The Nine Divines are the most important religious order in Tamriel. The religion combines the eight Aedra with the founder of the Third Empire, Tiber Septim (Talos). There are 6 gods and 3 goddesses. In Cyrodiil there is a major chapel in every one of the major cities. There are also wayshrines along the roads that are devoted to the Nine Divines. These Aedra also appear in various combinations in the pantheons of other cultures.

The NineEdit

• Akatosh - The Dragon God of Time and the chief god of the pantheon
• Arkay - God of Life and Death
• Dibella - Goddess of Beauty
• Julianos - God of Wisdom and Logic
• Kynareth - Goddess of Air
• Mara - Mother Goddess and Goddess of Love
• Stendarr - God of Mercy
• Talos/Tiber Septim - God of War and Governance
• Zenithar - God of Work and Commerce

History Edit

Main article: Aedra

The Eight Divines as an official religion was instituted by Alessia, the first saint of the Empire, upon her successful slave revolt against the Ayleids. She is said to have consciously chosen a mixture of Ayleid and Nordic gods, to help aid her subjects in their transition but simultaneously appease her powerful northern allies.

Perhaps coincidentally, the eight Aedra Alessia chose are those Aedra said to have been most active in the creation of the world. When the Aedra realized what Lorkhan had done, and how their divinity was being drained to create Nirn, most of them objected or withdrew. The eight Aedra that make up the divines, however, willingly gave of themselves to complete the act of creation. In doing so, they were left weakened and confined to their own planes, which mortals on Nirn see as the planets.

The worship of the Divines is not universally accepted, even on Tamriel. In particular, most Dunmer reject them outright, having been turned from the path of Aedra worship during the Dawn Era by the Daedric Prince Boethiah. The other mer worship some of the same Aedra, in particular Akatosh, who appears in almost every culture's mythology. The elves choose to worship other Aedra, however, those who withdrew from creation in time to save their divinity, and who the elves believe guided them in the early years of their existence.

Prior to Alessia's pact with Akatosh, binding her soul to the Amulet of Kings, many Aedra and Daedra were able to fully interact with Nirn and its population. However, even during this period, these eight Aedra are not known to have manifested physically on the planet, but communicated through dreams and visions (as with Alessia, for example). Their interaction with the world is relegated to blessings via their altars and shrines, and in extreme circumstances, via mortal avatars infused with their divine spirits. Of particular note is that Akatosh did not appear himself to Alessia to seal his pact with her; instead, it was Lorkhan who came in person, something he was presumably able to do because of his close connection with Nirn itself.

Because Talos was not originally one of the Divines, in some religious sects they are referred to as "The Eight And One". As of 4E 200, Talos was effectively removed from the pantheon of the Gods-and The Eight Divines worshiped resumed. Thalmor agents from the Aldmeri Dominion, per the White-Gold Concordat, ensure that the worship of Talos remains an illegal activity. This is one of the causes of the Stormcloak Rebellion, who see the banning of the worship of Talos as an act against religious freedom.

Real World ConnectionEdit

The Nine Divines originated from the Nine Noble Virtues of the Norse religion. The Nords of Skyrim are largely based on ancient Scandinavian, or Nordic, cultures here on Earth, and the Nine Noble Virtues played a major role in Norse life.

Deities
Cyrodiil	Akatosh • Dibella • Arkay • Zenithar • Mara • Stendarr • Julianos • Shezarr • Tiber Septim • Morihaus • Reman
Skyrim	Alduin • Dibella • Orkey • Tsun • Mara • Stuhn • Kyne • Jhunal • Shor • Ysmir • Herma-Mora • Maloch
Altmer	Auri-El • Trinimac • Magnus • Syrabane • Y'ffre • Xarxes • Mara • Stendarr • Lorkhan • Phynaster
Dunmer	Almalexia • Vivec • Sotha Sil • Lorkhan • Nerevar •
Yokuda	Satakal • Ruptga • Tu'whacca • Zeht • Morwha • Tava • Malooc • Diagna • Sep • HoonDing • Leki • Onsi
Bretony	Akatosh • Magnus • Y'ffre • Dibella • Arkay • Zenithar • Mara • Stendarr • Kynareth • Julianos • Sheor • Phynaster
Elsweyr	Alkosh • Khenarthi • Riddle'Thar • ja-Kha'jay • Mara • S'rendarr • Lorkhaj • Rajhin • Baan Dar •
Topics	Chapel • Daedric Princes • Nine Divines