Alftand: Why Does a so-called Dwemer ruin have a Catherdral? : V - Skyrim

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:51 am

Cathedral = a place where a cathedra (ancient greek and latin) would be. Nowadays, it refers only to Christian churches, usually where the bishop has his seat. In ancient times, said churches would be called ecclesia cathedralis, that means "The church of the throne"

"Cathedral" (adjective) could be any place with a throne or a seat reserved for someone in charge.

A similar term (obsolete but still used sometimes as a honorific title) is Cathedratic, usually said of a senior professor who has a permanent "seat" at a school or university.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:29 pm

Falmers did build the giant statue of the falmer in one of the ruins, so it's entirely possible that some structures were built by or were built for the falmers.

Fantastic point and why I ask this.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:35 am

But I believe that Alftand is explored by humans.

Of course. There are 2 humans fighting outside the elevator the first time you find it.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:47 am

Skyforge, and the statue in Irkthand (sp?) are the most likely candidates for Falmer relics in the game, from the time before the Dwemer changed the race. I do not think the Falmer in thier current state are capable of creating anything beyond Megaliths, they are unfortunately the Skyrim version of Goblins. :confused:

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:24 am

Skyforge, and the statue in Irkthand (sp?) are the most likely candidates for Falmer relics in the game, from the time before the Dwemer changed the race. I do not think the Falmer in thier current state are capable of creating anything beyond Megaliths, they are unfortunately the Skyrim version of Goblins. :confused:

Now that's great suggestion about Skyforge, never even considered it, but it does fit!

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:09 am

Does the Cathedral have a spot in it where it links to the vault in the Vatican?

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:23 pm

Does the Cathedral have a spot in it where it links to the vault in the Vatican?

Yes, but it was blocked by a collapse - it's true.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:16 am

My theory on this is it's actually was a city built by both Dwemer and Snow Elves. Firstly it has no Falmer in it, secondly the entrance to Blackreach is in the Cathedral.

You have to ask if Dwemer are not known for being religious then why have something generally considered religious, which is why my theory here seems most sound, and probably why Falmer stay out, out of respect of their past.

There were falmer in my alftand and the falmer were once snow elves so maybe it was built to pacify them and make them better workers when they were snow elves.
I'm no lore historian but it makes sense to me by what i've seen and read in game books

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:25 am

My theory: Plot Hole

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:06 am

Cathedral = a place where a cathedra (ancient greek and latin) would be. Nowadays, it refers only to Christian churches, usually where the bishop has his seat. In ancient times, said churches would be called ecclesia cathedralis, that means "The church of the throne"

"Cathedral" (adjective) could be any place with a throne or a seat reserved for someone in charge.

A similar term (obsolete but still used sometimes as a honorific title) is Cathedratic, usually said of a senior professor who has a permanent "seat" at a school or university.

Also remember than religious language is sometimes adopted by (or stems from) other sources e.g. Alchemy is not simply chemistry but a spiritual practice for the transformation of the soul. Hence "cathedral" could mean any of the above. It might also be a Dwemer sneer at religious devotion, naming a place of debate after a "'throne' of religious faith".

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:54 am

Also remember than religious language is sometimes adopted by (or stems from) other sources e.g. Alchemy is not simply chemistry but a spiritual practice for the transformation of the soul. Hence "cathedral" could mean any of the above. It might also be a Dwemer sneer at religious devotion, naming a place of debate after a "'throne' of religious faith".

Good thought.... after all, the dwemer preferred their "gods of Reason and Logic" to the daedra....

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:57 am

Maybe they built it in honor of themselves.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:28 am

Maybe Cathedral means something else to the Dwemer.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:15 am

*shrug* Truthfully? I think the dev in charge of Alftand simply couldn't think of a better word to label it. As far as the Falmer go, the sooner they're exterminated the better IMO. Creepy little gits....

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:01 pm

Because the Dwemer are religious. Next?

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:33 am

That seems rather flimsy reasoning, since most places keep their original names.

The Dwemer names are generally unknown, as has been noted in some of the researcher's journals you find. It could be a union hall. Or, if you insist on calling it a cathedral, maybe they worshiped http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:11 am

Because the Dwemer are religious. Next?

Have you even read the lore on the Dwemer, at all?

Smart ass answers, only work if they're actually smart.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:30 am

French, Greek and Latin describe Cathedral as Chair, Bench or Seat. Caves/Caverns have been called 'Natural Cathedrals" based on their arched shaped ceilings, for their sheer size or particular acoustic qualities. I don't think it was named Cathedral for any reasons related to worship or religious practices.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:23 pm

The funny thing is, I ran my current toon into Alftand today, on the quest (without being in the MQ, just picking it up from Septimus). When I got to the cathedral, I was interested to really LOOK at it this time, due to this thread.

It's really not much like a cathedral. It's not even as vast as the huge open area of the animonculory. So what I think is what I said earlier - the dev in charge couldn't come up with another term that made more sense....

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:34 pm

The Dwemer didn't worship gods, but they weren't secular. There's no such thing as a Tamriellic athiest.

They became extinct for spiritual reasons.

» Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:26 am

Considering that Christianity doesn't exist in the Elder Scrolls universe, why would there be a cathedral ANYWHERE, let alone in a Dwemer ruin? I'm thinking someone at Bethesda named it that because that's what it reminded them of.