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'''Illuin''' (Sky-blue) and '''Ormal''' (high gold) were great lamps which once stood respectively at the northern and southern ends of [[Arda]].
{{object infobox
| name=Two Lamps
| image=[[File:Ted Nasmith - Illuin, Lamp of the Valar.jpg|275px]]
| caption="Illuin, Lamp of the Valar" by [[Ted Nasmith]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Lamps of the Valar
| location=In the far north and south of [[Arda]]
| owner=
| type=Source of light
| appearance=Two titanic columns with vessels of shining light at their tops
| creator=[[Aulë]], [[Manwë]], and [[Varda]]
| created={{VY|1900}}
| createdlocation=[[Middle-earth]]
| destroyer=[[Morgoth|Melkor]]
| destroyed={{VY|3450}}
| destroyedlocation=Middle-earth
| notablefor=Illuminating the [[Spring of Arda]]
| gallery=the Two Lamps
}}
The '''Two Lamps''' of the [[Valar]] were '''[[Illuin]]''' and '''[[Ormal]]''', they stood upon pillars in the far north and south of [[Arda|the world]] during the [[Spring of Arda]].


After the [[Valar]] entered the world, there was a misty light veiling the barren ground. The Valar took this light and concentrated it into two large lamps, Iluin and Ormal.  
==History==
The Two Lamps were wrought by [[Aulë]] at the request of [[Yavanna]] for she had planted many seeds that needed light for growth. The lamps were filled with light by [[Varda]], hallowed by [[Manwë]] and set on great pillars, taller than any mountains of the later days.


[[Aulë]] forged great towers, one in the furthest north, [[Helcar]], and another in the deepest south, [[Ringil]]. In the middle of Arda, where the light of the lamps mingled, laid the Great Lake with the island [[Almaren]], where the Valar dwelt.
* Illuin was set in the north of Middle-earth, placed upon the tower [[Helcar]]<ref name=LT1>{{LT1|III}}</ref> and shone with a blue light.
* Ormal was set in the far south, placed upon the tower [[Ringil (tower)|Ringil]]<ref name=LT1/> and shone with a golden light.


The lamps were destroyed by an assault by [[Melkor]], and the Valar fled Middle-earth for [[Valinor]]. At the site where Illuin fell, the inland [[Sea of Helcar]] was formed, of which [[Cuiviénen]] was a bay. According to the earlier writings of Tolkien, there was also the [[Sea of Ringil]] to the south, perhaps associated with the roots of Ormal.
In the centre of [[Middle-earth]], where the light of the Two Lamps mingled and the vegetation of [[Yavanna]] was richer, was the [[Great Lake]] and the island [[Almaren]], where the Valar first dwelt. The light of the Lamps of the Valar flowed out over the Earth, so that all was lit as it were in a changeless day. <ref name=Days>{{S|Days}}</ref>


-----
However Melkor was aware of all that was done for he had spies among the Maiar. Whilst the Valar feasted and [[Tulkas]] slept Melkor came forth suddenly to war and striking the first blow against the lights of Illuin and Ormal, cast down the mighty pillars and broke the Two Lamps.


According to older writings not used in the published [[The Silmarillion]], the Valar wanted peace with Melkor, and decided to ask his assistance: they wished to fix the lamps upon Arda's ground. Melkor, black with hate and envy of the rest of the Valar, agreed to help. He gave Aulë a substance which was both sturdy and strong: ice. Melkor bided his time and allowed the Valar to do as they wished until the fateful day when the Lamps' light and heat melted the ice and crashed upon Arda, flooding it with water and darkness.
It was due to the destruction of the pillars that the lands were broken and new seas arose; the shape of Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands were marred so that the first designs of the Valar were never after restored.<ref name=Days/> The great northern inland sea of [[Sea of Helcar|Helcar]] was formed as a result of the destruction of Illuin and it is believed that the [[Sea of Ringil]] to the south was formed from the fall of Ormal.
 
With the Two Lamps gone and their dwellings on Almaren destroyed the Valar retreated to [[Aman]] and founded [[Valinor]]. There they would go on to create the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]], which were a pair of gold and silver light, similar to the Two Lamps before them.
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
[[Christopher Tolkien]] noted that the story of the Lamps in its early stage was very different from the published ''[[Silmarillion]]''. 
According to older writings not used in the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', the Valar wanted peace with Melkor, and decided to ask his assistance: they wished to fix the lamps upon Arda's ground. Melkor, black with hate and envy of the rest of the Valar, agreed to help. He gave Aulë a substance which was both sturdy and strong: ice, which was unknown to the Valar. Melkor bided his time and allowed the Valar to do as they wished until the fateful day when the Lamps' light and heat melted the ice and crashed upon Arda, flooding it with water and darkness.
 
The one remaining influence from the older version of the story was that the fall of the towers created inland seas, a vestige of the notion that the towers had been made of ice that melted.<ref>{{LT1|IIIn}}, p. 87</ref>
In Tolkien's latest writings where Arda was a [[Round World version of the Silmarillion|round world]] from its beginning, the Two Lamps never truly existed and were instead a subject of Númenórean mythology.<ref>{{MR|Myths}}</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of the Two Lamps|Images of the Two Lamps]]
 
{{references}}
{{cosmology}}
 
[[fr:/encyclo/artefacts/lampes/lampes_des_valar]]
[[fi:Valarin Lamput]]
[[Category:Creations of the Valar]]

Latest revision as of 19:49, 15 September 2023

Two Lamps
Source of light
Ted Nasmith - Illuin, Lamp of the Valar.jpg
"Illuin, Lamp of the Valar" by Ted Nasmith
Other namesLamps of the Valar
LocationIn the far north and south of Arda
AppearanceTwo titanic columns with vessels of shining light at their tops
CreatorAulë, Manwë, and Varda
Middle-earth, V.Y. 1900
DestroyerMelkor
Middle-earth, V.Y. 3450
Notable forIlluminating the Spring of Arda
GalleryImages of the Two Lamps

The Two Lamps of the Valar were Illuin and Ormal, they stood upon pillars in the far north and south of the world during the Spring of Arda.

History[edit | edit source]

The Two Lamps were wrought by Aulë at the request of Yavanna for she had planted many seeds that needed light for growth. The lamps were filled with light by Varda, hallowed by Manwë and set on great pillars, taller than any mountains of the later days.

  • Illuin was set in the north of Middle-earth, placed upon the tower Helcar[1] and shone with a blue light.
  • Ormal was set in the far south, placed upon the tower Ringil[1] and shone with a golden light.

In the centre of Middle-earth, where the light of the Two Lamps mingled and the vegetation of Yavanna was richer, was the Great Lake and the island Almaren, where the Valar first dwelt. The light of the Lamps of the Valar flowed out over the Earth, so that all was lit as it were in a changeless day. [2]

However Melkor was aware of all that was done for he had spies among the Maiar. Whilst the Valar feasted and Tulkas slept Melkor came forth suddenly to war and striking the first blow against the lights of Illuin and Ormal, cast down the mighty pillars and broke the Two Lamps.

It was due to the destruction of the pillars that the lands were broken and new seas arose; the shape of Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands were marred so that the first designs of the Valar were never after restored.[2] The great northern inland sea of Helcar was formed as a result of the destruction of Illuin and it is believed that the Sea of Ringil to the south was formed from the fall of Ormal.

With the Two Lamps gone and their dwellings on Almaren destroyed the Valar retreated to Aman and founded Valinor. There they would go on to create the Two Trees, which were a pair of gold and silver light, similar to the Two Lamps before them.

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Christopher Tolkien noted that the story of the Lamps in its early stage was very different from the published Silmarillion. According to older writings not used in the published The Silmarillion, the Valar wanted peace with Melkor, and decided to ask his assistance: they wished to fix the lamps upon Arda's ground. Melkor, black with hate and envy of the rest of the Valar, agreed to help. He gave Aulë a substance which was both sturdy and strong: ice, which was unknown to the Valar. Melkor bided his time and allowed the Valar to do as they wished until the fateful day when the Lamps' light and heat melted the ice and crashed upon Arda, flooding it with water and darkness.

The one remaining influence from the older version of the story was that the fall of the towers created inland seas, a vestige of the notion that the towers had been made of ice that melted.[3] In Tolkien's latest writings where Arda was a round world from its beginning, the Two Lamps never truly existed and were instead a subject of Númenórean mythology.[4]

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor": "Notes and Commentary", p. 87
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed"
Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
Stars  Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til 
The Airs  Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista
Narsilion  Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion
See also  Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · Eä · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void
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