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"Once again, we return."
This article contains spoilers for Issue 23 of The Wicked + The Divine. Read at your own risk. |
- "You spend all your life wishing you were special. And then you find out you are."
- —Amaterasu[src]
Amaterasu is a Shinto sun goddess and one of the gods of the Recurrence. Symbolised by an icon of the sun, she is known to have appeared in the 1920s and 2010s Recurrences.
History
Before godhood
Before becoming Amaterasu, the current incarnation was known as Emily Greenaway, a seventeen-year-old private schoolgirl from Exeter.[2] She had a privileged upbringing, and first became interested in Shinto as a young girl, reading old books in her father's library. This interest grew after a trip to Japan with her father when she was eight. However, at some point her father died, which had a huge impact on her, and she has admitted to feeling lost and confused as a teenager. At one point, she changed her name to Hazel Oak Ash Thorn Greenaway, going through a "druid-y stage" that was indulged by her mother. She later became involved in the online Pantheon fandom, where she first met Lucifer. She and Lucifer were both fans of Cassandra Igarashi's work on the Recurrence, and she produced a lot of fanart.
Becoming a god
Amaterasu performs
Amaterasu became a god on her seventeenth birthday as she was watching the sunset. Lucifer was the first person she went to after her incarnation. She performed a few times in December 2013, and on 1 January 2014. After the 1 January performance, during an interview with Cassandra, she and the other gods present were shot at. She tried to prevent Lucifer from using magic in retribution, and attended the trial which took place afterwards. She also unknowingly enabled Woden and Ananke to witness the trial, as they scryed through her jewellery. Woden had gifted her the ring, telling her it belonged to the 1920s Amaterasu, when in fact he created it himself. After the Judge Holmes murder (which was orchestrated by Ananke but pinned on Lucifer), Lucifer told Amaterasu to go to Ananke for help.
Amaterasu was present when Laura met the Pantheon at Valhalla to plead Lucifer's case, and although she was distressed by the thought of using her powers violently, she admitted it was within her capabilities.
After Lucifer's escape from prison, Amaterasu tried to convince her to return peacefully, but failed. After Lucifer's death, Amaterasu was seen holding her hand, and seemed to be crying. She spoke about Lucifer's death on television. Later, she attended London Fantheon and Dionysus' party.
Conflict with Urdr
Amaterasu transforms into a giant sun
Amaterasu heard about Tara's death while at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. She visited the hospital where the body was being kept, and had flashbacks to visiting another corpse in hospital as a child, implied to be her father. She also visited Brunhilde while she was there, and became embroiled in an argument with Urdr about her privilege and cultural appropriation. Angered, Amaterasu transported herself and the Norns to Japan, where they continued their conflict. She turned into an artificial sun in the sky above Hiroshima, the offensiveness of which Urdr was quick to point out. Realising the implications of her actions, she calmed down and talked to Urdr, though they were still unable to fully reconcile their different attitudes. As the sun set, Amaterasu returned to the Meiji Shrine, leaving the Norns in Hiroshima. She carried out her twice-daily ritual of praying to her father for the dead and the dying.
Divisions within the Pantheon
Amaterasu joined Baal and Sakhmet in battle against a dissident faction of the Pantheon led by a mysteriously returned Persephone, who they believed to be an enemy. The rival gods had taken Minerva with them to the Underground, but Amaterasu took her back to Valhalla while they were busy fighting the others. She came to realise her mistake when Ananke murdered Minerva's parents in front of her and moved to kill Amaterasu as well. She fled the scene in terror, tracking down Urdr in the hopes that she, a "grown-up", would know what to do. They returned to Valhalla, where a battle between the two sides was raging, and Urdr managed to persuade them to calm down and check on Minerva. They discovered that Ananke was planning to kill Minerva and fought and captured her. Though they intended to keep her locked up, Persephone killed her in a fit of anger. Extremely panicked by the ordeal, Amaterasu asked what they would do next, to which Persephone replied, "Whatever we want."
Appearance
Amaterasu is a young, white woman with long red hair and brown eyes. She typically wears flowing white dresses, lots of gold jewelry, and large, brightly coloured patterns in make-up around her eyes. When performing, her eyes turn black, and the irises take on the appearance of an annular solar eclipse.
Personality
Lucifer once described Amaterasu as "sappy", "hippy-dippy" and "incapable of jealousy". She is kind and friendly, and easily upset. She has an optimistic outlook, but is not very self-aware. Amaterasu said that as a god, she lives to inspire, and although she is clearly upset about her short life span, she seems to think godhood is worth the cost. She is responsible, and tried to advise Lucifer to obey Ananke's rules about not using miracles on humans.
Amaterasu is bisexual, but has a preference for men. She has complained that this makes her boring.
Relationships
Lucifer
Lucifer described Amaterasu as her best friend, and nicknamed her "Ammy". Amaterasu seemed to believe she would be able to get through to Lucifer when she was on a rampage, but was ultimately unsuccessful. She was greatly saddened by Lucifer's death, although the knowledge that she would see her again in two years provided some comfort.
Laura Wilson
As a human, Laura idolised Amaterasu, and after she befriended Lucifer, Amaterasu was often friendly to her. They became enemies when Amaterasu sided with Ananke against Laura.
Ananke
Amaterasu usually tried to obey Ananke and followed her advice. Ananke manipulated Amaterasu (and several other gods) to fight against Persephone's faction of the Pantheon.
Cassandra
Cassandra initially questioned Amaterasu's abilities and accused her of being a fraud for being so calm about her own mortality. She has also noted the racism in being a white girl who "cosplays as a Shinto god". Amaterasu's cultural appropriation continues to be a sore point for her.
Brunhilde
Amaterasu is friends with Brunhilde, and was featured in the livestream that ended Brunhilde's career. She later visited her in hospital.
Powers
Amaterasu is described as a sun goddess, and therefore possesses solar-based powers:
- Solar travel: Provided there is enough sunlight in her vicinity, Amaterasu is capable of solar teleportation across great distances, the limits of which are unknown.[2] With Woden's help, she can also travel by starlight which is shown to be much faster, though she is not entirely comfortable with it. Though she is seemingly immune to the effects this brings, this form of travel appears to take its toll on anyone she takes with her, as it once caused Minerva to pass out.
- Flight: Amaterasu is capable of self-propelled flight, and is usually surrounded by an orange aura as she does so.
- Solar energy manipulation: She is seemingly able to project a solar energy around her hands, which she demonstrates when angered. Her aggression seems to also cause her to reach "Hiroshima" level power, as she has shown the ability to project enough energy to reflect an "artificial sun." The limits of these powers have not been fully explained.
- Lazer vision: used against a creature suspected to be 'the darkness'.
- Performance: Her performances create a positive energy within her audience, as she radiates an orange aura and creates such pleasure in her viewers that they can even experience orgasms. Her eyes also take on the appearance of a black sun.
Past Recurrences
1920s Recurrence
Amaterasu in the 1920s
Amaterasu appeared in the 1920s Recurrence. She was one of the last four Jazz Age gods to die, killing herself in an explosion triggered jointly with the three other remaining gods; Susanoo, Baal, and Minerva, at Ananke's prompting.
Mythology
Amaterasu is based on the Shinto goddess of the same name, goddess of the sun and the universe. The mythological Amaterasu is the sister of Susanoo, who appeared alongside Amaterasu in the 1920s Recurrence.
Quotes
By Amaterasu
About Amaterasu
Dialogue
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Trivia
- Amaterasu's look is inspired by Florence Welch, Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks.[3]
- Amaterasu's Twitter handle prior to becoming a god was "@ashandthorny".[4]
- Stephanie Hans' depiction of Amaterasu is based on Margarita Kareva.[2]
- Amaterasu is a fan of Okami and has it set as her ringtone. The toy wolf she possessed when she was younger was the lead character from the game, also named Amaterasu.[2]
Appearances
References
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