Did Dragons Exist Before Skyrim?

The answer to the question Did dragons exist before Skyrim? is yes, according to the Elder Scrolls lore, dragons have been a part of the Tamriel timeline from the very beginning, with the first dragon myths appearing in the Sumerian legends of the god-mother Tiamat who transforms herself into a legged, horned serpent. The existence of dragons is deeply rooted in the mythologies of the ancient Near East, with stories about storm-gods slaying giant serpents occurring throughout nearly all Near Eastern and Indo-European mythologies.

Introduction to Dragons

Origins and History

The origin of dragons is a mystery to all, but many in Tamriel believe that they are the children of Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, thus, dragons may be as old as time itself, existing long before Nirn came into being.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When were dragons last seen before Skyrim?: The last known sighting of a dragon in Tamriel was in the time of Tiber Septim, who made a pact with the few remaining dragons, swearing to protect them if they would serve him.
2. When did dragons exist?: One of the earliest depictions portray dragons as giant snakes in the mythologies of the ancient Near East, particularly in Mesopotamian art and literature, where dragon-like creatures are described in the Epic of Creation, the Enuma Elish, from the late 2nd millennium BC.
3. Are dragons native to Skyrim?: According to the Elder Scrolls fandom, dragons are “the children of Akatosh” and “were indigenous to the continent of Akavir” but fled to Tamriel after running into trouble with the serpentine race Tsaesci.
4. What is the origin of the dragons in Skyrim?: The origin of the dragons is a mystery to all, however, many in Tamriel believe that they are the children of Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, thus, dragons may be as old as time itself, existing long before Nirn came into being.
5. Who created the dragons in Skyrim?: Dragons don’t particularly have a geographical origin, they simply are, having existed from the Dawn of time, however, their civilization was created by Alduin in Atmora.
6. Who is the first dragon killed in Skyrim?: The very first dragon you will battle is Mirmulnir, this isn’t that bad even for the unprepared since you will have numerous allies fighting alongside you.
7. What race is the Dragonborn canonically?: The last Dragonborn obviously has no set race or gender because it’s up to the player, but there’s still plenty of Dragonborn lore to cover.
8. Who is the dragon god in Skyrim?: Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, is the chief deity of the Nine Divines, the official religion of the varying Cyrodiil empires, such as the Septim Empire, and Reman Dynasty.
9. Who is the strongest dragon in Skyrim?: Like Alduin, Sahrotaar is able to manipulate both Fire and Frost Breath, which – when combined with his 3565 health – makes him far more threatening than any other dragon in Skyrim.
10. Who was the first dragon?: The first dragon myths appear with the Sumerian legends of the god-mother Tiamat who transforms herself into a legged, horned serpent, and of the snake Zu who steals the law tablets.
11. Who had dragons first?: Draconic creatures are first described in the mythologies of the ancient Near East and appear in ancient Mesopotamian art and literature.
12. Did dragons exist before?: Unfortunately, no, we do not have evidence of dragons on this planet, we do have evidence of very cool extinct animals that were kind of similar to dragons, but no fire-breathing six-legged vertebrates.
13. Did dragons only live in Skyrim?: Players can encounter tons of dragons while wandering around Skyrim, however, many might not know there are dragons throughout all of Tamriel.
14. What is the weakest dragon in Skyrim?: Brown Dragon, these dragons are only level 10 and can only use frost or fire breath, making them fairly basic and easy to battle with.
15. Who was the last Dragonborn before Skyrim?: The last known Dragonborn before the events of Skyrim, Martin Septim, like many before him, didn’t display the inherent abilities to use the Thu’um or speak in the dragon’s language.