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Its major city was [[Valimar]], where the [[Vanyar]] and the [[Valar]] reside. Two other cities are [[Alqualondë]] and [[Tirion]], the respective homes of the [[Teleri]] and the [[Noldor]]. It also has an island, [[Tol Eressëa]], just off its east coast. The sea to the west of the island was called [[Ekkaia]], the encircling sea which surrounded both Valinor and [[Middle-earth]].
Its major city was [[Valimar]], where the [[Vanyar]] and the [[Valar]] reside. Two other cities are [[Alqualondë]] and [[Tirion]], the respective homes of the [[Teleri]] and the [[Noldor]]. It also has an island, [[Tol Eressëa]], just off its east coast. The sea to the west of the island was called [[Ekkaia]], the encircling sea which surrounded both Valinor and [[Middle-earth]].


Each of the Valar had their own region of the land where they resided and altered things to their desire. [[Yavanna]], the Vala of nature, growth, and harvest, resided in the [[Pastures of Yavanna]] in the south of the island. [[Oromë]], the Vala of the hunt, lived in the Woods of Oromë to the north-east of the pastures. The forest was home to many creatures which Oromë could track and hunt. [[Nienna]], the lonely Vala of sorrow and endurance, lived cut off in the far west of the island in the Halls of Nienna where she spent her days crying, looking out to sea. Just south of the Halls of Nienna and to the north of the pastures there were the [[Halls of Mandos]]. [[Mandos]], the brother of Nienna, was the Vala of the afterlife. All inhabitants of Middle-earth went to the Halls of Mandos should they happen to die, mortals and immortals alike (Tolkien's immortals could be killed although they did not die of old age) although it was said that in death as in life, they were separated. Also living in the Halls of Mandos was his spouse [[Vaire]] the weaver, who wove the threads of time.  
Each of the Valar had their own region of the land where they resided and altered things to their desire.  
*[[Yavanna]], the Vala of nature, growth, and harvest, resided in the [[Pastures of Yavanna]] in the south of the island.  
*[[Oromë]], the Vala of the hunt, lived in the [[Woods of Oromë]] to the north-east of the pastures. The forest was home to many creatures which Oromë could track and hunt.  
*[[Nienna]], the lonely Vala of sorrow and endurance, lived cut off in the far west of the island in the [[Halls of Nienna]] where she spent her days crying, looking out to sea. Just south of the Halls of Nienna and to the north of the pastures there were the [[Halls of Mandos]].  
*[[Mandos]], the brother of Nienna, was the Vala of the afterlife. All inhabitants of [[Arda]] went to the Halls of Mandos should they happen to die, mortals and immortals alike although it was said that in death as in life, they were separated. Also living in the Halls of Mandos was his spouse [[Vaire]] the weaver, who wove the threads of time.  


To the east of the Halls of Mandos was the Isle of [[Estë]], which was situated in the middle of the lake of [[Lórellin]] which in turn was situated to the north of the Gardens of [[Lórien]] (not to be confused with Lothlórien in Middle-earth which was created by the same Valar, Lórien also known as [[Irmo]], the Vala of dreams). Estë and Lórien being husband and wife lived close together. To the north of this were the Mansions of [[Aulë]] the smith Vala who was spouse to Yavanna. In the north-east lay the Mansions of [[Manwë]] and [[Varda]], the two most powerful Valar, also married. To the west of them stood the [[Two Trees of Valinor]], [[Telperion]] and [[Laurelin]]. The entire great continent of Aman was surrounded on three sides (excluding the north which was instead protected by ices flows) by a huge mountain range called the [[Pelóri]] mountains. In the extreme north-east, past the mountain range was the pass of [[Helcaraxë]], a vast ice sheet which in the beginning, before Valinor was risen after the fall of [[Númenor]] in to the sky to prevent people from travelling there, joined the two continents of Valinor and [[Middle-earth]]. In the beginning, some [[Elves]], tricked by the evil god [[Melkor]] passed along this pass to go back to Middle-Earth, among those was [[Galadriel]] who featured in the [[War of the Ring]]. Those who took this pass were not allowed back to Valinor for many years, but in the end pity was taken on them when Middle-earth began to fade and pass into the age of men and they were allowed to pass back to the [[Undying Lands]] of their own accord when they felt ready to do so.
*To the east of the Halls of Mandos was the Isle of [[Estë]], which was situated in the middle of the lake of [[Lórellin]]
*To the south were situated the [[Gardens of Lórien]] also known as [[Irmo]], the Vala of dreams. Estë and Lórien being husband and wife lived close together.  
*To the north of this were the Mansions of [[Aulë]] the smith Vala who was spouse to Yavanna.  
*In the north-east lay the Mansions of [[Manwë]] and [[Varda]], the two most powerful Valar, also married.  
 
To the west of them stood the [[Two Trees of Valinor]], [[Telperion]] and [[Laurelin]].  


After the destruction of [[Númenor]], the [[Undying Lands]] were removed from [[Arda]] so that [[Men]] could not reach them and only the Elves could go there by the [[Straight Road]] and in ships capable of passing out of the Spheres of the earth. By special permission of the Valar, the [[Hobbits]] [[Frodo Baggins]], [[Bilbo Baggins]], and [[Samwise Gamgee]] were also permitted to go to Valinor, as well as [[Gimli]] the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]].
After the destruction of [[Númenor]], the [[Undying Lands]] were removed from [[Arda]] so that [[Men]] could not reach them and only the Elves could go there by the [[Straight Road]] and in ships capable of passing out of the Spheres of the earth. By special permission of the Valar, the [[Hobbits]] [[Frodo Baggins]], [[Bilbo Baggins]], and [[Samwise Gamgee]] were also permitted to go to Valinor, as well as [[Gimli]] the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]].

Revision as of 22:35, 16 January 2009

Valinor
Ted Nasmith - The Shores of Valinor.jpg
General information
LocationWest of the Pelóri
CapitalValimar
People
LanguageValarin, Quenya
GalleryImages of Valinor

Valinor is the realm of the Valar in central Aman; although Valinor refers to the whole continent, it properly refers to the inhabited lands by Valar and the Elves.

Valinor is the place to which the Valar moved after being driven from Almaren by Morgoth.

Description

Valinor is encircled by the Pelóri mountains raised by the Valar to defend from Melkor.

Its major city was Valimar, where the Vanyar and the Valar reside. Two other cities are Alqualondë and Tirion, the respective homes of the Teleri and the Noldor. It also has an island, Tol Eressëa, just off its east coast. The sea to the west of the island was called Ekkaia, the encircling sea which surrounded both Valinor and Middle-earth.

Each of the Valar had their own region of the land where they resided and altered things to their desire.

  • Yavanna, the Vala of nature, growth, and harvest, resided in the Pastures of Yavanna in the south of the island.
  • Oromë, the Vala of the hunt, lived in the Woods of Oromë to the north-east of the pastures. The forest was home to many creatures which Oromë could track and hunt.
  • Nienna, the lonely Vala of sorrow and endurance, lived cut off in the far west of the island in the Halls of Nienna where she spent her days crying, looking out to sea. Just south of the Halls of Nienna and to the north of the pastures there were the Halls of Mandos.
  • Mandos, the brother of Nienna, was the Vala of the afterlife. All inhabitants of Arda went to the Halls of Mandos should they happen to die, mortals and immortals alike although it was said that in death as in life, they were separated. Also living in the Halls of Mandos was his spouse Vaire the weaver, who wove the threads of time.
  • To the east of the Halls of Mandos was the Isle of Estë, which was situated in the middle of the lake of Lórellin
  • To the south were situated the Gardens of Lórien also known as Irmo, the Vala of dreams. Estë and Lórien being husband and wife lived close together.
  • To the north of this were the Mansions of Aulë the smith Vala who was spouse to Yavanna.
  • In the north-east lay the Mansions of Manwë and Varda, the two most powerful Valar, also married.

To the west of them stood the Two Trees of Valinor, Telperion and Laurelin.

After the destruction of Númenor, the Undying Lands were removed from Arda so that Men could not reach them and only the Elves could go there by the Straight Road and in ships capable of passing out of the Spheres of the earth. By special permission of the Valar, the Hobbits Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee were also permitted to go to Valinor, as well as Gimli the Dwarf.

Inspiration

It has been suggested that the concept was based off ghost islands of various western mythologies and legends: Avalon, Hy Brasil, the Blessed Isles, the Elysian Fields, were mythical lands envisioned by the ancient peoples to be far into the western ocean.

The legend somehow survived the Middle-Ages with Saint Brendan's Island