Alduin

Alduin (Dragon Language: ), sometimes referred to as the World Eater, the Twilight God,Divines and the Nords and the First Dragon,The Song of Gods is a mighty dragon who ruled over Skyrim during the Merethic Era. Worshipped as a god-king by the ancient Nords through the Dragon Cult, Alduin is considered the wellspring of the Nordic pantheon, as well as the harbinger of the apocalypse, and the Nordic god of time, and is believed to have a pivotal role in the reshaping of the world.
==By game==
*Alduin (Skyrim)
*Alduin (Legends)
==History==
"And the Scrolls have foretold of black wings in the cold, That when brothers wage war come unfurled! Alduin, Bane of Kings, ancient shadow unbound, With a hunger to swallow the world!" – Song of the Dragonborn
During the early Merethic Era, the ancient Atmoran people worshiped numerous animal totems which would become the Nordic pantheon—the hawk, wolf, snake, moth, owl, whale, bear, fox and the dragon—as the avatars of the gods.The Dragon WarExcerpt from a TESV: Skyrim design document The Dragon was considered the most important out of all the animals. Therefore, at the dragons' approval, the people of Atmora and later Skyrim came to deify the dragons, worshipping them as god-kings, through this establishing the Dragon Cult as the dominant belief system of ancient Nordic culture.
Throughout the Merethic Era, Alduin stood as the leader of the dragons and the Dragon Cult, – Dialogue with Paarthurnax which ruled over Atmora and later over Skyrim. Terms between dragons and men were peaceful in Atmora, thanks to the benevolent rule of the Dragon Priests. However, when the Dragon Cult arrived on Tamriel, the Dragon Priests became cruel towards the populace, and men were increasingly subjugated. Their attempts of resistance against the Dragon Priests led to brutal retaliations by the dragons, which eventually brought about the beginning of the Dragon War.
Alduin's chief lieutenant during this period was Paarthurnax,Atlas of Dragons his younger sibling, who was said to have committed unspeakable atrocities against mankind.Dialogue with Delphie However, Paarthurnax and a few other dragons turned against Alduin, possibly at the behest of the goddess Kyne, and taught humans how to use the Thu'um; granting the most courageous among them the chance to rebel against their dragon overlords.Etched Tablets on the Throat of the World The ensuing conflict between the dragons and the ancient Tongues became the legendary Dragon War.Etched Tablets on the Throat of the WorldEvents of At its height, Alduin was led to the Throat of the World where he battled three Nordic heroes, Felldir the Old, Hakon One-Eye and Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, the first Tongues and leaders of the rebellion against Alduin. They created a unique Shout known as Dragonrend through which they managed to cripple Alduin, and then used an Elder Scroll to send him forward in time.
By 2E 582, worship of Alduin was already outlawed for centuries,Varieties of Faith: The NordsDragon Cult Walking Stick treasure item in Alduin had no admitted worshippers, and the Nords of Skyrim were apparently fearful of worshipping Alduin. However, some Nords did pray to him, hoping that their prayers will keep him at bay.
===Prophecy===
A prophecy foretelling of Alduin's inevitable return to Nirn is inscribed unto Alduin's Wall, located at Sky Haven Temple, which is a wonder of the ancient world built in the First Era by the Akaviri; and the existence of which is recounted in the Book of the Dragonborn and possibly on an Elder Scroll.Annals of the Dragonguard – Brother AnnulusThe Book of the Dragonborn – Prior Emelene Madrine It warns that the World Eater will eventually return after various tumultuous events have occurred in world history, retelling the events that have led up to this point, and claiming that the Last Dragonborn will come forth at that time to stand against Alduin.
===Dragon Crisis===
As foretold by the Prophecy, Alduin would resurface in 4E 201 amidst the Skyrim Civil War. After making his presence known with an attack on Helgen, he began visiting the dragon burial sites across Skyrim to resurrect his subordinate dragons and reestablish his dominance over the world. The resurgence of the dragons and their ancient reign of terror became known as the Dragon Crisis. It was during this time that the Last 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 them by absorbing their souls. With help from Paarthurnax, the Dragonborn learned the Dragonrend shout, which was needed to defeat Alduin, and dealt Alduin a minor defeat at the Throat of the World. The final confrontation occurred in the Nordic afterlife of Sovngarde, where the three Nordic heroes who banished Alduin in the past joined the Dragonborn to stop the dragon once and for all, or until the end of time comes, as Esbern and Arngeir speculate.Dialogue with EsbernDialogue with Arngeir
==Nature and identity==
Nordic legends assert that Alduin is a god-like entity which destroyed the last world in order to begin the current one, in what is considered the creation of a new Kalpa. He bears resemblance to the Yokudan god Satakal,The Monomyth the Argonian god Atakota,Children of the Root the Khajiiti god Alkhan,The Wandering Spirits and the Skaal know him as Thartaag the World-Devourer,The Story of Aevar Stone-Singer though scholars speculate the All-Maker might be an "echo" of Alduin.The Guardian and the Traitor As a result, Alduin has been seen both as creator and destroyer by various cultures, with his existence predating the creation of Nirn itself. There are legends of his battles with the god Shor at the beginning of time.Five Songs of King Wulfharth Much like Nordic legends, Khajiiti songs assert that Alkhan was slain by Lorkhaj and his companions, and that he will return in time, as he is immortal. Alduin also conspired with Orkey to reduce all the Nords to children, until he was again defeated by Shor by request of King Wulfharth. Alduin is also known in old tales for his ability to devour the souls of the dead, and by doing so he can increase his power.The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy Alduin is considered the wellspring of the Nordic pantheon, a depiction that bears resemblance to those of Satakal and Atakota in their respective pantheons, in which they are represented as the being that enabled the et'Ada to form.
Imperial scholars speculate that Alduin is the name by which the ancient Nords knew Akatosh, the dragon god of time and later patron deity of the Empire.Varieties of Faith in the Empire However, some Nords consider this a mischaracterization, maintaining that Alduin and Akatosh are indeed regarded as separate beings in Nordic legend.Alduin is Real Alduin called himself "Firstborn of Akatosh.""Alduin's Bane" – Dialogue with Alduin According to Paarthurnax, Alduin's dragon peers considered him Akatosh's most acclaimed creation. Additionally, it was stated that Alduin "has always been." Some sources suggest he was split from Akatosh, or possibly the greater Aka-Tusk, and that Alduin embodies a particular aspect of the time god.The Seven Fights of The Aldudagga
==Representations==
*Alduin – Nordic Pantheon
*Dragon – Ancient Nordic Pantheon
*Atakota – Argonian Pantheon
*Alkhan – Khajiiti Pantheon
*Satakal – Yokudan Pantheon
*Thartaag – Skaal Pantheon
==Gallery==
Alduins Fire.jpg|Concept art of Alduin breathing fire.
A Blade in the Dark SahloknirAlduin.png|The World Eater and his brothers return.
UnboundCloseAlduin.png|Alduin breathing fire.
Alduin card art.png|Art of Alduin from .
VC-Alduin.jpg|Alduin at the Throat of the World.
AlduinSovngarde.png|Alduin in Sovngarde.
==Trivia==
*Alduin's role bears similarities to the real-life mythological figure, Níðhöggr.
*The ability to resurrect a dead dragon is seemingly unique to Alduin.Text on the back of the Dragonstone
==Appearances==
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* 
*
** Dialogue with Miraak
* Dragon Skull ParchmentVarieties of Faith, Crown Redguards
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*
==References==
de:Alduin der Weltenfresser
es:Alduin
pl:Alduin
pt:Alduin
ru:Пожиратель Мира
id:Alduin
Category:Dragons
Category:Lore: Characters