Altmer are so tall.

To Greens:
They were certainly shorter than the average scandinavian today, but for the timeperiod they were considered fairly tall. The Tollund man you referenced was 1.61 and it states: "height at 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in), relatively short stature even for the time. It is likely that the body had shrunk in the bog." so I would think the average was more than 150-160 cm. It looks like it was closer to 170cm or above http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/vikheight.shtml

Nords are the tallest Human race, taller than the average elven race (Dunmer).

Orcs are the second tallest.

Maybe because there are somewhat a barbarian race and these are usually depicted tall and strong.

Nords aren't Scandinavians. Tamriel isn't Earth. I don't see why real-life height of vikings should affect TES lore.


You can't prove it.

...True.

On the other hand, what is not true, is that vikings were the shortest Europeans at that time. They were considered comparatively tall, and though they were shorter than modern Scandinavians, they weren't very much shorter.

The average medieval Dane, Swede etc. though, was very short compared to modern Scandinavians (and about the same height as other medieval Europeans). The reason is that their life standard/life quality/whatever you call it in English was lower in the 12th - 14th century than during the previous centuries, mostly due to overpopulation and poverty.

(I'm Swedish btw... very short and with dark hair, so in Tamriel I'd probably be mistaken for a Breton. )

Scandinavian's are not short people. The Vikings may have been short, but so were most people in that time frame. My grandpa's side of the family is Swedish and they are all 6 feet or higher.

Nords aren't ancient Vikings.

What utter jibberish. Baltic (eastern Baltic region and Scandinavia) were and still are some of the tallest people on the planet. The only Viking country where the average height is not near on 6ft is Iceland. DNA studies of Iceland show that their Y (masculine) haplogroup is high in R1b which is closer to those of western and Central Europe (such as Celts) unlike the Baltic and Scandinavian region which is higher in I and R1a.

Scandivians, Balts and many Slavs as a people are notoriously tall and for having a strong build.

With regards to Nords of Tamriel, then they are a society built around war and to be successful is through being mighty warriors. Disputes are settled through battle and weapons and armor is seen as an important part of being a Nord life. Years of breeding where the toughest and the strongest gets the girl would slowing weed out the littler genes. Plus they probably have a good diet of deer and mammoth meat.

What? Your twisting it up. Wether your refering to in-game or real life Nords adapt to the frost in the same way. They do indeed need an ample supply body heat, otherwise they would be very slow and sluggish when in the cold. Disregarding the first part of your post, yeah, though that 50% resistance isn't simply there because they're white. Hairy Legs, arms, thick beards, and long hair would help to contribute to it (by about 25%). A larger mass produces more body heat than that of a relative smaller mass (another 25%). So with both the adaptations paired together Nords have an arguable 50% resistance to frost. This is about the simplest way to put it.

The biological explanation is that with greater body size, the body volume increases over-proportionally to the surface. As DTH said, large mass produces more body heat. And since a body releases its warmth through the surface, the relative loss of body heat decreases.

Ancient writers from the Romans to Arabs wrote that ancient tribes from northern europe were a tall people with large frames.

"I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Volga. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blonde and ruddy..."
Ibn Fadlan.

"For my own part, I agree with those who think that the tribes of Germany are free from all taint of intermarriages with foreign nations, and that they appear as a distinct, unmixed race, like none but themselves. Hence, too, the same physical peculiarities throughout so vast a population. All have fierce blue eyes, red hair, huge frames, fit only for a sudden exertion. They are less able to bear laborious work. Heat and thirst they cannot in the least endure; to cold and hunger their climate and their soil inure them."

Tacitus. Roman historian and senator.

You do know that Romans were REALLY small back then yes?
They saw us ( Gauls) as giants back then.

I'm not sure where you're getting your information. Vikings and Anglo-Saxons were taller than native Britons and about the same or slightly taller than Romans, and they did not suffer malnutrition at any greater rate than anywhere else. Norseman had a diet plentiful in fish, milk, grains and some fruit.

Furthermore, Roman and Arab chronicles describe Germanic and Norse peoples as being tall and fair. Some Germanic chronicles mention Norseman as being taller than them. Sometimes this was a way of exaggerating the prowess of your enemy, but archaeology bears out that at least they were no shorter.

Anyway, Nords are Nords and not Vikings.

Nords have always been tall and fair. And it's not like they are vikings, that'd just be ridiculous.

Nords are not related to our real-world.
They live in different world, different time.

Nords are more akin to the Arian race Hitler dreamed of: muscular, tall, and fair.

Also, magic.

What is the point of this?
ifyou want realism you may as well ask why we have 5 foot tall wolves or why all Nords are the same height, why all Argonians are the same height?
You may be right about the average height of people many years ago, that was the same the whole world over-i suggest you check your facts there and by that i dont mean Wiki but not everyone was the same height just like now it would be totally stupid to say all Nordic people are 6 foot tall, of course there are massive variations but seriously how do you think that could be built into the game? you want to play a giant?
I presume you have heard of Henry the 8th? he was 6 foot tall yet by your comments you imply he should not exist as he would not be that tall, well he was!

Yippee... I was waiting for a Hitler comment

Vikings were not much shorter than Scandinavians today. Exhumed bodies prove this as well as numerous written accounts that mention the large size of the Northern Europeans by those who encountered them. An Arab called Ibn Faldan wrote: "I have never seen more perfect specimens, as tall as date palms, blond and ruddy." Sorry, missed that earlier post.

Nords arent Vikings, Skyrim isnt Scandinavia, Tamriel isnt Earth and its not medieval either.

My grandma was big on geneology, and apparently some my ancestors were royal guards or something, who created an intimidating presence in their day. She couldn't trace totally to the Middle Ages or anything, but it was still hundreds of years ago. Before modern diets at least. All of the men in my family to this day are tall. I said earlier I was 6'5", but I'm on the low end actually. My dad is 6'7", others in the family just as big.

Ivan the Terrible had a royal guard of Vikings who were all reputedly close to seven feet in height. This is well documented as they caused quite a spectacle, which was the point.

Because Nords in this game are supposed to be all bulky and strong. I would laugh in the face of a Nord shorter than my Bosmer.