The Untold Secrets of Sun God Nika in One Piece: Revealing Ancient Mythology

Highlights

The revelations about Nika's existence and role in One Piece have led to increased mentions of the Sun God and his influence on the series' lore.

Nika incorporates elements from a range of legends, setting him apart as a one-of-a-kind figure in the One Piece mythology. Known as a symbol of freedom and liberation, slaves often turn to him in hopes of finding salvation. Additionally, Nika's ties to figures like Joy Boy, Fisher Tiger, and various cultures within the world of One Piece further enhance his significance.

After the earth-shattering revelation that Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Mi is actually a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit known as the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, references to the Sun God Nika have become more prominent in the series. While previous moments hinted at the existence of Nika, such as Luffy's silhouette in Skypiea, the deity's significance in the world of One Piece is connected to various races and cultures, highlighting his impact on the series' lore.

Eiichiro Oda often incorporates elements of real-world mythology into One Piece, evident in the Devil Fruit abilities of characters like Kaido, Yamato, Marco, Sengoku, and Catarina Devon. However, while Nika bears similarities to real-world deities and myths, his design and abilities are a combination of multiple legends. This makes his existence a unique aspect of the series' mythology and the larger world it inhabits.

The Liberator Of Legend

Nika was first introduced by Who's-Who, a member of the Beasts Pirates' Tobiroppo, during his battle against Jinbe in the Raid on Onigashima. While imprisoned in Impel Down, Nika, a former Cipher Pol agent turned pirate, discovered the legends surrounding him. This knowledge was acquired after Nika lost the Devil Fruit, which was named after the Sun God, while guarding it for the Marines. Nika was renowned as a compassionate "Warrior of Liberation" who freed slaves and brought happiness to those who witnessed his actions.

According to Who's-Who, slaves would often pray to Nika for deliverance, solidifying his reputation as a symbol of freedom. He learned about the myths surrounding Nika from a prison guard who mysteriously vanished shortly after. Nika's appearances have been depicted as a slender fighter with flexible limbs, appearing as silhouettes in various instances. Historical records describe Nika's physical appearance, which bears a resemblance to Monkey D. Luffy's Awakened Gear 5 form, as noted by Dr. Vegapunk. This observation was also confirmed by Saint Jaygarcia Saturn of the Five Elders in the Egghead Arc.

Perhaps the greatest indication of Nika's origins and nature lies in the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit associated with his name, which is currently possessed by Monkey D. Luffy. It remains uncertain whether the Devil Fruit itself is the embodiment of Nika or if he was a historical figure predating the existence of Devil Fruits, with his essence now contained within the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. Furthermore, there appears to be some connection between Sun God Nika and Joy Boy, a significant individual from the Void Century, as stated by Zunesha, Nika's former companion who announced the return of Joy Boy upon sensing Luffy's awakened Devil Fruit power in Wano Country. Joy Boy is believed to have ties to the Great Kingdom, Fish-Man Island, Zou, and potentially even Elbaf, with theories suggesting that he was the one who left behind the fabled treasure known as the One Piece on Laugh Tale.

A Myth That Spread Across The Seas

Remarkably, Nika was initially associated with the Fish-Man race by Who's-Who, which caused great displeasure for Jinbe due to their shared history of enslavement by the World Nobles. It is important to mention, though, that Nika's legend bears striking similarities to the tale of Fisher Tiger. As a former slave himself, Tiger bravely stormed Mary Geoise, liberating the captive slaves who were held by the World Nobles. Subsequently, he formed the Sun Pirates alongside some of his fellow escapees. Jinbe, who was once a member of Tiger's crew, later assumed leadership of the Sun Pirates following his Captain's demise.

No confirmed link exists, but a Poneglyph on Fish-Man Island carries an apology from Joy Boy, who failed in his duty to fulfill the true purpose of the Noah ship. This suggests a connection between Joy Boy, potentially the last user of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, or the Sun God himself, and the residents of Fish-Man Island during the Void Century. Legends of the Sun God Nika have been passed down for centuries in other cultures of One Piece, such as the Buccaneers race to which Bortholomew Kuma belonged.

Members of the Shandia tribe, like Mousse, worship an ancient serpent named Kashigami, known as the "God of the Sun." Additionally, the giants of Elbaf hold a special Winter Solstice Festival in honor of the sun's death and rebirth. These examples highlight the significance of solar deities in the One Piece world, mirroring similar traditions and symbolism surrounding divine figures in our own world.

Potential Inspirations Behind Nika

Nika, which is another name for the Greek goddess Nike, has been associated with victory and is often depicted as an attendant to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. The connection between Nika and Nike is not certain, as the name "Nika" is also used to refer to a type of banyan tree in the Maldives that is related to the rubber plant. Another interesting influence on Nika's character design comes from banyan trees in Okinawa, which are believed to house mythical creatures known as Kijmuna.

Similarly, there are connections to be made between Curupira, mythological beings living in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, and the Brazilian Sun God Meri. This connection is particularly relevant because Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has stated that the main character, Luffy, has Brazilian heritage. While there is no concrete evidence linking Nika to Brazil, it is worth considering whether Oda drew inspiration from these sources when developing One Piece's first original deity.

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