Elven pantheon

The elven pantheon, also known in elven as the Evanuris, is comprised of five gods and four goddesses, whom the modern Dalish elves call "the Creators". The pantheon is led by Elgar'nan the All-Father, god of fatherhood and vengeance, and Mythal the Protector, goddess of motherhood and justice. There are also references in elven mythology to another race of gods, called "The Forgotten Ones", the enemies of the elven pantheon. It is said that Fen'Harel was the only one able to walk freely between the two clans, and they both thought of him as one of their own.
Interestingly, elven belief holds that—though the elven gods are credited with creating the gifts of the world (and in some cases for recreating the world itself)—they, too, were borne of the earth and are not considered responsible for its initial creation. Unlike the Old Gods, the elven pantheon were never believed to have walked in the mortal realm or to have directly challenged the Maker.Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition: Prima Official Game Guide Their current location is uncertain, as they do not, apparently, interact with the mortal world. However, elven belief holds that the Fade, or the "Beyond" as it is known to the elves, is considered a holy place and the gods are trapped there in the "Eternal City".
== History ==
The elven pantheon was revered in the time of Elvhenan, before the humans came to Thedas. Little is known about how the gods were worshipped at this time, except that the gods had temples with guards in specially made armor,Codex entry: Ancient Elven Armor the elves worshiped their gods for months at a time,Codex entry: Arlathan: Part One and that worship may have included rituals involving water and kneeling and praying before altars.Codex entry: A Carved Elven Tablet. This last is known only from a tablet discovered in ruins that post-date the fall of Arlathan from a period when elves and humans lived side by side.
Once the elves found that the very presence of the humans, or "quicklings," caused the once immortal elves to age and die, they attempted to isolate themselves. Many believed that the gods had judged them unworthy of their long lives and cast them down among the quicklings.
The elves retreated within Elvhenan but were ultimately conquered and enslaved by the Tevinter Imperium. During their centuries of slavery, the elves lost most of their language and history and the worship of the old elven pantheon declined. However, the elves, led by Shartan, fought alongside Andraste in her fight against the Imperium, and their reward was a new home in The Dales, where the worship of the elven pantheon could be revived. The elves left Tevinter for their new homeland in -165 Ancient (1030 TE).
Though Andraste's sons honored her promise to the elves and gave them their new homeland, it was to be short-lived by the standards of Elvhenan. Over the next 270 years or so, relations between the elves and their human neighbours deteriorated. By the early Glory Age, there were numerous border skirmishes between the Dales and Orlais, which soon escalated into war. When it appeared that the elves might actually capture Val Royeaux, the Chantry called for a holy war, resulting in a new Exalted March against the Dales that completely crushed the elves by 2:20 Glory. The lands of the Dales were appropriated by Orlais, with elven settlements being uprooted and worship of the elven gods forbidden. Elves who accepted the Chantry's offered truce were required to accept the Maker and live in ghettos, known as alienages, within human settlements. Some elves, however, refused to give up their worship or their dream of their own homeland, and they became the Dalish. Today, all that is left of the pantheon are old statues, Elven temples in ruins, and lingering stories.
== Involvement ==
== Pantheon ==
=== Elgar'nan: God of Vengeance ===
Elgar'nan—also known as the All-Father, the Eldest of the Sun and He Who Overthrew His FatherDragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 2, p. 22—represents fatherhood and vengeance, and leads the pantheon with the goddess Mythal.
=== Mythal: the Great Protector ===
Mythal, the Protector and the All-Mother, and goddess of loveDragon Age: The Masked Empire, pg. 183., is the patron of motherhood and justice and leads the pantheon with her male counterpart, Elgar'nan. 
=== Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide ===
Falon'Din is the elven God of Death and Fortune and guides the dead to the Beyond. He and his twin brother, Dirthamen, are the eldest children of Elgar'nan the All-Father and Mythal the Protector.
=== Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets ===
Dirthamen is the twin brother of Falon'Din and is the elven god of secrets and knowledge, and master of the ravens Fear and Deceit. Dirthamen gave to elves the gift of knowledge and taught them loyalty and faith in family. 
=== Andruil: Goddess of the Hunt ===
Andruil is the elven Goddess of the Hunt, known also as "blood and force" and the "great hunter."Codex entry: Elven God Andruil. 
=== Sylaise: the Hearthkeeper ===
Sylaise, the Hearthkeeper, is the goddess of all the domestic artsDragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 2, p. 23 and the sister of Andruil the Huntress. Sylaise gave the elves fire, and taught them how to weave rope and thread, and to use herbs and magic for healing purposes.
=== June: God of the Craft ===
June is the elven Master of Crafts. He is variously described either as a brother to Andruil and Sylaise or as Sylaise's husband. He taught the elves to make bows, arrows, and knives to hunt Andruil's gifts. 
=== Ghilan'nain: Mother of the Halla ===
Ghilan'nain is called the Mother of the halla—white deer-like creatures revered by the Dalish and used to pull their aravel, or "landships"—and goddess of navigation. 
=== Fen'Harel: The Dread Wolf ===
The Dread Wolf is an enigmatic trickster god of the elves, whose supposed betrayal of both the benevolent Creators and the malefic Forgotten Ones is the only explanation most elves have for the destruction of Arlathan. Dalish clans view him with wariness and seek to protect themselves and their kin from his treachery. 
It is revealed by Solas in Mythal's temple that this could be a misinterpretation by the Dalish and instead he was the god of rebellion.Codex entry: The Rebel God
== The Forgotten Ones ==
There are references in elven mythology to another race of gods: gods of evil, with whom the gods of the elven pantheon fought an endless war. These gods are now known as the Forgotten Ones, and for good reason as even the hahrens, or elven elders, know little to nothing about them. According to legend they, along with the elven pantheon, were trapped away from the world at around the time of the fall of Arlathan.
== Vallaslin: Blood writing ==
When a Dalish elf comes of age, they are marked with intricate tattoos representing one of the elven gods. The tattooing is preceded by meditation on the gods and the ways of the Dalish, and by purifying the body and the skin. It is not known whether this practice was part of the worship of elven gods in ancient Elvhenan or is a more recent development.
== Gallery ==
Object-Elven Statue.jpg|In ancient Arlathan, statues like this honoured the creators.
Sylaise.jpg|A statue of Sylaise in a Dalish camp.
Object-FenHarel Statue 2.jpg|A statue of Fen'Harel, the "Dread Wolf" found at a Dalish campsite.
Exalted Plains - Shrine to Fen'Harel.png|A shrine to Fen'Harel in the Crow Fens (Exalted Plains)
== References ==
Category:Elven pantheon
Category:Religion
Category:Ancient elven lore
Category:Elven lore
Category:Dalish lore
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