Alduin Alduin ( Dovahzul : ) , the World Eater , is a very powerful dragon who is known for his rule over Skyrim during the Merethic Era . He is considered the " wellspring " of the Nordic pantheon , as well as the harbinger of the apocalypse , believed to have a greater role in reshaping the world entirely . He is also described as the " creator of dragon civilization " in one particular text . History . Nordic myth asserts that Alduin destroyed the last world to begin the current one , in what is considered creating a new Kalpa . The Redguard s believe his previous aspect to be Satakal the Worldskin , and the Skaal know Alduin as Thartaag the World - Devourer . As a result , he is both creator and destroyer , as well as predating the creation of Nirn itself . There are legends of his battles with Shor during this time . During the Merethic Era , the people of Atmora and Skyrim worshiped dragons , possibly at the urging of Alduin . He also conspired with Orkey to reduce all the Nords to children , until he was again defeated by Shor by request of King Wulfharth . Some consider that Alduin ' s rule during this period was foresaking his proper role as the World - Eater . Alduin served as a leader of the dragons , and he ruled with an iron fist . The humans either worshiped him and the dragons in the Dragon Cult or were enslaved . High - ranking members of this cult would be known as a Dragon Priest . Alduin ' s lieutenant at the time was Paarthurnax , his younger sibling , who was said to have committed many atrocities . Later on , Paarthurnax secretly betrayed him by teaching the Thu ' um to the humans so that they could rebel against their dragon overlords . The ensuing war would be known as the Dragon War . Alduin was led to the Throat of the World , where he battled three Nordic heroes . They had created a new Shout called Dragonrend to subdue Alduin , and used an Elder Scroll to send him forward in time . Prophecy . A prophecy foretelling Alduin ' s return is on Alduin ' s Wall , located at Sky Haven Temple , built in the First Era by the Akaviri and recounted in the Book of the Dragonborn , and possibly on Elder Scroll . It tells that the World - Eater will return after various tumultuous events have occurred , retelling events have led up to this point , and claiming that the Last Dragonborn will come forth at that time . Dragon Crisis . Alduin managed to resurface in 4E 201 during the Skyrim Civil War . After making his presence known with an attack on Helgen , he began traveling across Skyrim , terrorizing the populace and resurrecting his fallen brethren . The resurgence of dragons and their reign of terror became known as the Dragon Crisis . It was during this time that the Dragonborn emerged to challenge the World Eater . Only the Dragonborn was able to hinder the dragons ' onslaught and only they could put a permanent end to the creatures by consuming their souls . With guidance from Paarthurnax , the Dragonborn dealt Alduin a minor defeat at the Throat of the World . The final confrontation between them came in Sovngarde , where a host of legendary Nordic heroes joined the Dragonborn to destroy Alduin once and for all . Identity . Scholars speculate that Alduin is the Nord ic name attributed to Akatosh . One source states that Alduin and Akatosh are different deities entirely . Alduin calls himself the " First - Born of Akatosh , " but exactly what that means is unclear . Some sources suggest he was split from Akatosh , or possibly the greater Aka - Tusk , at some point in the distant past . According to Paarthurnax , Alduin ' s peers considered him the most acclaimed creation of Akatosh .