i'm wondering if the idea for the dwemer animunculi might have come from this. this is a quote from "the unexplained: an illustrated guide to the world's natural and paranormal mysteries"


Homunculi
------------
"Even today, the alchemists of medieval times remain famous for their supposed, though unconfirmed, ability to transmute base metals into gold, using the fabled philosopher's stone. Less well-remembered, yet even more controversial, is their alleged artificial creation of tiny living humanoids, known as homunculi."

according to the myth/legend/etc, apparently the creation of these homunculi was a regular thing for alchemists and there are records detailing the successful creation of these things. one was exhibited at the court of King Louis XIV. these creatures however would only grow to ~30cm.


anyway, as initially stated.... i wonder if these had any influence on the idea of dwemer animunculi.


any thoughts on the matter?

Umm, yes?
I mean, they've got a type of robot in Morrowind, and robots are more or less homonculi. So, yes, Bethsoft's animiculi are very much influenced by them.

well the ones that actually appear ingame as enemies aren't really what i was thinking of. i was thinking more of the concept of the dwemer artificial life forms in general. that would include the animunculi.

for instance, in the 36lessons of vivec, vivec's mother is replaced by a simulacrum; some sort of dwemer 'copy' of her. clearly it doesn't pass for real since the nerevarine's group can tell the difference but it was apparently a similar form.

also lorkhan would technically be a __unculi since he was a manufactured lifeform.

i'm gonna go on the assumption that few people here have heard of these supposedly real life culi.

EDIT: apparently morrowind lore was the wrong place to do this... my apologies