- For the language also called Aldmeris, see Aldmeri Language.
Aldmeris, also known as Old Ehlnofey[1], is a possible continent on Nirn. Very little is known of the alleged Elven homeland, and is often considered as merely a myth. Its location, environment, politics, religion, and even its current existence are that of conjecture. Translations from the tapestries and texts in the Crystal Tower of the Isle of Summerset have yielded only the barest of sketches of a beautiful, but very strange, land. In no representation of Aldmeris are there any representations of life aside from the Aldmer themselves. It appears always as an endless city, built upon itself over and over again, until nothing from nature remains. The highest towers are reserved for interring the dead, a tradition continued on by the Crystal Tower itself.[2]
History
Few records exist of events relating to Aldmeris. One account notes of the Aldmer Foresailor High Lord Torinaan, whom left the shores of his home Aldmeris in order to "escape doom oblivious" and landed in Auridon, swearing an oath to lay claim to the new-found area and never depart from it.[3] Another fleet of Aldmer settled on the continent south of Tamriel, known as Pyandonea, though this land was said to have been "low, marshy, and insect-infested" as compared to Summerset. The Aldmer who settled Summerset became known as the Altmer, and those that settled Pyandonea became the Maormer.[4] It is unknown if any people remained on Aldmeris after the Aldmeri colonization of foreign lands.
What has happened in Aldmeris since the elves who settled in Tamriel left is perhaps the oldest of all mysteries. For countless centuries, adventurers have sought Lost Aldmeris, only to return disappointed, if they return at all. Some say that Aldmeris was sunk into the sea by the angry gods of the Aldmer. Others claim that the elven homeland has left Mundus and will only return when the races of Mer are united as one. Legends say that there are still elves inhabiting the area, not wishing to leave.[5]
An alternate theory presented by the Moth Priests states that Aldmeris never existed as an actual homeland, but was a collection of "memories" left over from the Mythic Age. The priests go on to say that all mortal life actually began on Tamriel.[OOG 1]
Trivia
- The legend of Aldmeris is similar to the legend of Atlantis, in that it is a lost land, spawned nations from its explorers, it was thrown down into the sea, and that it can never be found, no matter how many attempts are made to locate it.
- Aldmeris appears to have been inspired by the Undying Lands of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as the Undying Lands were the ancient home of the Elves, was once part of the world, but left due to mortals trying to set foot on the land, and was thus removed from the world but will return again and bring about a new age.
See also
References
| Continents | |
|---|---|
| Nirn | |