Akatosh

Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time,^[1] is the chief deity of the Nine Divines,^[2] the official religion of the varying Cyrodiil empires, such as the Septim Empire and the Reman Dynasty. He represents the qualities of endurance, invincibility, and everlasting legitimacy.^[1] Along with Lorkhan, he is one of two deities found in every Tamrielic religion. He is generally considered to be the first of the Gods to form in the Beginning Place.^[1] After his establishment, other spirits followed his example, and the various pantheons of the world emerged.^[1] Before the Ages of Man suggests that he and Auri-El are the same being, but further confirms that after his formation, time began.^[3] Akatosh is considered the god defender of the Empire.

Contents 1 Places of worship 1.1 Chapels 1.2 Blessings 1.3 Wayshrines 2 Dragon Breaks 3 Amulet of Kings 4 Behind the Scenes 5 Appearances 6 References

Places of worship

Chapels

See also: The Akatosh Chantry

In the province of Cyrodiil, his main chapel was located in the Cyrodiilic city of Kvatch ^[4] and he was the most prominent of the gods represented at the Temple of the One in the Imperial City.^[5]

The Temple of the Divines, housed in the city of Solitude in the province of Skyrim, contains a Shrine of Akatosh.

Blessings

At his chapels, Akatosh blesses parishioners with increased magicka and speed.^[4] The books Ten Commands: Nine Divines has the following command from Akatosh: Serve and obey your Emperor. Study the Covenants. Worship the Nine, do your duty, and heed the commands of the saints and priests.^[6] Temples built in his honor can be seen at the Arboretum, and the Temple of the One, both located in the Imperial City.^[4] Arriana Valga, the Countess of Chorrol, is a devout follower.^[7]

Wayshrines

• Southeast of Skingrad and east of Silorn
• East of Anvil and just north of Fort Strand
• South of Bruma and north of the Orange Road
• Just outside of the southern wall of Cheydinhal

Praying at any one of these will grant the Jaws of Akatosh Spell.

Dragon Breaks

A "Dragon Break" is an event where the timeline of the world of Nirn was suddenly split. They are known as Dragon Breaks, because Akatosh, who is symbolised as a Dragon, is the god of Time, and thus, a break in the timeline can be viewed as breaking the Dragon. Only three Dragon Breaks have been recorded and verified historically, as, due to their very nature, the majority of people would be unaware of their occurrence. The first of these is the arrival of the Aedra.^[8] The second of these is the so called Warp in the West (or the Miracle of Peace), which was brought on by the building of Numidium in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall,^[9] however it is mentioned that Akatosh, Mara, and Stendarr were responsible for this event.^[10] The third Dragon Break as featured in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim occurred when the Ancient Nords cast Alduin the World Eater forward in time. Other examples include the elevation of Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil to Godhood,^[11] as well as the book, The Dragon Break Reexamined, since it references events which had not yet come to pass. ^[12]

Amulet of Kings

The artifact known as the Amulet of Kings was created by Akatosh. As lord of the Aedra, Akatosh took pity on the plight of Men, who were slaves of the Ayleids,^[13] and, drawing precious blood from his own heart, blessed St Alessia with the blood of Dragons, and made a Covenant that so long as Alessia's generations were true to the dragon blood, Akatosh would endeavor to seal tight the Oblivion Gate, and to deny the armies of daedra and undead to their enemies, the Daedra-loving Ayleids.^[14] He then gave her the Amulet of Kings, and the Eternal Dragonfires, which, when lighted, would restrict the Daedra to the realms of Oblivion. The Amulet contains a gem of Alessia herself, and eight other gems, one for each of the Eight Divines ^[14] The Remanada mentions the amulet, and how it was a symbol of the Reman Dynasty, how it was lost during the Interregnum, before being found by Tiber Septim. ^[15]

Behind the Scenes

• In The Four Suitors of Benitah, Kena Warfel Tomasin claims that it is possible to prove that Akatosh, Oblivion, and Nirn are the same thing.^[16]
• In the King Edward book series (readable in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall), Akatosh appears as a Golden Dragon, and allows Edward to ride upon him.^[17]
• In Dragon tongue, Akatosh is equivalent to "Bormahu" stated by Paarthurnax after the completion of the Main Quest in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena (First mentioned)
• The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (Mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (Mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal (Mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon (Mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Avatar Appears)

• • The Elder Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine (Mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles (Mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Mobile (Mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard (Mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Hearthfire (Mentioned only)

Deities of Tamrielic races
Imperial	Akatosh • Arkay • Dibella • Julianos • Kynareth • Shezarr • Mara • Morihaus • Reman • Stendarr • Talos • Zenithar
Nord	Alduin • Dibella • Herma-Mora • Jhunal • Kyne • Maloch • Mara • Orkey • Stuhn • Shor • Ysmir
Altmer	Auri-El • Trinimac • Magnus • Syrabane • Jephre • Xarxes • Mara • Stendarr • Lorkhan • Phynaster • Xen
Bosmer	Auri-El • Arkay • Baan Dar • Herma-Mora • Jone • Jode • Lorkhan • Mara • Stendarr • Xarxes • Y'ffre • Z'en
Snow Elf	Auri-El • Trinimac • Syrabane • Jephre • Phynaster
Dunmer	Almalexia • Azura • Boethiah • Vivec • Sotha Sil • Lorkhan • Nerevar • Dagoth Ur • Malacath Mehrunes Dagon • Mephala • Molag Bal • Sheogorath
Redguard	Satakal • Ruptga • Tu'whacca •Zeht • Morwha • Tava • Malooc • Diagna • Sep • HoonDing • Leki • Onsi
Breton	Akatosh • Arkay • Dibella • Julianos • Kynareth • Sheor • Magnus • Mara • Phynaster • Stendarr • Y'ffre • Zenithar
Khajiit	Alkosh • Azurah • Baan Dar • Hermorah • Hircine • Masser • Secunda • Khenarthi • Lorkhaj • Mara • Merrunz Mafala • Namiira • Rajhin • Riddle'Thar • Sangiin • Sheggorath • S'rendarr • Y'ffer • ja-Kha'jay

References