PAPYRUS - A YUGIOH FANSITE

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The Pharaoh's Name:

    New: There's been some controversy over whether Yami's real name is Atem or Atemu. I've been assured that it is Atemu, but takin' a look at ficverse seems to indicate that people believe otherwise. The same thing's happened to "Mahaado/Mahaad" and "Karim/Karimu" but people don't seem to make as big a deal out of that. XP

     Here's the thing, in the Japanese language almost all words end with a vowel. The few exceptions I know of are the rare words that end with an "n". If you've ever watched a sub of any anime with English names, you'll probably notice that they tend to add vowels to those foreign names, like "Rock" becoming "Rokku" and "Net" becoming "Netto". So, personally, Atemu sounds more authentic to me. Whether you believe it or not is your prerogative. You can certainly argue otherwise. 

     Anyone want to send me a scan of the original, untranslated name, I'd appreciate it. We can clear this debate right up. 

     Atemu (or Tum) in Egyptian mythology is "the closer". He's mentioned in the Book of the Dead as the God of Annu. Supposedly, he usurped the position of Ra and he's represented with the evening or night sun (ref: The Gods of the Book of the Dead). How appropriate for Yami! =^__^= Some of his other titles are, "divine god," "self-created," "maker of the gods", "creator of men", "he who stretched out the heavens", and "the lightener of the tuat with his two eyes". 

     Thanks to Tuulikki and Razberry for the info!

Ok, here's the general consensus. The name Bel um Fal was used for Yami in the Forbidden Memories game for playstation. I've recieved various e-mails about it and I tend to agree with the people who say that the name probably won't have anything to do with the anime.      According to HauteEcole, the name is blatantly Arabic, not Egyptian. "Um" is a connector meaning "son of" and we know Yami's father's name is Akunamukanon in the manga.

Anyway, apparently his real name is part of the password needed to gain the pharaoh's memory (and possibly power as well?). When Yami is sent back it in time to the "Memory World", he retains his memories of the present but his past is still studiously blank (he's just winging it from one situation to the next... and no one notices?! ^_^).      In the manga, there's this one scene where  he's just standing outside at night, very alone and insignificantly small on his gigantic balcony and looking at the sky, fingering that empty pendant Anzu gave him to carve his name on once he finds it. (How it survives his trip to the past, I'll never know) He looks so lost when he contemplates his missing name! **sniffles** Aawww! Yami-kun, don't worry, we luv you no matter what you're called! **GLOMP**

     Meanwhile, here are some other names he's picked up in the fanfic world. He's developing quite the identity crisis. Poor guy. He's gonna need therapy after we're through with him. :D