Was Arkay indeed a mortal before he became a divine? I remember reading something about him dying thirsting for knowledge. Is the idea that Arkay was once mortal just part of Imperial religion? If so, then why don't they revere him as they do Talos?

Well Mannimarco also seems to believe that Arkay once were a mere mortal, but I cant find if other Altmers believe so as well.

But since it have been suggested as such for quite some time, I would think that he once were a man indeed.

I'm assuming you're referring to http://www.imperial-library.info/content/daggerfall-arkay-god?

Well... it's a myth. So it's true, but it depends on who you ask (for example, the Redguards would say that Tu'whacca was always a god, but before there were dead to take care of, he was the god of Nobody Really Cares). Just like how Akatosh and Alduin are the same god, but pretty much polar opposites of one another. Also, the idea of Arkay being formerly mortal predates the inclusion of Imperials into the series, so I wouldn't call it an Imperial religious thing. It's probably a Breton thing, since that book came from Daggerfall.

Also, the Imperials do revere Arkay, it's just that Talos is more important to them.

I always assumed he was a god, but one who didn't have any meaning pre-mundus. With the creation of Mundus, he had meaning in his godly life by being the god of the cycle of birth and death. That story about him being a mortal before sounds like a whole lot of phooey.

Not all stories are true.

Belief was enough for Mannimarco. I reckon his belief was ego maintenance.

"Lies from a previous age".

Arkay is a lie. BURN ARKAY DOWN!
(he's not even really respected)

Nah that's just what Nu-Hatta said about his being born a mortal. That was a lie from a previous age. Apparently he always existed but before mortals he was more like the god of nobody-really-cares, since things didn't exist that could die.

Like what I said earlier.

Sometimes they become allegorical. A different kind of truth.

Is it possible that the story truly tells of a mortal becoming Arkay, but that Arkay existed as a god before that nonetheless?

Not quite the way that Vivec had always been a god after he became a god, but that's an example of the idea.

Also, it's worth noting that the idea of Arkay having once been a mortal isn't just found in an old folk-tale in Daggerfall. There's also this mention in "Arkay the Enemy", as Adaqueril alluded to above:

Good point.


No, I don't believe Ark'ay the God is literal.

One day he stumbled across a tome which purported to tell the secrets of life, death, and the purpose of existence. After months of studying the convoluted logic, written in opaque language, he thought that he was finally beginning to understand what the author was saying.

Mother Mara, I am finally beginning to understand this book and the meaning of life and death" he answered, "and with a little more time to study and think, I should be able to teach others."

Ark'ay spent what seemed to him as an eternity in thought before answering. "Mother, if my studies are not completely wrong, my only choice is to accept the burden and try to transmit the reasons for death and birth to humanity.

This Ark'ay aspires to conquer life and death, with his intellect. However, he remains humble before Mother Mara. Ark'ay asks for harmony, within the establishment. Unlike his foil, the God of Worms. Then, he shares true understanding, with his people. These are the heroic values of the Bretons, manifest in allegory. It is noble to ask. It is ignoble to rob. It is noble to suffer life. The gods will life according to their higher justice, therefore to rob is to repudiate the gods, and this is blasphemy. Those with the most treasure are favored of the gods. See how Ark'ay wins his request, after all? "You've become too good for shopkeeping." Implying mortality is a punishment, which the gods can lift. Tamriel is not gray, to the Bretons. At least, not the ones who'd value this story.

That makes more sense than anything else. You can't be a god of birth and death when there is no birth and death.

Arkay is a god a and always have been, he just existed when nothing existed so he pre-existed........(:sweat: does this make sens :sweat:)