Pantheons of Tamriel The Pantheons of Tamriel are groups of deities and saint s worshiped in the different provinces on the continent of Tamriel . In most games in the series , one or more of these entities plays a major role — or has a major influence on — a game ' s storyline . The article also details how each race of human and elves perceives what are , essentially , the same gods . Gods of the Pantheons . " Varieties of Faith " gives the following summary of the pantheons . The book ' s date is unknown , but first appears in Morrowind , suggesting it was written during the Third Era . Its outline is still broadly applicable , but there are some differences in the later games . These will be discussed in the sections following the list . Outline of the Pantheons . All pantheons share some representation of the creator / trickster deity most commonly called Lorkhan , and the dragon god of time , most commonly called Akatosh . Others contain obvious references to certain other spirits , with different emphases . Cyrodiilic Pantheon . Main Articles : Eight Divines , Nine Divines Variously the Eight or Nine Divines throughout its history , the Cyrodiilic Pantheon is a synthesis of merish and mannish gods , with the Eight Divines created initially by Alessia as a compromise between the Aldmeri - leaning slaves she had liberated , the Ayleids who submitted to her , and her Nordic allies . Akatosh is the head of the pantheon . The pantheon contains several deified cultural heroes , Tiber Septim ( or Talos ) , Reman and Morihaus . Shezarr is a less anti - mer version of Shor , designed to not alienate those who venerated the Aldmeri gods . Apart from the creation of the world , the deeds attibuted to him would seem to equate him with Pelinal , who is not acknowledged as part of the Pantheon . The Cyrodiilic Pantheon are mostly considered to be quite distant , with most worship formalised and the gods distant . However , individual gods have their own cults , which emphasise a more charismatic style of worship . The Daedra Princes are not formally worshiped in the Cyrodiilic Pantheon , but they are acknowledged as the 16 Acceptable Blasphemies . Nordic Pantheon . The Nordic pantheon of Skyrim has many similar gods to that of Cyrodiil , with obvious name similarities between the two pantheons . However , the Nordic representations are almost always more warlike than their Cyrodiilic counterparts . Unlike most pantheons , the Nordic gods are not led by the Dragon God of Time . Instead , Alduin is seen as the " wellspring " of the pantheon , rather than its leader . Some consider Kyne to be the head of the pantheon , who is one of the " hearth gods " . This term is only seen in one in - game text , but is referenced in a design document published by Michael Kirkbride , which explains it more fully . Shor , the Nordic equivalent to Lorkhan , is seen less as a creator god and more as a champion of men and , following his death at the hands of mer , god of the underworld . Along with Tsun , he is considered to be one of 2 Nordic gods that are dead . The Nordic pantheon gives a totemic representation to each of its main deities , as follows : The Nordic pantheon only gives particular significance to 2 of the Daedric Princes , and even then not in their entirety . The pantheon contains Orkey , a version of Malacath heavily associated with death ( and , as a result , Arkay ) . The other is Herma - Mora , the Woodland Man , who according to Nordic myth nearly tricked the Nords into becoming Aldmer . He is called the Demon of Knowledge , but otherwise does not bear any significant relation to Hermaeus Mora . The Nords also make reference to Maloch , whom they call " Mountain Fart . " Altmeri Pantheon . Merish religion is more focused towards their ancestors than other pantheons , evidenced by the use of the term Aedra ( " our ancestors " ) to describe them . These Aldmeri ancestor - heroes include Trinimac , Syrabane , Phynaster and Auri - El , the head of the pantheon . In the Altmeri tradition , Lorkhan is thought of as an evil figure who tricked the gods into creating the material world as a place of limitation and death . Bosmeri Pantheon . Although Bosmeri religion technically revere Auri - El as the head of their pantheon , it is Y ' ffre who holds the most meaning for them . In Bosmeri cosmology , Y ' ffre gifted the Bosmer with a fixed form , through the institution of the Green Pact , which informs much of Bosmeri culture . Bosmer also revere Jone , Jode and Baan Dar , which are most commonly associated with the Khajiit . This may give some truth to the Khajiits ' assertion that they and the Bosmer share a common lineage . Dunmer Pantheon . " Main articles : Tribunal Temple , New Temple " Almost uniquely of all the cultures on Tamriel , the Dunmer have never worshipped the Aedra . Their deities have either been the Daedra , or the Tribunal of Almalexia , Sotha Sil and Vivec . The original Chimer , or Velothi , worshipped Boethiah , Mephala and Azura as saving them from the decadence of their life in Summerset , and traveled to Dwemereth , now Morrowind , under the guidance of the Prophet , and later Saint , Veloth . After the Battle of Red Mountain , the Tribunal replaced this faith with worship of themselves as god - kings of the Dunmer , banning the worship of the Daedra , although they were still held in reverence . The original Good Daedra became the Anticipations , reflections of the various aspects of the Tribunal . Molag Bal , Malacath , Mehrunes Dagon and Sheogorath are regarded as " Bad Daedra " , the House of Troubles , a group of Daedra who did not accept this . These daedra are acknowledged sent to test the faith of the Velothi . In addition to these gods , the Tribunal faith had an array of saints , of which Nerevar was the first . Many of these saints exemplify ideal virtues for the Dunmer , and provide a model for them to live by . Following the events of " Morrowind " , the Tribunal were either dead or reduced in power . This and the events of the Red Year caused a crisis of faith for the Dunmer , who then returned to their original daedra worship , now styled as the Reclamations , while the Tribunal were reduced to the status of saints within the new faith . Khajiiti Pantheon . The Khajiiti pantheon has some obvious stand - ins from other pantheons ( Alkosh as Akatosh , for example ) . However , Khajiit still revere Jone and Jode , Aldmeri moon deities forgotten by most other cultures on Tamriel . These are considered to be Tamriel ' s two moons , who in Khajiit belief form part of the ja - Kha ' jay , the Lunar Lattice . However , it also appears that the moons are referred to by some Khajiit as Masser and Secunda , their more common names . The Khajiit follow the pattern of Aedra and Daedra , believing them to be distinct " litters " of Et ' ada , birthed by Ahnurr and Fadomai . However , they also hold Nirni to be a child of these beings too , on an equal footing with the other two . Indeed , Nirni and Azurah have a rivalry . Azurah is credited with making the Khajiit as they currently are , in order that they may be " Nirni ' s secret defenders , " and stabilising their form . Y ' ffer also took some and made the Bosmer . To the Khajiit , Lorkhaj is a troublesome figure , distinct from both litters of Ahnurr and Fadomai . He is associated with the Dark , which to the Khajiit is Namiira , and his Heart corrupts Khajiit spirits , turning them to dro - m ' Athra , a form of Khajiiti demon . Orcish Pantheon . Orcs typically worship Malacath , the changed remnant of Trinimac , and his code informs much of their law and practices . Malacath is occasionally also called Mauloch , in this context . In the Third Era the orc chief Gortwog established a separate priesthood for Trinimac directly in his Orsinium . This was viewed as heresy by most orcs outside Orsinium and a minority within it , and a bad omen for orcs as a whole . Redguard Pantheon ( Yokudan Pantheon ) . The Reguard pantheon is very different to most others , although again comparisons can be drawn between some gods , most notably Sep and Lorkhan . Where most cultures start with Anu and Padomay , Yokudan faith starts with one , Satakal , the World - Skin . They also believe their gods were tricked into becoming mortal , in the same way to most merish belief , and consider it their birthright to return to the Far Shores , the world beyond Mundus . Yokudan belief holds special reverence to the stars , believing them to be the way back to the Far Shores , although they do not acknowledge the Magna - Ge as distinct from the rest of their pantheon , and it is Tu ' Wacca , their god of death , who helps them get there , not any kind of equivalent to Magnus . Where Imperial culture has Shezarr as a god of human achievement , and the Nords have Shor , the Yokudans have the Hoon ' Ding , the Make Way God , who comes at a time of crisis to make way for his people . He has historically materialised as a variety of things , such as a sword , a crown or both .