Greetings

I have a question that buggered me for a long time,

The books on aedric worship and the Prophet claim that there were originally Eight Divines. Akatosh, Julianos, Mara, Dibella, Arkay, Kynareth, Stendarr and Zenithar.

But, from what I have read on the internet, Arkay also achieved godhood through ascension. Some sources claim he was formerly a poor merchant named Ar'kay who has stumbled upon a book that explained the secrets of Life and Death and its cycles. Then Mara has visited him, and Ar'kay explained he wanted to teach others about the book's contents.

Mara told him, that if he wants to do so, he must become a god with other Divines. Ar'kay accepted.

So what is the truth? Is this explanation just some insane ramble or is it so?

Thank you.

Arkay was always around, he just had no purpose until the creation of the world; on Nirn they use stories for everything, this one to symbolize him coming upon his purpose...

Thank you! Makes sense.

Indeed, compare to http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/varietiesoffaith.shtml, the Yokudan Arkay.