| History of Arda | ||
|---|---|---|
| Music of the Ainur | ||
| Timeline of Arda | ||
| Days before days | ||
| Years of the Trees | ||
| Years of the Sun | ||
| Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar | ||
| First Age (Y.T. 1050 - Y.S. 590) | ||
| Second Age (S.A. 1 - 3441) | ||
| Third Age (T.A. 1 - 3021) | ||
| Fourth Age (Fo.A. 1 - ?) | ||
| Later Ages (up to present day) | ||
| Dagor Dagorath | ||
| Second Music of the Ainur | ||
| See also: Round World version of the legendarium | ||
The Days before days were three thousand and five hundred Valian Years that passed ere the measurement of time first known to the Eldar began with the flowering of the Two Trees of Valinor.[1]
History
The Days before days began shortly after the Music of the Ainur, when the Valar descended into Arda after labouring in the vast halls of Eä for ages uncounted and forgotten.[2] When they entered the world destined to be the habitation for the Children of Ilúvatar, it was still lifeless and had no distinct geographical features. However, Melkor claimed Arda for himself alone, and there were the First War that ravaged until the coming of Tulkas whose prowess urged Melkor to retreat.
When the Valar finally repaired damage made by Melkor, they chose the initial shape of Arda; it was of a symmetrical continent lit by the Two Lamps: one in the continent's north, and one in the south, made out of the misty light that veiled the barren ground. The Valar concentrated this light into two colossal vessels, Illuin and Ormal. Then Aulë the Smith forged great towers, one in the north, Helcar, and another in the south, Ringil. In the middle, where the light of the Lamps mingled, the Valar dwelt at the island of Almaren, their first kingdom. Thus the Spring of Arda flourished upon the Earth.
The Two Lamps shone until they were destroyed by an assault of Melkor. Arda was again darkened, and the Lamps' fall spoiled the perfect symmetry of Arda's surface, and thus the Spring came to an end. Separate continents appeared: Aman in the far West, Middle-earth, or Endor, in the centre from the north to south, and the Land of the Sun in the far East. At the site of the northern Lamp the inland Sea of Helcar later formed, of which Cuiviénen was a bay. After that the reckoning of the Years of the Trees started, when Yavanna grew the Two Trees in Valinor. However, Middle-earth was still covered in darkness and Melkor dominated it residing in his dreadful stronghold Utumno.[3]
Other versions of the legendarium
In J.R.R. Tolkien's latest writings in which Arda was a round world from its beginning, the Sun and Moon (and the Two Trees for a time) had always given light to Arda, and the Two Lamps never existed.[4]
Portrayal in adaptations
In David Day's books the period was fanonically misnamed "Ages/Years of the Lamps".[5] However, J.R.R. Tolkien himself never used these terms.
See also
Timeline of the Days before days
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: First section of the Annals of Aman", p. 51
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", p. 375 - 385
- ↑ David Day, Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, section "History", pp. 14-15