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Elder Scrolls

"Dibella says: Open your heart to the noble secrets of art and love. Treasure the gifts of friendship. Seek joy and inspiration in the mysteries of love."
Ten Commands: Nine Divines

Dibella, called Dibe by the Kothringi,[UL 1] is the goddess of beauty, love, art and music, and is one of the Nine Divines. In Cyrodiil, she has nearly a dozen different cults, some devoted to women, some to artists and aesthetics, and some even to erotic instruction.[1]

Names

Dibella is also known as the "Passion Dancer," "Our Blessed Lady."[2] She has also been referred to as the Queen of Heaven.[3]

Worship

Black Marsh

The Kothringi, the indigenous humans of Black Marsh, are known to have worshipped Dibella in the name Dibe, alongside Mara and Kynareth, as one of the "mothers in the Around-Us."

They built a Temple of Dibella in the city of Gideon, which can be found during the Second Era.[4]

Hammerfell

Dibella is the patron deity of the region of Tigonus,[5] and is popular among Redguard women.[6] Dibella is not universally accepted, only venerated by a select group known as "Forebears," who began to accept her into their pantheon under the Cyrodilic Empire.[7] The Order of the Lily was a knightly order dedicated to Dibella which protected her temples against its adversaries, such as the followers of Sanguine, the Daedric Prince of Hedonism.[8]

High Rock

In the late Third Era, the House of Dibella was responsible for the administration of temples dedicated to Dibella in the province of High Rock, and the Order of the Lily was also active in the province at this time.[9]

Dibella is the patron deity of the regions of Koegria and Menevia, and is venerated as a member of the Bretony Pantheon.

Skyrim

The Nords of Skyrim acclaim Dibella as the Bed-Wife of Shor, and is considered a member of the Nordic Pantheon. In the Fourth Era, the practice of the Dibellan Arts was disapproved of in certain localities and could lead to ostracism.[10]

Chapels

Cyrodiil

Cyrodiil's Chapel of Dibella resides in Anvil. Pilgrims of the Nine Divines begin their trek here. Prayers heard by Dibella within the chapel fortify Personality, through Dibella's Kiss. In the Third Era, several murders took place in the Chapel of Dibella, desecrating the shrine within. This led to the restoration of the Knights of the Nine and the collection of the artifacts of the Divine Crusaders.[11]

Skyrim

Skyrim's Temple of Dibella resides in the Dwemer-built city of Markarth. In the Fourth Era, the Dragonborn may ravage the Temple of Dibella in a drunken fit, after a drinking competition with Sam Guevenne, who was the Daedric Prince Sanguine in disguise. The Dragonborn may also steal the Golden Statue of Dibella from within the shrine for the Thieves Guild of Riften. The Dragonborn can also do some redeemable actions in the name of the Temple, namely finding the next Sybil of Dibella.

Wayshrines

Two wayshrines dedicated to Dibella exist in Cyrodiil. One is located south of Chorrol, while the other is located west of the Imperial City.

Artifacts

Brush of Truepaint

The Brush of Truepaint was an artifact created from the hair of Dibella.[12] During the Third Era, a painter named Rythe Lythandas acquired the Aedric artifact. While in his possession, the Brush was stolen by a thief who entered one of Rythe's paintings and held him prisoner there. The Hero of Kvatch may have rescued him, using a special poison made from turpentine.[13]

Helm of the Crusader

The Helm of the Crusader was created by Dibella for Pelinal Whitestrake to aid in his battle against Umaril the Unfeathered.[11] Sir Amiel Lannus sought the relic at The Shrine of the Crusader in hopes of restoring lost honor to the Crusaders. Unfortunately, he died in the endeavor. Before his death, he was shown a vision of the helm, which he recorded in his journal.[14] During the Third Era, the Hero of Kvatch received the helmet from Vanua on their quest to collect the lost relics of the Divine Crusader.[15]

Verse

"Come to me, Dibella, for without you, my words must lie dull and leaden without the gilding of grace and sagacity to enchant the reader's ear and eye."[16]

Commandment

"Open your heart to the noble secrets of art and love. Treasure the gifts of friendship. Seek joy and inspiration in the mysteries of love."[17]

Trivia

  • Dibella seems to be the Elder Scrolls version of the Greek god Aphrodite - goddess of love and sexual desire, she also bears resemblance to her in depiction on statues.
  • Dibella was named after Daggerfall beta tester Mary Jo DiBella.[UL 2]

Gallery

See also

References

Notice: The following are unlicensed references. They are not copyrighted by a ZeniMax Media company, but can still be considered part of The Elder Scrolls lore and are included for completeness.
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