Skyrim 🏺 Nord Gods EXPLAINED 🏺 The Pantheon of Atmoran Descent - Elder Scrolls Lore

In our latest Elder Scrolls video we explore gods of the Nords.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open world action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth main installment in The Elder Scrolls series and was released worldwide on November 11, 2011. The game's main story revolves around the player character and their quest to defeat Alduin the World-Eater, a dragon who is prophesied to destroy the world. The videogame is set two hundred years after the events of Oblivion, and takes place in the fictional province of Skyrim.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

[FudgeMuppet]

Just to clarify & respond to a few comments about Alduin as a nordic version of Akatosh.

Belief =/= Reality

If I were to say "X" culture believes in a flat earth, it does not mean I believe in a flat earth or that it is true. I am stating the culture broadly does. So, If I were to say nords believe akatosh and alduin to be one in the same, IT DOES NOT mean that this is the "reality" but rather but their "belief".

Beliefs are also subject to change over time - like I state in the video:

"I established earlier that Alduin is understood by the nords to be their version of akatosh, and rather than being venerated, he is appeased and the nords wish not to invoke him for fear he may end the world. Now, 4th era imperialised nords, tend to disassociate Alduin with the concept of akatosh, surely because it is hard to reconcile the idea of Alduin’s role with the great dragon god of the empire that is akatosh. But it stands that at least for the majority of Nordic history, and even some until today, understand or understood Alduin to be Akatosh."

REMEMBER most nords of 4th era skyrim just worship imperial divines (akatosh and the like).

ALSO, I DID STATE THE SOURCES IN THE VIDEO THAT SHOW NORDIC BELIEF THAT ALDUIN = AKATOSH, BUT I WILL SHOW THEM CLEARLY HERE:

Variteites of Faith in Tamiel: [Found in ESO, 2nd Era] - Conclusion: Alduin = Akatosh
Alduin (The World-Eater):
"Alduin is the Nord variation of Akatosh. He only superficially resembles his counterpart in the Imperial Eight Divines. For example, Alduin's sobriquet, "the World Eater, " comes from myths that depict him as the horrible, ravaging firestorm that destroyed the last world to begin this one. Nords therefore see the god of time as both creator and harbinger of the apocalypse."

Varities of Faith in the Empire: [Found in Morrowind/Skyrim, 3rd Era] - Conclusion: Alduin = Akatosh
"Alduin (World Eater): Alduin is the Nordic variation of Akatosh, and only superficially resembles his counterpart in the Nine Divines. For example, Alduin's sobriquet, 'the world eater', comes from myths that depict him as the horrible, ravaging firestorm that destroyed the last world to begin this one. Nords therefore see the god of time as both creator and harbinger of the apocalypse."

Divines & the Nords: [Found in ESO, 2nd Era] - Conclusion: Alduin = Akatosh
"Probably our biggest difference relates to the head of the pantheon. We Nords consider Kyne as the leader of the gods and find the Imperial fascination with Alduin (who they call Akatosh) to be both perplexing and mildly disturbing. We work diligently to keep Alduin asleep, while our southern neighbors try time and time again to get his attention! Which is why I begin every service in the temple with a prayer to praise Alduin (oh great god of time!), followed by a prayer to keep him at bay (may your slumber stretch on for a thousand generations!)."

The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy: [Found in Skyrim, 4th era] - Conclusion: Alduin = Akatosh BUT the 'primitive nords' get things wrong.
"And so, it is my conclusion that the Alduin of Nord legend is in fact mighty Akatosh, whose story grew twisted and deformed through centuries of retelling and embellishment. Through no real fault of their own, the primitive peoples of Skyrim failed to understand the goodness and greatness of the Great Dragon, and it was this lack of understanding that formed the basis of what became, ironically, their most impressive creative achievement - "Alduin, " the World Eater, phantom of bedtime stories and justification for ancient (if imagined deeds)."

OF COURSE THERE IS DIFFERING BELIEFS SUCH AS:

Alduin is Real: [Found in Skyrim, 4th era] - Conclusion: Alduin =/=Akatosh
"As my da used to say - Imperials are idiutts! That is why I am riting this book. I ent never rote a book before, and I do not reckon to rite one agenn, but sometimes a man must do what a man must do. And what I must do is set the recerd strate about the god called Akatosh and the dragon called Alduin. They ent the same thing, no matter what them Imperials mite say, or how thay mite wish it to be so. My da was never one for the gods, but my ma was. She wershipped all the Divines, and tot me lots of things. So I noe a thing or two about Akatosh. Just as much as any Imperial. I noe he was the first of all the gods to take shape in the Beginning Place. And I noe he has the shape of a dragon. My da even told me the story of Martyn Septim, and the things what happened when the gates to Oblivion opened. Septim turned into the spirit of Akatosh and killed Mehrunes Dagon. Now I dont noe about you, but any dragon that fites the Prince of Destruction is okay by me. Now I hope you understand the problim. Akatosh is good. Everyone, from Nord to Imperial, noes that. But Alduin? He ent good! He's the oposit of good! That Alduin is evil thrue and thrue. So you see, Akatosh and Alduin cant be one and the same. Growing up as a lad in Skyrim, I herd all the stories. Told to me by my da, who was told by his da, who was told by his da, and so on. And one of those stories was about Alduin. But see, he was not Akatosh. He was another dragon and a real wun at that. Akatosh is some kind of spirit dragon I think, wen he bothers to be a dragon at all (and not a god livin in sum kind of god plac like Obliviun). But Alduin is a real dragon, with flesh and teeth and a mean streak longer than the White River. And there was a time when Alduin tried to rool over all of Skyrim with his other dragons. In the end, it took sum mitey strong heroes to finally kill Alduin and be dun with his hole sorry story. So I got to ask - does that sound like Akatosh to you? No, frend. No it do not. And so I, Thromgar Iron-Head do firmly say, with the utmost connvicshun, that Alduin is real, and he ent Akatosh!"

Temples of the Dragon Cult [Found in ESO, 2nd era] - Conclusion: Alduin is firstborn of Akatosh (which like I say in vid, could imply incarnation or aspect of Akatosh, which also aligns with the whole AKA-Tusk concept)
"While no modern Tamrielan need believe these hopelessly fanciful fables, the Nords' simple-minded veneration for these places betokens their fear of the return of the Dragon Priests. During the worship of Akatosh (the dragon) as god-kings over men, these priests were the conduit through which dragons spoke, made laws, and were honored with grand and elaborate temples. When Alduin, Akatosh's firstborn, was defeated atop the Throat of the World during the mythical Dragon War, the cult that sprang up around these dragon guardians soon receded into the soil, buried among dragon mounds with the remains of these beasts."

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I AM NOT SAYING THAT I BELIEVE ALDUIN = AKATOSH because obviously as players we are privy to the quests, dialogue and experiences of the games, as well as lore understanding of the elder scrolls that would be unachievable for most the nords within skyrim.

So, in summary I believe there is a wealth of evidence ^ to show that for most of skyrim's history, nords BELIEVED Alduin = Akatosh. However an academic (Temples of Dragon Cult) understanding, or player (skyrim main quest) understanding would give one a very different point of view regarding Alduin. BUT again that is irrelevant when discussing their system of belief.

[markos]

I love how nords demonize Akatosh /Auri-el the chief elven god depicting him as Alduin. And on other side elves demonize Shor, chief nord god and depict him as Lorkhan

[Outcrow]

Kyne: *Breathes*
Nords: So anyway, we started blasting

[mrsmutz]

The way I understand the Alduin/Akatoah relationship is like Jesus of Nazereth, and the God of Abraham in Christianity, Jesus is the son of God, but simultaneously is God. So I’m my mind, Alduin in the firstborn of Akatosh/Bormahu but still IS Akatosh

[Stuffman]

Its good to finally have a fully comprehensive video on the my favourite pantheon and my favourite race. May Jhunal bless with with knowledge for the rest of this series, and so you can avoid the trickery of old Herma Mora.

[logan]

I watched that ideal Skyrim lore video you made back a couple months or so, I've gotta say that video was great. Real shame that Bethesda did not choose to take Ulfric and the Old Holds in a more harsh and weathered direction in terms of Nord culture. Seeing a return to tradition with the reestablishment of the Tongues would have been way more interesting and a better take on the Nords. Although Ulfric contains some of these elements already it would have been nice if Bethesda made him more similar to a current era Ysmir. Having the Nords be Imperalised in the Fourth Era just makes for a more boring story and less authentic race of Nords.

Also this was an interesting deep dive into the Atmoran Pantheon and Nordic gods. Love your work Scott, the Nords would reserve a place in Sovengarde for you.

[antoniorodrigues]

An idea that popped into my mind during this video.

Auri-el and Akatosh are the same god. Auri-el/akatosh lead the fight against Shor and his human armies during the Dawn Era, afterwards we ear tales of the dragons ( creations/ essences/ incarnations of Akatosh aka Auri-el) and how they dominated the nords in a tyrannical fashion. Seeing on how the nords are the human race with the closest realtionship with Shor and how Alduin is able to enter sovgarn and feast on nordic souls. could the dragons be a tool of Auri-el/akatosh to punish/control the armies of shor/lorkhan long after the divines lost the ability to walk on mundus. This would explain on why the Dragons, a species with a domination kink, never tried to dominate any other race besides the nords (all other provinces at the time where dominated by elves, as far as i understand it the Dragon Wars happened before the fall of the Aylieds/ Ra Gada invasion / Fall of Direnni Clan).

Since by this theory, The Dragons where a revenge/control tool created by Auri-el against Lorkhan and his armies, it makes sence for the Dragons to not try to dominate elven races.

Also, when phatumax whent "against his nature", he sided with Kyne. Kyne is often despicted as an ally of Shor/Lorkhan. He betrayed his creator, auri-el, by not only stoping what he was ment to do but by going directly against what he was MADE to do. In the eyes of his maker Phatumax joined the enemy, aka the followers of Lorkhan/Shor

The Dragons are the Jailors of Man

sorry for bad english, not a native speaker 😥

[shortfuse]

Nothing will ever justify their absence in Skyrim to me

[ajh]

Alduin is 100% a deity. Whether he's the first born or actually Akatosh... idk. But the facts lie in the way he dies. When you don't absorb his soul it tells me he is truly not your equal. He's truly something greater. Seeing as you can absorb every other dragon soul.

[chesterstevens]

As a Nord main this fascinates me, but as an unrepentant Hermaeous Mora Stan this mildly pisses me off.

[tinolano]

Gotta love when you open YouTube and the first thing you see is a new Elder Scrolls lore vid. Keep up the great work!

[cstains]

No, the legend is that the Nord confronting Herma Mora was talking to a rabbit, who was Herma Mora in disguise, who could hear the deer that the Nord hunter was stalking but had lost. The hunter wished to know where the deer had gone and the rabbit told him that if the hunter had his long ears he could easily find his lost game as well as not go hungry in the future with such a better set of ears to work with. The rabbit further tells the man that if only he would wish for such ears he could have them. The man without thinking agrees that having such ears would be very useful and his ears start to change. The fox, or Shor, appeared to stop Herma Mora's trickery and save his people from becoming elves by driving off the rabbit and telling the hunter he is being tricked by the rabbit. The fox drives off the rabbit and then reveals himself to be Shor and warns against trusting rabbits who serve the Woodland man, Old Mora.

Which is why you should always kill rabbits in Skyrim if you are a Nord.

[PrimordialCake]

Fudge muppet,
I have been binge consuming your content and I just want to thank you for keeping my imagination fed as well as keeping my love for elder scrolls alive. I hope you put out more videos soon so I can keep consuming them.

[Skypothesis]

Love to see Atmora getting some love!! Great video as always, fellas

[philherb]

Planned to do a nord warrior(or mage, haven’t decided yet) who worshipped shor & sailed to skyrim to finish his pilgrimage. This video will help alot in regards to fleshing out his backstory & reasons for the decisions he makes.

[bassemfed]

The only good part of my day night time calm and fudge muppet telling me a story about elder scrolls lore. Just perfection

[kjaldir]

The whole concept of a Dragonborn literally means for the Nords that Akatosh and Alduin are not the same. Akatosh gifted men a Dragonborn to defeat Alduin for usurping his father's throne. This is why back on Atmora the Dragon Cult was just and honorable. It all changed after the Dragon War when anything Dragon related was considered bad and compared to Alduin, the tyrant of the Dragon Cult.
The books: Temples of the Dragon Cult, The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy and Alduin is Real, show us that the Nords see both Alduin and Akatosh as two different deities and it was the early Imperial scholars and scribes who messed it all up, saying that the Nords see both Time Dragons as one.
And going by MK's text The Seven Fights of The Aldudagga, the Atmorans also saw a difference between Akatosh and Alduin, and the oversoul Aka-Tusk.

[RevengeoftheEnts]

17:04 This is my head canon too! In fact, I think it may have played a role in the migration of Atmorans to Skyrim.

My head canon history of Atmoran worship goes something like this:
In the Merethic Era, some Atmorans worshiped an All-maker (as Fenari Strong Voice says) and others just worshiped animals. Which one came first, I don’t know. In either case, the All-maker (via The Hawk/Kyne) blesses the weather to be habitable as long as they treat the animals with respect and live sustainably. So early on, they all live similar to the Skaal. But even from the beginning, there is a (albeit small) divide in beliefs.

Eventually dragons convince a faction of the animal worshipers that if they worship dragons over over animals, they will be given inhuman powers (at least to the leaders) and won't need to live sustainably. They can be as violent and glutinous as they want. This starts the Dragon Cult.

I'm time, the dragons want ALL Atmorans to be their slaves and try to force the All-maker worshipers and "balanced" animal worshipers into the Cult. This sparks the Atmoran Civil War that led to Ysgrammor leaving for Skyrim.
After the Night of Tears, the only Atmorans who were willing to seek revenge on the snow elves were the Dragon Cultists since the other Atmorans didn't believe in vengeful violence. These 500 companions brought the Dragon Cult flavor of worship to Skyrim and (primarily) their lineage carries on there today.

Other migrations from Atmora to Skyrim are said to have happened because it got too cold. I believe this was a result of the wayward Dragon Cult Atmorans not adhering to their covenant with their deity to live sustainably. Either Atmora was always cold and the Dragon Cultists themselves couldn't handle it since they lost the blessing or there were so few faithful Atmorans (to the All-maker/Hawk/Kyne/whatever) that the land used to be nice but turned into a snowy wasteland.

[muslimcrusader]

Surprised Nocturnal and Namira weren’t part of the ancient Atmoran pantheon considering that they are essentially the twin sisters of Shor, the former made from his blood and the latter formed from his flesh. However the Reachmen honour both Shor and Namira, and many Reachmen are full-blooded Nords, not just Bretons, so I suppose that counts, not to mention the Ancient Nords built a temple to Nocturnal. Though that’s more to do with individual Nordic cults as opposed to a whole collective racial belief.

[badluck]

Dwemer Gods EXPLAINED:
"F*** the Gods. We have logic."