James Cameron’s Avatar films bring an imaginary world to life with breathtaking colors, visuals, and unique storytelling. A closer look, however, reveals that parts of Pandora’s dazzling realm are layered over tales connected to ancient mythology and lore.
Some of these mythological themes are Eywa as Gaia/Mother Earth, the Tree of Souls and the Tree of Life, the hero’s journey, stewarding nature, and taming mythic beasts.
With Avatar: Fire and Ash set for release in December 2025, now is a good time to reflect on why the Avatar films have such an impact: They carry themes that are both fresh and familiar. Here are five ways Avatar draws from world myths:
Eywa as Gaia/Mother Earth
Pandora is surrounded by Eywa, a life force and shared consciousness that connects everything. Eywa oversees balance and harmony in the natural world, like an Earth mother figure.
One example of this idea is Gaia, a Greek mythological goddess who personifies Earth. Another is Pachamama in the Incan tradition, a goddess of fertility and the mountains. Additionally, Hindu traditions speak of Prithvi Mata, “Mother Earth,” as a goddess who supports all life.
The Tree of Souls and the Tree of Life
In Avatar, the Tree of Souls is a sacred site where the Na’vi connect to Eywa and their ancestors. Trees are significant in ancient beliefs as well.
Norse mythology has Yggdrasil, a giant ash tree that connects nine worlds. A sacred tree appeared in Mesopotamian culture, representing power, knowledge, and royal authority. And in ancient Egypt, the acacia tree was believed to be a connection to the heavens and the underworld.
In The Way of Water, the concept of a sacred space continues in a new way. The Metkayina clan has the Cove of Ancestors, an underwater counterpart to the tree of life. It also shows how the theme extends throughout Pandora, not just in its forests.
The hero’s journey
Jake Sully’s story in Avatar represents the hero’s journey, another favorite theme in mythology.
Jake’s journey begins with a life-changing transformation. He enters the Na’vi world through his avatar body, then begins a series of adventures and trials. Jake adapts and eventually earns their trust and undergoes a symbolic rebirth. The rebirth happens when his human consciousness is permanently transferred to his Na’vi form.
In The Way of Water, Jake continues the hero’s journey theme. He moves from being a warrior into the role of a father and protector. He also faces new challenges from a new landscape, the ocean.
Likewise, his children—especially Lo’ak—begin their own journeys of trials, mistakes, and growth, carrying the cycle of the hero into the next generation.
Stewarding nature
Like Avatar’s Na’vi, other myths relate stories of people who care for and feel connected to nature. Arcadia in ancient Greece, for example, was a real place that became a legend for people who revered nature. The Na’vi preserve nature by only taking what they need and not exploiting the land.
Further, the Na’vi have a deep spiritual bond with Pandora's creatures. Through Eywa, they share a consciousness with animals and Pandora’s ecosystem.
The Way of Water extends the Na’vi’s closeness with nature into the ocean realm, mirroring the bond with the land that plays a role in the first film.
Taming mythic beasts
Jake Sully elevates his hero status by riding Toruk, a massive and fearsome winged predator in Pandora. Again, heroes in mythology sometimes prove themselves alongside a powerful animal.
Bellerophon teams up with Pegasus, the winged stallion, to defeat the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster. In the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, Perseus and Pegasus work together to defeat the Kraken. This new take on classic mythology shows how stories can change over time.
Other mythic beasts—dragons in Asian tales—are said to work with chosen humans.
The theme continues in The Way of Water. Just as Jake proved himself with the Toruk, Lo’ak earns trust and strength through his bond with Payakan, a powerful ocean creature.
Audiences will no doubt be drawn in again by the stunning imagery that awaits in Fire and Ash. With the film’s release on the horizon for Dec. 19, 2025, it’s fun to imagine the completely new and ancient themes audiences will discover.
That is why Avatar feels alien and familiar, living somewhere in our collective consciousness through stories told long ago.