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Zunanma

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Ashunera and the Zunanma.
They tried to comfort the girl and eventually grew closer to her... That was the birth of the Zunanma. They were your ancestors...beorc, laguz, everyone.
— Yune describing the Zunanma

The Zunanma (Japanese: マンナズ Mannaz) are the ancestors of both the beorc and laguz.[1] They originated from the first beings created by Ashunera, which evolved into more intellectually advanced creatures and became the Zunanma.

History

The Zunanma were Ashunera's companions; they loved her so much that they deemed her their goddess. They named her after her hair, which was said to be as striking as dawn's first light. She was called the Goddess of Dawn.[2]

As the Zunanma grew and changed, different tribes and races appeared, and each tribe thought they were superior to the other. Because of these attitudes, eventually the tribes went to war with each other.[3] To try to end the conflict peacefully, Ashunera gave the tribes names, beorc and laguz. However, these labels only further intensified the conflict between the tribes, and they warred on.[4] Ashunera attempted once again to stop the fighting, but her power was too great, and all of the continents were flooded, save Tellius. Yune calls this event the great flood.[5]

As time went on, the stories of the Zunanma became twisted, and the facts became distorted. Sanaki reports that in Begnion, Zunanma are said to be the ancestors of only beorc.[6]

There are ruins in the Grann Desert attributed to the Zunanma.[7]

Characteristics

No living Zunanma are encountered throughout Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance or Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. As a race, they are presumably extinct, though their numerous descendants, the laguz and beorc, continue to flourish. The Zunanma are shown to have been vaguely humanoid, and also feature a wide variety of traits from other animals, like birds, dragons, and beasts. Their exact capabilities and other unique traits other than their outer appearance are unknown.

Flavor text

Game Text
(English)
Text
(Japanese)
Radiant Dawn
The name of the common
ancestor of the beorc and laguz.
In Begnion, the Zunanma are
recognized as the ancestors of the
beorc only.
現在のラグズとベオクの
祖先にあたる種族。
しかし、ベグニオンでは
ベオクの祖先だとされていた。

Trivia

  • After the player completes Radiant Dawn the first time, the art with Ashunera and the Zunanma can appear behind the logo on the title screen.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Zunanma

Romanization of ズナンマ, the Japanese name spelled backward.

Japanese

マンナズ

Mannaz. Appears to be named after the rune mannaz, sharing a naming theme with beorc and laguz which are also both named after runes. The name of the rune is derived from the reconstructed Germanic word meaning "human" (whence modern English man).

Spanish

Zunanma

As above.

French

Zunanma

As above.

German

Zunanma

As above.

Italian

Zunanma

As above.

Gallery

References

  1. "Then some creatures began to grow and change, becoming more clever and sophisticated. They tried to comfort the girl and eventually grew closer to her... That was the birth of the Zunanma. They were your ancestors...beorc, laguz, everyone." — Yune, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
  2. "The Zunanma worshipped the girl as their own goddess. They said her hair was as striking a color as dawn's first light, so they gave her a name... The Goddess of Dawn. She was a much-loved goddess." — Yune, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
  3. "The Zunanma continued to evolve and change, giving rise to a variety of races and tribes across the land. Naturally, each of the races thought their own was superior to the others, and conflict arose between them." — Yune, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
  4. "The goddess tried to make peace among her people, but nothing could stop the warring Zunanma. Trying to separate the factions, the goddess gave them different names, laguz and beorc... But this only intensified their conflict." — Yune, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
  5. "The goddess was only trying to bring an end to the fighting. But her power was so great that all the continents were drowned in the flood, all except Tellius." — Yune, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
  6. "In Begnion, we are taught that the Zunanma were human—Uhm, I mean...beorc ancestors..." — Sanaki, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
  7. "By the way, I hear you are traveling north to the Grann Desert. There are ancient ruins there, you know? They are the remnants of a race known as the Zunanma, who come from a civilization that predates our own. I'm sure you will enjoy the sensation of being immersed in such primordial surroundings!" — Servant, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Races and animals of the Fire Emblem series
Major species BeorcBrandedDragon (ManaketeDivine DragonEarth DragonFell DragonFire DragonFirst DragonIce DragonWar DragonWyvern) • EmblemGodHumanKitsuneLaguz (Black DragonCatHawkHeronLionRavenRed DragonTigerWhite DragonWolf) • MirageMorphNabateanTaguelWolfskinZunanma
Animals and other species CorruptedFabricationGriffinHorseIllusionKinshiMonsterPegasusPhantomRisenWolf