed gift.
5 Ymir Created The Curse That Lessens A Titan’s Lifespan
After 13 years since she awakened her powers, Ymir died protecting the king’s life. Her death resulted in what would be known as the Curse of Ymir. With every Titan born, they would live up to 13 years before their bodies weaken and ultimately wither.
A Titan’s lifespan would never go beyond Ymir’s own existence, giving Titans this curse as they roam the land. This would explain how characters like Eren, Uri Reiss, and Tom Ksaver would end up getting sick and age at an accelerated speed during their final years.
4 Her Name Has A Connection To Norse Mythology
Believe it or not, Ymir’s name and power have some link to Norse mythology. According to these tales, Ymir has been characterized as an ascendant of all giants. Her name actually translates to “the scream.”
If one looks back at the origins of her powers, Ymir received her abilities after she was touched by the source of all living matter. Similarly in Norse mythology, the same holds true as Ymir was born from Eitr, a liquid substance that is the origin of all living things.
3 Ymir Was Known By A Different Name
The stories of Ymir varied among different regions, however, the most interesting comes from within the royal family. Frieda Reiss shared the story of Ymir with her younger half-sister Historia, where her name was changed to Krista. Frieda described Ymir as a kind girl who was always thinking of others. She spoke with Historia about Ymir in her storybook, which illustrated her deal with the Devil to obtain the Founding Titan’s powers.
Frieda would tell Historia to act more like Ymir, suggesting that she looked up to her for guidance. Historia would forget these chats due to Frieda using her powers to erase some of her memories, but she would often get vague images of Krista as times passes.
2 After Her Death, Ymir’s Soul Went Into Another Plane of Existence
After she passed away, Ymir’s soul ends up in a place called the “Coordinate.” This desert is huge and the only thing that holds it is a big pillar that acts as a link between her and the Titans she created. Her soul is in the form of a young girl when audiences meet her.
This place is also where all Titans go when they die. What is interesting is that she is stuck in chains just as she was a slave before and continues to serve the Fritz family.
1 Ymir Has The Ability to Create Titans
As she lived in solitary in this mysterious desert, Ymir was stuck with only her devotion to the royal family by creating Titans. As she can make Titans with her bare hands, Ymir was able to send more of her kind into the world.
Those with the genetics of her powers were known as the Subjects of Ymir. With each Titan, they would possess a different power from Ymir, sharing the same thread as her with every creation.