Era of Raava



The "era before the Avatar"' refers to a specific era within the history of the world of Avatar. Not much is revealed about this era, but it is known that at the point when the Avatar cycle began, this era ended. Before the Avatar existed, people did not bend the four elements; rather, they bent the energy within themselves. The state of such a world is not revealed, but the most ancient of creatures, such as the lion turtle, do remember it.

History
Since the show only touched on the subject once, not much is known about this era except for the Lion Turtle's description of it. However, it is known that people split into Four Nations at some point and began bending air, water, earth, and fire, as learned from the sky bison, the Moon, the badgermoles, and the dragons, respectively. At this time, the Avatar was incarnated into the world.

Notable Figures

 * The Lion Turtle

Trivia

 * Conceptually, such a golden age features heavily in most world mythologies, especially in Greek and Chinese myths. This is most likely the real-world analog to the fictional era before the Avatar.
 * If Oma and Shu really were the first Earthbenders and the Eternal Flame was really the first fire given to humans then they must predate the Avatar because it is said that the Avatar Cycle started the same instance as the presence of the four bending arts.