Lore:Glamoril

"Hah! You might as well ask a parent which is his favorite child! So many of my little projects became legend. Eyevea, Labyrinthian, the great Ice Fortress of Winterhold… and Glamoril, of course. But I do go on …" — Arch-Mage Shalidor

Glamoril (also spelled Glamorill, and meaning "secret of life" in Elvish) was a powerful artifact created by Archmagus Shalidor. The great and mysterious treasure was said to have been stolen from Akatosh himself by Archmagus Shalidor. The massive maze Labyrinthian was built in the early First Era around the ancient city of Bromjunaar to guard Glamoril, according to some stories. While stories have persisted since the First Era and none have ever been able to confirm the existence of Glamoril or its purpose or function, Shalidor considered it one of his finest achievements. When he began work on the artifact, he reached a critical juncture where even his knowledge and power failed him, and needing more he turned to Sheogorath.

The College of Winterhold hypothesized that this secret of life he possessed, whatever it was, may have been the catalyst for the practically unbelievable number of writings he produced on a vast array of topics, which demonstrated an understanding of magic that surpassed almost any of either his age or by those as far as the Fourth Era. Other theories by the College include that it perhaps allowed him to live multiple lifetimes in a short span of time, or increased his intelligence and knowledge in ways unfathomable to others. The College was always searching for more of Shalidor's writings in an attempt to understand both their knowledge of the man, and of magic in general. During his time at the College, Urag gro-Shub conducted lectures on the secrets of Glamoril.