Elder Scrolls Lore » Discussions


Mara and the Ritual Stone

  • April 15, 2015

    What is the connection between Mara and the Ritual? 

    Is there something in game, lore wise, or is it a reference to an outer source? 

    Is it perhaps both?

    Mara

    The Facts:

    The Ritual Stone in Oblivion grants Mara's Milk, and Mara's Mercy.

    - The Ritual Stone in Skyrim grants the ability to raise the dead to fight for you.

    - Mara is the Mother Goddess, the Handmaiden of Kyne, and the Goddess of Love.

    The Possibilities:

    Mara may be lightly based on the Virgin Mary.

    - Mara may be the mother of Arkay, the God of the Living and the Dead.

    TESV The Ritual StoneRitual Stone

    The Mara/Arkay Connection. By practicing Alchemist and Scholar Vazgen of Sunhold.

    There are two versions of Arkay's origin. The first is him being a mortal man and getting charged to keep the balance between life and death by Mara. This is referenced in Ark'ay, the God of Birth and DeathVarieties of Faith in the Empire and Arkay the Enemy (author Mannimarco). The second version notes him as one of the first spirits to crystallize at the dawn of times. This is referenced in the MonomythOpusculus Lamae Bal ta Mezzamortie and Tu'whacca, Arkay, Xarxes. Similarity to Tu'whacca may be the reason why Arkay's worship is the strongest in Hammerfell (Corpse Preparation, Volume One). In this case, they are connected as two Aedra, the spirits who willingly gave up their power to create Nirn.

    An argument for Ark'ay, the God of birth and Death. By Imperial Knight-Scholar Vaaljorn of Skingrad.

    After re-reading "Arkay, the God of Birth and Death" (thanks for posting, Vaz), I may have a connection between Mara and Mary (and the Ritual).

    If the book is to be believed (and I'm not entirely convinced that it is), before Arkay's ascension to godhood, Mara' sphere included birth and death. The birth part makes sense, since she is often called "mother goddess." The death bit is where the influence from Mary really enters the picture. Mary not only gave birth to Jesus, but she also (sorrowfully) watched over Jesus when he died. Many of Mara's statues show her to be weeping. 

    The Oblivion ritual stone granted healing and turn undead, which fits Mara's pre-Arkay role. Special rituals/blessings are performed upon birth, but most especially upon death. The ritual stone in Skyrim throws a monkey-wrench into the analysis. It could either be a bastardization of the death/burial rituals (which we often see in Skyrim with Draugrs and Dragon Priests), which would explain why a necromancer can always be found at the ritual stone. Or, the stone was purposely created to interrupt the death ritual, which would be Mara's prerogative given her sphere.

    Where does Arkay fit. Not sure. Could be that Arkay serves under Mara's watch/guidance. It also could be that Arkay is still learning about the meaning of life and death (as stated in the book), which would make Mara his teacher. 

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    The constellations influence Nirn in different ways. Seeing how Magna-Ge abandoned Nirn and don't want to have anything to do with it, some of those effects fall under the influence of Aedra.

    Mara has a connection with a journey to Aetherius (the last part of Mara's quest in Skyrim), a connection to Restoration school (her blessing and amulet) which is used to turn undead and heal and is used by the Dawnguard - a faction focused on fighting vampires. The connection of Mara to undeath and vampires is reinforced by the desecrated statue of Mara in the Castle Volkihar. 

    Ritual birthsign in Oblivion allows player to restore character's health and turn undead - spheres associated with Restoration school and, thus, Mara. In Skyrim it allows to raise undead which is again, a sphere associated with Mara. 

    Mara's connection to death can indeed be a result of her connection to Arkay. One example of such connection can be found in Ark'ay, the God of Birth and Death

    I believe Virgin Mary indeed played a role in Mara's portrayal in TES games

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    Dammit fellas, I've been waiting eight or nine years for this discussion but now it's here I have no time

    I will be back as soon as I can because this is near and dear to me. In the meantime, could someone spell out clearly this Arkay/Mara connection so as to make the discussion accessible to those less familiar with the themes?

    Don't worry too much if you can't, I'll do it later if it isn't done.

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    After re-reading "Arkay, the God of Birth and Death" (thanks for posting, Vaz), I may have a connection between Mara and Mary (and the Ritual).

    If the book is to be believed (and I'm not entirely convinced that it is), before Arkay's ascension to godhood, Mara' sphere included birth and death. The birth part makes sense, since she is often called "mother goddess." The death bit is where the influence from Mary really enters the picture. Mary not only gave birth to Jesus, but she also (sorrowfully) watched over Jesus when he died. Many of Mara's statues show her to be weeping. 

    The Oblivion ritual stone granted healing and turn undead, which fits Mara's pre-Arkay role. Special rituals/blessings are performed upon birth, but most especially upon death. The ritual stone in Skyrim throws a monkey-wrench into the analysis. It could either be a bastardization of the death/burial rituals (which we often see in Skyrim with Draugrs and Dragon Priests), which would explain why a necromancer can always be found at the ritual stone. Or, the stone was purposely created to interrupt the death ritual, which would be Mara's prerogative given her sphere.

    Where does Arkay fit. Not sure. Could be that Arkay serves under Mara's watch/guidance. It also could be that Arkay is still learning about the meaning of life and death (as stated in the book), which would make Mara his teacher. 

  • April 15, 2015

    Sadly my country has this thing called loadshedding. In other words, we get hectic electricity cuts. I'll be back to post once some more once the power comes back on. Going off in like,  a minute. sigh....

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    We can add to the Mary connection. In the last part of her quest, Mara has the player help the couple reunite in death and then ascend to aetherius. Mary not only watched Jesus die, but also Jesus ascended to heaven after meeting with his followers. 

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    Here in the U.S., we call them "rolling blackouts." Where I live, the only time they do a rolling blackout is in the middle of a hurricane. The power station is offline and the city runs on reserve power. Rolling blackouts help to conserve power during the storm.

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    Here those are called "failures"  Lights go out not on purpose but because something fails in power stations built during the Soviet times 

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    So,  I guess we have "planned failures." Haha. At least, your country is being honest. 

  • Member
    April 15, 2015

    An idea of the stone being corrupted is interesting. There is a necromancer right next to it. I always thought he prayed at the stone but he could be working some kind of a spell, corrupting the stone and twisting its purpose. The skeletons near the stone rise without necromancer casting any spells. 

    Although the Explorer's Guide to Skyrim specifically mentions necromantic rituals connected to the Stones of Fate. The stones are said to give power to the heroes of old to change their fate (Watcher of Stones). Maybe that very ability was the key to corrupting the stones?