Elder Scrolls Lore » Discussions


Lets Talk About Self-Made Gods.

  • August 10, 2015

    Many cultures in the Elder Scrolls have lore focused on a mortal made divine. A few of them I can think of off the top of my head are:

    Tiber Septim who became Talos (who might be the combination of Hjalti, Yismir and Zurin).

    Ayem, Vehk and Seht who became the tri-faceted god ALMSIVI.

    Mannimarco who became the Necromancer's Moon\God of Worms.

    Rajhin a khajiit who became the god of thieves. 

    Arkay who was a regular shop keeper who became the god of life and death.

    These are only the ones I can think of right now so please if I have missed any let me know. Why do you think this concept is used to much in the Elder Scrolls universe? Do you think any of these characters actually became gods or are they only god-like? Is there even a difference? Are there any big similarities of differences between how each character became a god?

  • Member
    August 10, 2015

    I don't buy the Arkay one. Phynaster and Reman spring from the top of my head.

    It is a recurring theme and one which gets people worked up.

    I think they could probably be placed into two categories: Those who became gods by taking power and those who were elevated to the status of god, the hero gods.

    Also, how does one define the word god? Is it anybody who has worshippers? Or do we need more? I've always liked the ambiguity of the Tribunal for example, how their actions can be interpreted one way or another. Yet they were worshipped as gods so gods they were.

  • August 10, 2015

    I'm iffy on the Phynaster one, was he truely a mortal before he was a god?

    So are hero gods truly gods or are they just people worshipped as a god or is it one and the same?

    My personal philosophy is if you are strong enough to acquire worshipers and proclaim yourself a god and nobody can contradict you then you are a god. 

  • Member
    August 10, 2015

    How does mythopoeia factor into the veneration of hero gods? Are they effected by stories in the same way as the Eight?

    If you went to a shrine of a hero god to pray would you receive a blessing?

  • August 10, 2015

    Well you get blessings from the Tribunal Saint's shrines, but are they really on the same level?

  • August 10, 2015
    According to the psijics, the Deadric Princes and the Aedra are also self made gods. There is also Diagna of the Redguards.
  • August 10, 2015
    Also, I'd like to add that who ever holds the title YSMIR is a god in the ancient Nord Pantheon.
  • Member
    August 10, 2015

    The Dunmer Tribunal (Sotha Sil, Vivec, Almalexia). Also Dagoth-Ur.

  • August 10, 2015

    I mention the Tribunal up there 

  • Member
    August 10, 2015

    Ayem, Vehk and Seht? I have never heard them be called that before. My bad