Himiko is the legendary figure known as the Sun Queen in Tomb Raider (2013). The game’s central mystery concerns her rule over Yamatai and the supernatural force that keeps her spirit tied to the island.
The character is inspired by Himiko, a historical or semi-legendary Japanese ruler described in ancient Chinese records. The video game expands that historical reference into a supernatural mythology involving royal succession, storms, and the preservation of Himiko’s soul.
Himiko is sometimes mistaken for Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, because both are connected with solar imagery. They are not the same figure. Cleopatra and Boudica are historical rulers from different cultures and periods, and neither is the Sun Queen of the game.
The mystery of Himiko drives the conflict among Lara, the Solarii, and the Endurance survivors. Lara’s investigation gradually connects archaeological evidence, island legends, and the supernatural events preventing escape from Yamatai.