The gods of Tamriel are as varied as the many cultures' traditions of worship. Individual gods (used as a general term to indicate any entity worshipped by one of Tamriel's cultures) are listed alphabetically on each of the sub-articles listed above. This article provides some general information about relationships between the different gods.
Types of Gods
Generally, there are several distinct groups into which the various gods fall:
- Many versions of Anu and Padomay, the two primal forces, also known as principles of the cosmos. These two entities are recognized under various names in most faiths. Nir is also included with them in some myths.[1]
- The et'Ada are the "original spirits",[2] a race of divine beings resulting from the interplay of Anu and Padomay, including:
- The Aedra combine both Anuic and Padomaic basis;[3] these are the gods who helped to create Mundus.[2]
- The Ehlnofey, a term used to refer to two groups of Aedric spirits, either a group of et'Ada who decided not to abandon Mundus, and instead sacrificed themselves to become the laws of nature that would keep it viable, typically referred to as "Earthbones".[2][4] Or a group who remained in the mortal realm and populated it, becoming the progenitors of the modern races, typically referred to as "Ehlnofey".[2][4][5][UOL 1]
- The Daedric Princes have a Padomaic basis;[3] these are the gods who refused to help create Mundus and created their own Planes in Oblivion filled with lesser Daedra.
- Magna Ge have an Anuic basis;[3] these are the gods who refused to help create Mundus and fled into Aetherius after Magnus, creating the stars while Magnus created the sun.
- The Star-Orphans are a group of Magna Ge that followed the parabolas that led away from Magnus, and in so doing chose to let their light continue to shine upon mortals, still interacting with Mundus.[6]
- The Aedra combine both Anuic and Padomaic basis;[3] these are the gods who helped to create Mundus.[2]
- Other lesser divine spirits, or Ada, such as Morihaus and Pelinal Whitestrake.[7]
- Demigods and Demiprinces, the offspring of Aedra and Daedra, often classified as Ada.
- On occasion, a mortal, such as Talos and the Tribunal, will achieve apotheosis, becoming a god, or will be worshipped as a god, such as Reman.
Cultural Worship
In Tamriel, cultural pantheons of certain provinces have different gods that they worship, though some gods are worshipped in several areas.
- In Cyrodiil, worship of either the Divines or the Daedric Princes is common, especially among the native Imperials.
- In Morrowind, the Daedric Princes and the Tribunal are commonly worshipped, specifically among the native Dunmer.
- In Skyrim, worship of the old Nordic pantheon still persists in some Holds, while others have adopted the modern Imperial pantheon.
Pantheons
This table contains the names of beings worshipped by some of Tamriel's major races.
Notes
- For more information, see the article on Daedric Princes and/or the Divines.
References
- ^ Varieties of Faith in Tamriel — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
- ^ a b c d The Monomyth
- ^ a b c The Annotated Anuad
- ^ a b Before the Ages of Man — Aicantar of Shimerene
- ^ The Mystery of Artaeum — Penewen, Advisor to the Court
- ^ The Nine Coruscations — Star-Queen Varalias
- ^ The Song of Pelinal, v 5
Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.
See Also
- Godhead, a term of various meanings relating to divinity
Books
- Varieties of Faith in the Empire by Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College — An expansive list of the pantheons and associated divine spirits of Tamriel's dominant cultures (The original source for most of the information under Pantheons)
- Varieties of Faith in Tamriel by Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College — Description of the pantheons of gods in Tamriel (Second Era version of the same book)
- The Monomyth — A theological book containing the common creation myths (Intercomparison of different pantheons)
- The Annotated Anuad — Early religious book providing a simplified version of The Anuad creation myth from the Mythic Era (A simplified/children version of the creation myth)
- The Light and the Dark by Irek Unterge — A Breton man describes the Light and the Dark to his two grandchildren (Another children story about the creation of et'Ada)
- Sithis — Text detailing an apparent connection between Sithis and Lorkhan (An alternative view on the Aedra)
- Divines and the Nords by High Priest Ingurt — A text on how ancient Nordic totemic religion transformed into modern worship of the Eight Divines (A Second Era description of the Nordic pantheon)
- Children of the Root Transcribed by Solis Aduro — An Argonian creation myth from the Adzi-Kostleel tribe
- Words of Clan Mother Ahnissi by Clan Mother Ahnissi — How a Khajiit explains the origin of the world
More on the Khajiiti pantheon:
- The Adversarial Spirits by Amun-dro, the Silent Priest — A pre-ri'Datta text which lists several dangerous gods
- The Dark Spirits by Amun-dro, the Silent Priest — A pre-ri'Datta text listing several dark or obscure gods
- The Sky Spirits by Amun-dro, the Silent Priest — A pre-ri'Datta text listing deities associated with the sky
- The Wandering Spirits by Amun-dro, the Silent Priest — A pre-ri'Datta text listing old gods
- The Worldly Spirits by Amun-dro, the Silent Priest — A pre-ri'Datta text listing deities associated with the world