Aldmer

Aldmer refers to the ancestral elven race in Tamrielic lore, the progenitors of the Mer who would later diversify into the various elven peoples of The Elder Scrolls series. They are described as the original elven inhabitants of the world, whose existence predates many later civilizations and who left a lasting cultural and linguistic legacy.

Origins and homeland: The Aldmer are said to have originated in the mythical homeland of Aldmeris, from which they migrated into Tamriel during the Merethic Era. Their arrival and widespread settlement produced the distinct elven cultures that would emerge in different regions of Tamriel.

Descendants and subgroups: From the Aldmer lineage sprang several well-known elven peoples, including the Altmer (High Elves) of the Summerset Isles, the Bosmer (Wood Elves) of Valenwood, the Dunmer (Dark Elves) of Morrowind, and the Ayleids (Heartland High Elves) of central Tamriel. The Snow Elves, or Falmer, are also linked to Aldmer stock, though they underwent a drastic transformation before their near extinction. In scholarly usage, Aldmer is a way to refer to the common ancestral stock rather than any single living polity.

Language and culture: The Aldmer spoke Aldmeris, their ancestral language, from which the later elven languages evolved. Their religious and cosmological beliefs intertwined with the Ehlnofey mythos and the veneration of a-prior Aedra, shaping the early religious practices of their successor cultures. Their culture emphasized magic, artistry, and a reverence for ancestry and myth.

Legacy: By the later eras, the Aldmer had fractured into multiple cultures across Tamriel. In contemporary scholarship and fiction, Aldmer is used as a historical label for the ancient elven stock, while the modern elves are identified by their more recent cultural identities. Aldmeris remains a symbol of their first homeland and linguistic heritage.