Open main menu

UESPWiki β

Lore:Kyne

< Lore: Gods: K
"Mother of Men, who steels us with her icy breath
Warrior-Wife, who sanctifies every axe-edge
Goddess of the Storm, who gifted us with voice
Bless us, Kyne; may we serve you with every word"
—Shrine inscription
Stone Depiction of the Hawk

Kyne, or Kaan in the dragon language, is the Nordic goddess of the Storm, widow of Shor, the Blessed Warrior-Wife,[1]:354[2] and a favored god of warriors.[3][4] She is one of the Hearth Gods, and is considered the chief deity of the Nordic pantheon.[5] As the goddess of the Storm, she is strongly associated with wind and rain, and is thought to control both forces, even when they bring misery.[6][7]

She is often called the Mother of Men and beasts,[4][1]:354 as Nords believe the sky exhaled onto the land at the Throat of the World to form them.[3][4][8][9] She is also called the Kiss at the End, because Nords generally believe that she leads their dead to Sovngarde.[10] Ancient Nords were also known to call her Sister Hawk.[11]

Mother of NordsEdit

Nords still refer to themselves as "the Sons and Daughters of Kyne".[12] Some consider her to be the leader of the Nordic pantheon of Divines.[10] Kyne and Kynareth are considered by followers of the Nine Divines to be one and the same, though more ardent supporters of the Old Ways among the Nords dismiss Kynareth as a "pale shadow".[4] While Nords also acknowledge Mara, the "Mother-Goddess" of the Empire, they view her only as Kyne's handmaiden.[3] The trees near Kynesgrove (or Kyne's Grove) are thought to be sacred to her.[13] The ancient Nords believed servants of Kyne found eternal rest in the Forest of Dreams, such as Hela, a "friend to all beasts".[14] Kyne's Aegis is an island found in the icy waters of the Sea of Ghosts.

Goddess of StormEdit

Shrine to Kyne
Kyne's Radiance Fountain in Markarth

Nords believe she first taught them how to wield the thu'um, or Storm Voice, though some sources claim she did so through her "daughters",[3][1]:330 while others claim she did so in tandem with Paarthurnax.[15] Appropriately, "Kaan" is a Word of Power, which can be used to soothe wild beasts, who are also believed to be her creation.[4] Many great Tongues are considered to be blessed by Kyne, such as Wulfharth, the Storm of Kyne, and Morihaus, the "Bull of Kyne".[16][17][18] Both have been called sons of Kyne and the Breath of Kyne.[6][17][19] Some ancient legends speak of the goddess's personal intervention at important moments in Skyrim's history.[17][20] Others suggest she was involved in granting the Amulet of Kings to St. Alessia.[6] On one occasion Kyne intervened and cleansed and forgave Keeper Ormi who turned into a hagraven, after her son Sahun revealed himself to still be alive and prayed for her.[21]

The ancient Nords associated her with the hawk.[22] Bas-reliefs and totemic representations depicting Kyne can be found in various Nordic ruins throughout Skyrim.[23][13] Kyne's Tears are a rare plant whose delicate flowers are said to have magical properties, particularly involving purification.[24][25] The plant is said to grow where the tears of the goddess Kyne fall to the earth.[26]

The Fryse Hags of Solstheim are known to venerate Kyne,[27] and the Greybeards claim to act in her name on the rare occasions that they speak.[28] The Keepers of the Grove are part of a holy order dedicated to Kyne, serving as the tenders of the Shrine of Kynesgrove in the eponymous city.[29]

Auroras are sometimes referred to as "Kyne's lights".[30] Fountains imbued to emit magical auroras were dedicated to the goddess.[31]

The Reachmen Dreadhorn Clan is known for their use of shamanistic Kyne magic.[UOL 1]

AspectsEdit

GalleryEdit

  • A shrine to Kyne (ESO)

  • A shrine of Kyne in Coldharbour (ESO)

  • A token of Kyne (Skyrim)

  • Kyne's Tears (ESO)

  • Kyne's Aegis banner

  • Carving of Kyne

  • Hawk totem (Skyrim)

  • Hawk totem

  • One of Kyne's Guardian Spirit champions

  • A Stormsurge Howler, said to have been crafted by Kyne (ESO)

  • Mortals imbued with Kyne's wrath (ESO)

See AlsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Prima Official Game Guide — David Hodgson
  2. ^ Cleric of Kyne's dialogue in Legends
  3. ^ a b c d Varieties of Faith... — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  4. ^ a b c d e Froki Whetted-Blade's dialogue in Skyrim
  5. ^ Divines and the Nords — High Priest Ingurt
  6. ^ a b c The Song of Pelinal
  7. ^ Songs of the Return, Vol 19
  8. ^ Children of the Sky
  9. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Skyrim — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  10. ^ a b Goddess of Storm, Mother of Nords
  11. ^ Alduin's Bane quest dialogue in Skyrim
  12. ^ Decree of Monument
  13. ^ a b Events of Skyrim
  14. ^ Kyne's Peace first word wall in Skyrim
  15. ^ The Etched Tablets of High Hrothgar
  16. ^ The Arcturian Heresy — The Underking, Ysmir Kingmaker
  17. ^ a b c Five Songs of King Wulfharth
  18. ^ The Prophet's dialogue in Oblivion: Knights of the Nine
  19. ^ Shezarr and the Divines — Faustillus Junius
  20. ^ Songs of the Return, vol 24
  21. ^ Events of For Kyne's Honor in ESO
  22. ^ Felldir the Old's dialogue in Skyrim
  23. ^ The Dragon War — Torhal Bjorik
  24. ^ Hidden Tears
  25. ^ Item description of Kyne's Tears
  26. ^ Kyne's Tears
  27. ^ Reinhardt Red-Spear's dialogue in Morrowind: Bloodmoon
  28. ^ Proclamation of the Greybeards in Skyrim
  29. ^ Keepers of the Grove — Urig the Wanderer
  30. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Skyrim — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  31. ^ Fountain, Kyne's Radiance in ESO

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.

  1. ^ Developer comments on Dreadhorn Clan (24:40) on ESO Live
Retrieved from "https://en.uesp.net/w/index.php?title=Lore:Kyne&oldid=3166777"