The attack on Titan 132 is complete. The next chapter is about to appear in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine and the fans are out of the water. We’ll get through the wait by checking one of the references that appear most frequently in The Attack of the Giants, which is the number 13.
A few months ago we suggested the links between Ragnarok and The Attack of the Giants, and like this and many other things, the number 13 also relates to Norse mythology. Hajime Isayama has indeed used a number that is considered unfortunate in Europe, mainly by the northern peoples due to a Legend about the god Loki.
In one of the Scandinavian myths, Loki was branded the thirteenth guest. The god, repeatedly portrayed as evil deceived, Höðr, god of winter and son of Odin, and taking advantage of his blindness, made him strike his brother Baldr (god of summer) with a magical spear with a mistletoe tip, which is the only object that could kill him. There are several references to these “13” in The Attack of the Giants.
- First, those who gain the power of giants will only live thirteen years;
- In the first original volume, the only numbered page was number 13;
- Erwin Smith was the thirteenth in command of the Legion;
- In chapter 130 of The Giants’ Attack on the Horizon, we see 13 giants;
- Eren’s recent review of the same chapter is 13 pages;
- Even in Ymir’s past, we see a story told over 13 pages.
- There were 13 people who accused Ymir.
It’s not the only number mentioned in The Giants’ Attack. The tree under which Eren awakens in the first chapter has nine branches that occupy the nine worlds associated with the Yggdrasil tree. Have you received all of these Nordic references?
