Skyrim Lore and Scandinavian and Norse Mythology

[🅵🆁🅴🅳🅴🆁🅸🅺]

I think there is no doubt to say that Bethesda created Skyrim based on Norse Mythology. Scandinavian and Germanic folklore from the religious traditions of the Norsemen during the Viking Age. Norsemen, and the Germanic people share alot in tradition both modern and ancient. Everything we experience in Skyrim from the Divines to landscapes and names reflect alot upon the Gods and traditions from this era. Me being Swedish I find this game very interesting not only for slaying dragons, but reading the local folklore of Skyrim and learning about the various locations and Divines. And after having visited all my Scandinavian neighbors I can clearly say that the provinces and and scenery in Skyrim is based on Scandinavia.

Some similarities between Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls, and Scandinavia:

• Various ancient crypts throughout Skyrim with names like Ustengrav sound alot like Scandinavia. The word 'grav' means tomb or grave in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish.
  
• The term Jarl has an origin from Scandinavia as every state had a Jarl or Earl ruling that area. The founder of the Swedish capital Stockholm was named Jarl Birger Magnusson.
  
• A Shieldmaiden, also mentioned in Skyrim, was a warrior woman in Norse Mythology.
  
• Many Nord names on characters in Skyrim are both modern and ancient in Scandinavia. For example some popular Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish names are Astrid, Elisif, Erik, Frida, Greta, Gunnar, Harald, Henrik, Ingrid, Jenssen, Jesper, Jurgen, Karl, Knud, Lars, Lund, Nils, Ragnar, Rolff, Sigrid, Sigurd, Stig, Sven, Torbjörn, Torsten, Tova, Ulfric, Valdimar, and Wilhelm.
  
• Some holds of Skyrim are almost identical to the Scandinavian countries. Falkreath and The Rift in Skyrim is very similar to Swedish scenery with it's deep pine forests and colorful birches. But also Skyrim in general with green valleys and large tundras to the south, and snowy regions and mountains to the north.
  
• The wildlife of Skyrim can also be seen in parts of Scandinavia that is not occupied by civilization. Arctic Foxes and regular Foxes, Bears, Elk, Moose, Wolves, etc.
  
• Aurora Borealis is very common in Northern Scandinavia, or also known as polar lights, or northern lights. In Sweden we call this phenomenon Norrsken.
  
• Ale and Mead was the first choice of drinks in Scandinavia during the Viking Age, and the unique design of the inns in Skyrim look alot like the ones you find still standing today.

Similarities to Norse Mythology:

• In Norse Mythology giants used to exist and walked the earth.
  
• The Divine Talos in Skyrim can be compared with the God Oden. Both are regular men, and not just a God, and both were warriors.
  
• In Norse Mythology there were nine Worlds, and in Tamriel there are nine provinces.
  
• Valhall is the the fallen warriors' hall in Norse Mythology, in Skyrim we call it Sovngarde. It is described just as we experienced Sovngarde in Skyrim. The Gods bring you there to feast and drink in the large mead hall, and to join the Gods in one final battle.
  
• Elves existed in Norse Mythology and they had quite alot of different races. Dark Elves, Light Elves, and then we have the Black Elves or also known as the Dawrves.
  
• There is a place in Norse Mythology called Svartalfaheim located under the world of the humans which is the home to the Black Elves or Dwarves. In Skyrim, these are obviously the Dwemer. The Black Elves live underground and are the most skilled race in blacksmithing in all nine Worlds, and from them mighty creations such as Tor's Hammer come from. They were also known to be an evil race and often put magic spells on their creations.
  
• Dragons also existed in Norse Mythology. Four of them are recorded in history; Fafnir, Jörmungandr, Nidhöggr, and the fourth dragon's name remains unknown. It was killed by the Danish King Frotho. This dragon and King Frotho relate alot to Numinex and King Olaf from Skyrim.
  
• Words of Power in Skyrim can possibly relate to Finnish mythology, and their hero Väinämöinen. He presented his power by using words of power and often as part of a poem or song. But Finland is not Scandinavian and barely have any historical bonds to the three Scandinavian Kingdoms. But worth mentioning as it being a Nordic country.

For those who are interested in learning more about Norse Mythology, these few videos explain most of it. These are the videos I started realizing how similar it is to Skyrim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6dtNI9s_6k&list=PLcsRDkxR9aKUhwqSUHmOC0OUgtMxvg28b&index=1

[Delta 1038]

I don't ever recall dragons in Norse Mythologies ever being gods as they tended to be attack dog monster things. The exception to this at the top of my head is Fafnir who played mind games with Siegfried before Siegfriend well, stabbed him in his weak spot. There actually is an academic paper on this but I can't remember the name or the academic value of it.

[🅵🆁🅴🅳🅴🆁🅸🅺]

Originally posted by Delta 1038:

I don't ever recall dragons in Norse Mythologies ever being gods as they tended to be attack dog monster things. The exception to this at the top of my head is Fafnir who played mind games with Siegfried before Siegfriend well, stabbed him in his weak spot. There actually is an academic paper on this but I can't remember the name or the academic value of it.

Dragons in Skyrim are for the most part considered as monsters, which I fully agree on. However, I was more referring to Alduin, which in the game is referred to as the God of Destruction. There are four dragons mentioned in Norse Mythology.

[Delta 1038]

Originally posted by freddiebox #IkeaWarrior:

Dragons in Skyrim are for the most part considered as monsters, which I fully agree on. However, I was more referring to Alduin, which in the game is referred to as the God of Destruction. There are four dragons mentioned in Norse Mythology.

Hold on without cheating (no internet searches)
- Fafnir
- Nidhogg the Worm
- Jormungad

What was the last one again and the Ol'Addy thing is a little ambigous. Something something something, the Ancient Nords' name for Akatosh was Addy while some other myth claims that Addy is the son of Akatosh. Fits oral myths really.

[🅵🆁🅴🅳🅴🆁🅸🅺]

Originally posted by Delta 1038:

Hold on without cheating (no internet searches)
- Fafnir
- Nidhogg the Worm
- Jormungad

What was the last one again and the Ol'Addy thing is a little ambigous. Something something something, the Ancient Nords' name for Akatosh was Addy while some other myth claims that Addy is the son of Akatosh. Fits oral myths really.

The fourth one has a name that remains unknown. Only the description of the dragon remains, and it was killed by Frotho, a Danish king. Sounds alot like Numinex from Skyrim, don't you think?

[Ilja]

It is possible that "Words of Power" relate to Finnish mythology. In our national epic Kalevala, Väinämöinen presented his power by using the words of power. While he often presented them as part of a poem or poetic song, the words themselves were the key.

Different names and words had very important meaning in Finland and tradition to present them in poetic form was part of the real life superstitious tradition.

For those interested:

Väinämöinen Wikipedia (Eng.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A4in%C3%A4m%C3%B6inen

Finnish mythology Wikipedia (Eng.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_mythology

[🅵🆁🅴🅳🅴🆁🅸🅺]

Originally posted by Ilja:

It is possible that "Words of Power" relate to Finnish mythology. In our national epic Kalevala, Väinämöinen presented his power by using the words of power. While he often presented them as part of a poem or poetic song, the words themselves were the key.

Different names and words had very important meaning in Finland and tradition to present them in poetic form was part of the real life superstitious tradition.

For those interested:

Väinämöinen Wikipedia (Eng.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A4in%C3%A4m%C3%B6inen

Finnish mythology Wikipedia (Eng.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_mythology

Thanks for bringing this up, I will add it to possible similarities.

[Black Album]

I live in an isolated area in the Scottish Highland so the scenery is very similar ....
And we also still have living dragons ... ok the last part was a fib.

[🅵🆁🅴🅳🅴🆁🅸🅺]

Originally posted by blackalbum:

I live in an isolated area in the Scottish Highland so the scenery is very similar ....
And we also still have living dragons ... ok the last part was a fib.

To be honest here, we Scandinavians see Germany and the British Isles as Norsemen too. One reason to this is the settlements made by Vikings in England during their raids. ^^

[Mr. Shaggnificent]

My favorite norse mythology has alwas been the stuff about the Khajiit and Argonians.

[Brandybuck]

Originally posted by Mr.Shaggnificent:

My favorite norse mythology has alwas been the stuff about the Khajiit and Argonians.

Odin vs the Numidium was always my favorite.

[Zefram Cochrane]

Originally posted by Delta 1038:

I don't ever recall dragons in Norse Mythologies ever being gods as they tended to be attack dog monster things. The exception to this at the top of my head is Fafnir who played mind games with Siegfried before Siegfriend well, stabbed him in his weak spot. There actually is an academic paper on this but I can't remember the name or the academic value of it.

Dragons in their modern fantasy form derive from the anglo-saxon epic Beowulf filtered through Tolkien, and if you ever wondered where Tolkien got the inspiration for Smaug from...

Originally posted by Mr.Shaggnificent:

My favorite norse mythology has alwas been the stuff about the Khajiit and Argonians.

And the Dawnguard dogs that are named for dogs in... Irish/Scottish gaelic mythology.

Originally posted by freddiebox #IkeaWarrior:

Elves existed in Norse Mythology and they had quite alot of different races alone.

Elves occur in germanic mythology everywhere they're common in anglo-saxon names Alfred - Aelfrede - "elf wise" i.e. has the wisdom of elves. There are a number of mythological influences the most obvious is Norse but its not the only one.

[🅵🆁🅴🅳🅴🆁🅸🅺]

Originally posted by Zefram Cochrane:

Elves occur in germanic mythology everywhere they're common in anglo-saxon names Alfred - Aelfrede - "elf wise" i.e. has the wisdom of elves. There are a number of mythological influences the most obvious is Norse but its not the only one.

I'm well aware, Norsemen, and the Germanic people share alot in tradition in both modern and ancient times. I mentioned this in my post.

[kucomat]

hi, i made suchlike research, but i was finding simmilarities between real(viking) architecture and skyrims.

1. pevensey castle in UK build 500 years before viking age build by ancient romans - it was obviously inspiration for skyrim forts

https://www.google.sk/search?q=pevensey+castle&client=opera&hs=MS5&biw=1280&bih=611&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjOkr7z8-fKAhXHOhQKHZrTDuMQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=-gMatys5KpvgFM%3A


2. this church was build near after viking age, when christianity came to scandinavia- it reminds me architecture of whiterun

https://www.google.sk/search?q=viking+house&client=opera&hs=VW5&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjR0evt9OfKAhWK6RQKHYj3ABgQ_AUIBygB&biw=1280&bih=611#imgrc=7aRpSaBSRCJhnM%3A


3. vikings longhouse was apparently inspiration for Jorvarrkr in witerun

https://www.google.sk/search?q=solitude+skyrim&client=opera&hs=7gl&biw=1280&bih=611&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6ocjkqOrKAhVDNxQKHTKDDugQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=stone+viking+house&imgrc=PkVyV3dKfwxFVM%3A


4. another viking house- looks close to skyrims

https://www.google.sk/search?q=viking+house&client=opera&hs=VW5&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjR0evt9OfKAhWK6RQKHYj3ABgQ_AUIBygB&biw=1280&bih=611#tbm=isch&q=viking+wooden+house&imgrc=vRnjImqqY59WDM%3A


5. this is tratitional russian log house, log houses have roots in slavic coutries but in scandinavia as well- looks like riften houses

https://www.google.sk/search?q=slavic+log+house&client=opera&hs=Is5&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFh5jqoerKAhVLshQKHUalBP0Q_AUIBygB&biw=1280&bih=611#imgrc=pjMNG9Up6LCXsM%3A


6. viking hut- it reminds me huts from skyrim

https://www.google.sk/search?q=solitude+skyrim&client=opera&hs=7gl&biw=1280&bih=611&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6ocjkqOrKAhVDNxQKHTKDDugQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=viking+stone+hut&imgrc=wAqP_VHoR39YYM%3A

My concusion: Although skyrim is not officialy vikings mythology (just inspired) -architecture captured many inportant features of vikings/ scandinavian houses but as well slavic log houses(riften) and romans (forts).

[The Woolly Viking]

Indeed, Norse mythology has in many ways shaped what we today know as fantasy. In my opinion, Shor, the Nordic counterpart to Lorkhan, bears a greater resemblance to Odin, while Talos is more of a combination of Thor and Alexander the Great. Talos amulets bear a passing resemblance to Thor's hammer pendants and he is often referred to as the protector of Mankind like Thor. The gods of the Elder Scrolls always fascinate me. The nine divines in particular. Akatosh is essentially the Greek titan Uranus and a Chinese Dragon god. Kynareth is Freyja and Athena, Arkay and Stendarr mostly resemble the Judeo-Christian god "defend the weak, love thy neighbor, slay all wicked things". Julianos is most like the Egyptian deity Thoth, god of wisdom. I could go on, but I think I have rambled enough, I just love analyzing the Elder Scrolls series.

[Uncle64]

OK I did read some.
But I can tell you that I actually live near one 2000 year old Stone age village.
Completely rebuilt.
They did find it in late 60-77.

And some do say that some castles are made at that way or the other.
Think one more time.
How many ways can you build one castle?

And it was Vikings that did start one of the biggest town in Russia.