Unveiling The First Ancestral Race: Cosmic Progenitors Of Life
Have you ever wondered about the ultimate architects of life in a vast, mysterious universe? In the intricate tapestry of certain fictional narratives, particularly within the deep lore of *Neon Genesis Evangelion*, a singular entity stands as the primordial source: the First Ancestral Race. This ancient, enigmatic civilization is not merely a background detail but the very foundation upon which the existence of Angels, Humans, and countless other life forms hinges, spreading their cosmic influence across galaxies billions of years ago.
Delving into the origins of life often leads to profound questions, and in the realm of speculative fiction, these questions are answered with incredible, often unsettling, grandeur. The First Ancestral Race, though shrouded in mystery and only vaguely discussed in core series materials, represents a fascinating concept of ultimate creation and cosmic engineering, setting in motion events that shape entire planetary ecosystems and the destiny of sentient beings. Understanding their role is key to unlocking many of the universe's deepest secrets, from the nature of Angels to the very purpose of humanity.
Table of Contents
- The Enigmatic Origins of the First Ancestral Race
- Cosmic Architects: Spreading Life Across the Galaxy
- The Seeds of Life: Adam and Lilith
- The Lunar Vessels: Black Moon and White Moon
- The Grand Plan and Its Unforeseen Complications
- Possessing the Fruits: Knowledge and Life
- First Ancestral Race in Canon and Lore Development
- The Enduring Legacy and Impact of the First Ancestural Race
The Enigmatic Origins of the First Ancestral Race
Despite their monumental role in the genesis of life across the cosmos, the true origins of the First Ancestral Race remain largely unknown, even within the most detailed lore. They are depicted as a race of sentient beings, possessing immense power, often described as being "gods of equal power to giant naked Rei." This suggests a level of existence far beyond conventional understanding, capable of manipulating fundamental forces of the universe, including the very fabric of life itself. The lore explicitly acknowledges the lack of explicit information regarding "how did the first ancestral race come to be," which only deepens their mystique. Their existence predates recorded history by billions of years, making them truly ancient progenitors whose own beginnings are lost to time, adding a layer of profound cosmic mystery to their identity. This absence of an origin story for the First Ancestral Race only enhances their god-like status, positioning them as an ultimate, uncreated force within the universe.
Cosmic Architects: Spreading Life Across the Galaxy
The primary function of the First Ancestral Race was to act as cosmic architects, meticulously seeding life throughout the Milky Way galaxy. This monumental task was achieved by creating and disseminating "Seeds of Life" (生命の種, *seimei no tane*) across numerous planets. The data indicates that they "spread these eggs throughout the 9 (count em, 9) planets, with only one egg on each." This meticulous distribution was not arbitrary; it was critical to their grand design, ensuring a specific evolutionary path for each seeded world. Their overarching goal was to populate the galaxy, fostering diverse forms of life, but with a crucial, self-imposed limitation: "they wanted to make sure that no planet had both seeds of life." This strict rule was paramount to their plan, as the simultaneous presence of both types of Seeds on a single world would lead to catastrophic consequences for any indigenous life forms, potentially annihilating them through a process known as a "Third Impact." This foresight underscores their advanced understanding of cosmic biology and the delicate balance required for life to flourish.
The Seeds of Life: Adam and Lilith
The core of the First Ancestral Race's life-seeding initiative revolved around two distinct types of "Seeds of Life": Adam and Lilith. These artificial progenitor beings were not merely biological catalysts but complex entities designed to initiate and guide the evolution of life on their respective planets, leading to fundamentally different outcomes and distinct forms of sentient beings.
Adam: The Seed of Angels
Adam is introduced in the *Evangelion* series as the "1st Angel" and one of the two Seeds of Life. Created "billions of years ago by the First Ancestral Race," Adam was specifically intended to populate planets with Angels. Planets that received an "Adam seed" would develop Angels, though the lore notes "not many" of them, suggesting a more specialized or limited propagation compared to Lilith. Adam embodies the "Fruit of Life," which grants immense physical power, immortality, and often, a unique biological structure and energy source (like the S2 Engine). Its arrival on a planet would typically lead to the proliferation of Angelic life forms, characterized by their unique biological structures, often immense destructive capabilities, and a singular, unified consciousness or purpose. The Angels, as direct descendants of Adam, represent a path of evolution focused on physical perfection and survival.
Lilith: The Seed of Humanity and Other Life
In stark contrast to Adam, Lilith is the other primary Seed of Life, and her lineage is profoundly different. Planets receiving a "Lilith seed" would give rise to "humans, and other life." Lilith embodies the "Fruit of Knowledge," which bestows intelligence, self-awareness, the capacity for technological advancement, and the ability to choose. On Earth, Lilith's presence led to the evolution of humanity and the diverse array of flora and fauna we know. Humanity, as the progeny of Lilith, developed distinct individual consciousnesses, complex societies, and a drive for innovation and understanding. The fundamental distinction between the two Seeds—one leading to beings of pure life and the other to beings of knowledge—is crucial for understanding the cosmic balance the First Ancestral Race sought to maintain, and the inherent conflict that arises when these two paths intersect.
The Lunar Vessels: Black Moon and White Moon
To transport these colossal Seeds of Life across the vastness of space, the First Ancestral Race engineered massive, self-contained transport vessels. These "moons" were not merely spacecraft; upon landing, they became significant celestial bodies, serving as the initial cradles and foundational structures for the Seeds on their destination planets, deeply embedding themselves into the planetary crust.
The Black Moon: Lilith's Arrival
The "Black Moon" (黒き月, *Kuroki Tsuki*) is identified as "the egg of Lilith," a colossal transport vessel specifically "created by the First Ancestral Race to send Lilith to Earth." Its arrival on Earth was a cataclysmic event, colliding "violently into Earth 4 billion years ago." This impact, often referred to as the First Impact in supplementary lore, was not just a destructive event but a transformative one. It shaped the nascent planet, creating the Geofront and preparing the environment for the evolution of Lilith-based life forms, ultimately leading to humanity. The Black Moon itself became a subterranean cavern, serving as Lilith's lair and the eventual base of operations for NERV, its presence a constant, hidden reminder of Earth's true cosmic origins.
The White Moon: Adam's Landing
Similarly, the "White Moon" (白き月, *Shiroki Tsuki*) is "the egg of Adam," designed by the First Ancestral Race to transport Adam. It "landed on Earth well over 4 billion years ago," around the same time as the Black Moon. The simultaneous presence of both the White Moon and Black Moon on Earth was a critical anomaly, a profound deviation from the First Ancestral Race's strict "one seed per planet" rule. This unprecedented situation set the stage for future conflicts and the unique, precarious evolutionary path of Earth. The White Moon, like its counterpart, embedded itself deep within the planet, becoming a crucial, albeit dormant, part of Earth's geological and metaphysical structure, awaiting the conditions for Adam's full activation.
The Grand Plan and Its Unforeseen Complications
The First Ancestral Race's plan was meticulously designed: spread one Seed per planet to foster diverse life forms, ensuring a harmonious, distinct evolutionary path for each world. However, Earth became an unprecedented exception, receiving both Adam and Lilith. This was not intentional; it was a cosmic accident, a grave error in their otherwise flawless distribution strategy. The lore explicitly states that "if both landed on the same planet, they would destroy the race living on it," implying a catastrophic "Third Impact" scenario that would reset all life. To prevent this immediate catastrophe, "due to an unspecified law in the First Ancestral Race's plan," an automatic failsafe was triggered. Adam's spread of life was "locked by his spear," specifically the Lance of Longinus, which rendered Adam dormant and prevented its progeny from flourishing. This critical intervention allowed "life born from Lilith to inhabit the Earth." The data further clarifies that "adam got put into stasis when lilith showed up, then it and the white moon exploded right after," detailing the immediate aftermath of this cosmic oversight. This ensured Lilith's progeny could flourish unchallenged for billions of years, but it also created a ticking time bomb, a cosmic imbalance that would eventually lead to the events of *Evangelion* as Angels sought to reclaim Earth for Adam.
Possessing the Fruits: Knowledge and Life
A key aspect of the First Ancestral Race's power and nature is their inherent possession of both the "Fruit of Knowledge" and the "Fruit of Life." This duality signifies their complete mastery over both intellectual and biological domains, granting them god-like abilities that transcend the limitations of their creations. The Fruits are not merely symbolic concepts; they represent fundamental aspects of existence that the First Ancestral Race could manipulate, bestow, or withhold. The Fruit of Life, as seen in Adam and the Angels, grants incredible resilience, immortality, and immense physical power, often manifested through an S2 Engine. The Fruit of Knowledge, embodied by Lilith and humanity, bestows intelligence, self-awareness, creativity, and the capacity for technological advancement and complex thought. The First Ancestral Race's ability to create and deploy the Seeds of Life, each carrying one of these Fruits, underscores their role as ultimate progenitors and cosmic engineers. This inherent, balanced power is what enabled them to orchestrate the seeding of life across the galaxy, making them truly formidable entities whose understanding of life's fundamental building blocks was unparalleled.
First Ancestral Race in Canon and Lore Development
It's important to note the specific place of the First Ancestral Race within the broader *Evangelion* narrative and its various iterations. The data explicitly states that "The First Ancestral Race never comes up in the original anime or manga or rebuild." This means their existence is primarily explored in supplementary materials, spin-offs, art books, and deeper lore discussions, making them a subject of intense fan speculation and analysis. They were "introduced in tier 2 canon," suggesting they are part of the expanded universe, providing foundational backstory rather than being directly depicted in the primary on-screen narrative. The concept itself originated in "the original series proposal for Evangelion [which] briefly mentioned them, but that was an early version of the" story. This evolution highlights how the lore surrounding these cosmic beings developed over time, becoming a crucial, albeit often hidden, explanation for the series' core conflicts and mysteries. Their abbreviation, "FAR" (First Ancestral Race), is commonly used in fan discussions and wikis, further cementing their presence in the extended mythos and demonstrating how fans have embraced and elaborated upon these foundational elements to deepen their understanding of the *Evangelion* universe.
The Enduring Legacy and Impact of the First Ancestral Race
The legacy of the First Ancestral Race is profound and far-reaching, shaping the destiny of entire civilizations across the cosmos. Their actions, billions of years ago, directly led to the existence of Angels and Humans, setting the stage for the dramatic and often apocalyptic events depicted in *Evangelion*. The unique and accidental situation on Earth, with both Seeds present, created an unstable equilibrium that eventually necessitated the intervention of organizations like NERV and the desperate conflicts involving the Angels and humanity. The very nature of existence within this universe—the cycle of Impacts, the purpose of the Lances of Longinus, and the existential struggle for survival—is a direct consequence of their ancient cosmic engineering and the unforeseen complications of their grand design. While they remain largely unseen and unheard throughout the primary narrative, their influence is undeniable, a silent force guiding the very fabric of life and death, and driving the characters' ultimate fates.
Angel. First Ancestral Race. This is the most powerful form in the
First Ancestral Race | Kaijuverse Wiki | Fandom
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