I've done a few searches on this topic but I guess it's a topic that can't be answered definitively. So I thought I'd start a new thread, hoping to get some fresh insights.

So... what is it?

I've read the college lectures; conjectures that it may be a gateway to Aetherius... or perhaps the entirety of Aurbis in one physical space... And then there's what Ancano said, about the "power to unmake creation". What sort of object has the power to unmake creation?

Ideas?

It's a giant Macguffin of vaguely established powers that does whatever is currently necessary to suit the story.

At least, that's what I've been able to conclude from playing the College of Winterhold questline 4 times.

^ Exactly what they said!!!

Lol. "We don't know what it is, but we Must..Have..It!!!!" (And with it, we will unmake creation.... Somehow!!!)

Don't forget it's mysterious power to warp time, thus making the epic long Mage's Questline seem to last about 2 hours.

Whatever it is, I want it.