Paper short abstract:

The Elder Scrolls RPG is known for its immersive and detailed world-building, including the incorporation of various mythological elements. One such element is the pantheon of deities, which bears striking similarities to the ancient Iranian religions, and which will be investigated in this paper.

Paper long abstract:

The Elder Scrolls RPG series, developed by Bethesda Softworks, is renowned for its expansive and detailed world-building, including the incorporation of various mythological elements. One such element is the presence of a pantheon of deities and the lore surrounding theme, which bears striking similarities to the ancient Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism, among the others.

Zoroastrianism, founded by the prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran, is characterized by its dualistic cosmology and the struggle between Good and Evil (Stoyanov, 2000). The pantheon of deities in The Elder Scrolls series also includes a dualistic aspect, with the existence of both good and evil deities (The Elder Scrolls Wiki, 2021). The concept of a saviour figure, known as the "Chosen One" in the Elder Scrolls series, also finds its parallel in Zoroastrianism in the figure of the Saoshyant, who is believed to bring about the final renovation of the world (Boyce, 1975).

Additionally, several specific deities and figures in The Elder Scrolls series bear a strong resemblance to those of Zoroastrianism. For example, the deity Mara, the goddess of love in The Elder Scrolls series, is similar to the Iranian figure of Anahita, the goddess of fertility and prosperity (The Elder Scrolls Wiki, 2021). The Daedric prince Molag Bal, the deity of domination and enslavement in aforementioned series, can also be compared to the Iranian demon of the same name, who is associated with similar themes (The Elder Scrolls Wiki, 2021).

This paper will explore the connections between the mythology depicted in the Elder Scrolls series and the ancient Iranian beliefs, including the concept of a dualistic cosmology and the struggle between good and evil. It will also examine how these similarities may have been incorporated into the series and the potential influences on the development of the game's fictional mythology.