Oma


 * This article is about the namesake of Omashu. For other uses, see Omashu (disambiguation).

The legendary figure, Oma and her lover Shu were the world's very first Earthbenders. Their bodies lie side by side within a tomb buried deep within the Cave of Two Lovers, whose decorated walls tell their story.

History
Shu met Oma on top of a mountain that divided their two villages, but because they belonged to different tribes who were currently warring with each other, they were forbidden to see each other. However, their love was strong and they were able to find a way to continue meeting. The two were able to learn Earthbending from the badgermoles that dwelt within the mountain, and using their bending, were able to carve out elaborate tunnels where they continued to meet secretly.

The two lovers continued their meetings until one fateful day in which Shu was killed in the war between their villages. Devastated by her loss, Oma unleashed a potent display of her Earthbending prowess, but rather than destroying the two villages, she declared the war between them over. Together, both villages helped her build a new city where they would peacefully coexist. The great city came to be named Omashu as a monument to the two lovers.

Oma was one of the greatest Earthbenders who ever lived, capable of bending hundreds of giant earth pillars out of the ground in one swift motion.

Trivia

 * Oma, particularly eomma, means mother in Korean. This may refer to Oma being the mother of Earthbending.
 * No other Earthbender has demonstrated power as incredible as hers except for King Bumi and Toph.
 * She is the only other female Earthbender to be named in the series besides Toph, Avatar Kyoshi and Avatar Yangchen.
 * Oma bore a very close resemblance to Juliet from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Like Juliet, Oma belonged to a village at war with Shu's village. Even though they were considered enemies, they fell in love with each other.
 * Oma also bore resemblance to Maria from the musical, West Side Story, where Maria and Tony fall in love with each other despite being from two different rival gangs. After Tony is killed in a fight between the Jets and the Sharks, Maria brings the two gangs together, and their rivalry ends.
 * If Oma and Shu truly were the first human Earthbenders, the city of Omashu could be older than the Avatar itself.