Artaeum

Artaeum is a fictional island in the The Elder Scrolls series, best known as the homeland of the Psijic Order, a secretive guild of mages who study time and reality. The island is described as a floating, time-warped landmass that does not maintain a fixed position in the mortal world, and it is said to drift through temporal currents near the Summerset Isles.

Geography and environment: Artaeum presents a serene landscape of pale stone architecture, tranquil courtyards, and cultivated gardens, often shrouded in mist. Its interior is dominated by the Psijic Monastery and a network of time-worn corridors. The island’s defining trait is its ability to shift through different eras, effectively isolating it from surrounding lands at various times.

People and culture: The Psijics are an exceptionally long-lived group devoted to knowledge, balance, and the mastery of time magic. Their culture emphasizes study, restraint, and the preservation of history. Interactions with outsiders are rare and highly controlled, reflecting their secretive nature.

In The Elder Scrolls games and lore: Artaeum is a central element in The Elder Scrolls Online, where the Psijic Order’s activities and the island’s time-based magic are explored through quests and content. The location has also informed broader lore and in-game dungeons such as those themed around the Psijic Order, underscoring the series’ cosmology of hidden realms tied to time.

See also: Psijic Order; The Elder Scrolls Online; Summerset Isles.