Hello Lore-forum,


I'm planning on making a mod based around the Nine Divines and I'd really like to have some more specific information on what the spheres of the individual Aedra encompass and what they tolerate, what they don't tolerate. Basically anything you can tell me about them Here's what I've got so far.

Akatosh - Time, Dragonborn, the Septim Empire, endurance, invincibility

Arkay - Life, Death, Seasons, Dualities

Dibella - Beauty, six, Grace, Charisma, Art, Wine

Julianos - Knowledge, Logic, Philosophy, Law, Literature, History, Contradiction, the Future

Kynareth - Nature, Rain, Healing, Air, Thu'um

Mara - Love, Fertility, Peace, Family, Loyalty

Stendarr - Mercy, Compassion, Righteous Rule, Men, Honesty, Protection

Talos - War, Heroes, Governance, Tactics

Zenithar - Work, Commerce, Luck, Communication, Mercenaries, Crafting


Topics to be sorted into spheres:

- Protection

I'll edit this with more questions when I get back from class. For now, any help is appreciated!

Wine? Tough one. Sanguine is the god most associated with wine. The Alessian Pantheon is insufferably dull if you ask me, nothing like as exciting as the Roman or Greek ones. Aren't they just so dull? Dibella is the most pleasure-orientated, but more a Goddess of raunchiness than straight-out intoxication. Sadly the best Divine I can think of for wine production would be old Zenithar. It's a business, after all.

They are from the sphere of Anuiel. Of course they will be dull.

The only god of wine (or any alcohol) in my books is Sanguine. He is to TES what Baccus is to Roman mythology. Too bad he is a Daedric Prince. :/

Kynareth also has a connection to Thu'um in Nordic culture.

Aye. Kyne, widow of Shor, sent her daughters to Skyrim and taught the First Men the gift of the Voice.

Or so the old-timers say. I'm pretty sure she just told Paarthy to teach the Nords how to Shout, but she definitely has a connection to the Voice.

Dunno about wine, but if one of the Divines can be associated with agriculture and/or the harvest, an association with grain alcohol would probably follow.

Well part of the idea for the mod is to make them not so dull I thought of Zenithar as well but what about Kynareth? Wine is made from graqes which are plants. I could see her being a patron of wines as it is a "fruit of her labor"


Right, but the spheres of the Daedra are much more easy to define, which is why I'm looking at their antithesis.


Right! I forgot that. I'll add it in there.


hmmm.. so Kynareth or Zenithar. Those are the two most likely. Opinions on which?

Quoting Sir Carodus from Oblivion's Knights of the Nine expanion:

"Of the original divines, Zenithar is thought to be the most in touch with the mortal realm. Some legends say that Zenithar has close ties to Kynareth, an idea that is supported by the manner in which the two gods' realms interact. Craftsmen devoted to enithar are able to create and profit from the materials provided by Kynareth's natureal world. The two work in harmony - the natural world providing for the craftsmen. One cannot revere Zenithar without acknowledging the power of Kynareth."

And Talos is also the god of Governance, seeing as how he was the founder of the Empire and all that.

Good catch! I remember that line from my Oblivion playthrough.

Updated the OP with some new info and questions!

I'm trying to find specific things in the game world that I can use to define the Aedra.

Wine: Dibella. Look at how people write books about different wines and watch television programmes about it, as they do with art. Dibella's sphere covers art and simpler, more sensual interests. Kynareth is responsible for providing the raw materials, including rain and Zenithar makes it possible to do something with those raw materials, but Dibella makes the pleasing to both the tongue and the mind.
Smithing: Zenithar. It's work which produces some sort of product. Even his symbol is an anvil. http://www.imperial-library.info/content/nine-divines-zenithar
Future: Akatosh. Doesn't that come under time? If you're talking about recording what happens in the future, that might be in Julianos' sphere if done correctly.
Protection: ?. A righteous ruler protects those he rules and people sometimes protect others out of love, but that doesn't cover all of it. I don't think this could be put into one sphere.

Talos. "I do this for you, Red legions, for I love you!" If I had to choose one, Talos would be the most appropriate.

Yeah, my first thought on wine was Dibella too, but then I thought she's more into beauty... but I forgot about her arts aspect. And wine is definitely an art. Good catch mate!

Smithing: Good point. I was thinking maybe Talos also, seeing as he's a war god.

Future: Well the Cult of the Ancestor Moths was dedicated to Julianos by Tiber Septim which is whats causing me to be skeptical.

Protection: So Stendarr. Fair enough. I'll add it to the list.





Well he's the patron god of the Legions but I don't really want to get into that because of the whole Thalmor hating on Talos situation. Especially since the legions aren't allowed to worship him according to the White-Gold Concordat.

Well, I don't suppose it would really count, because turning the jungles of Cyrodiil into forests and plainslands doesn't really count as 'protection'.

Smithing is both hard work, and a legit business. Zenithar.

Future - Akatosh or Talos- Akatosh = Time, Talos holds the Kalpa in place

Protection - Stendarr or Arkay I think Arkay turns souls black to protect them.

I'd definitely put protection in with Stendarr, if only because of his vigilants. Arkay protects, but only in the sense that he protects your souls. Stendarr, or at least those aligned to him seem to want to protect you during life as well.

Wine is Julianos.

In vino veritas, natch.

Yep. One of the tablets on High Hrothgar say Kyne told him to do it.

Can you explain this please?

I take you've never went to a Philosophy lecture drunk?

Protection is too vague. Protecting the weak and helpless (Chivalric Protection) is Stendarr. Protecting against the profanity of magic is Arkay (as mentioned). Protecting culture from falling by the wayside is Dibella. Protecting the Empire (political protection flowing both to and from the government) is Talos. The kind of protecting that the Knights of the Lamp do is dedicated to Julianos. I can go on. My point is, refine what kind of protection you want.

HA! No sir, can't say I have. Although I am taking philosophy this semester... Are you suggesting I try it?

Very true. By protection I meant like defense, I guess the image my mind conjures up is walls protecting the castle. Which god best represents the walls? (and for that matter the castle )

If that's anything like going to a structural biology lecture drunk, I beg to differ. Then again, the expression is 'in vino veritas', not 'in stout and sweet lager veritas'.

I'm assuming that this is latin and you're saying "in wine, truth".

I think I'm going to stick with Dibella on the wine