Ezellohar
| Ezellohar | |
|---|---|
| Hill | |
 | |
| "The Two Trees" by Peter Xavier Price | |
| General Information | |
| Other names | Corollairë (Q.) Ezellôchâr (V.) |
| Location | Near Valmar at the heart of Valinor |
| Type | Hill |
| Description | Evergreen |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Telperion & Laurelin |
| Events | Darkening of Valinor |
Ezellohar, also called Corollairë, was the green mound upon which the Two Trees of Valinor once grew.
History[edit]
Ezellohar was the name of a small hill that was located just outside the western gates of Valmar, the city of the Valar. After Yavanna hallowed it, she sang a powerful song sitting upon the green grass before the Máhanaxar. Of which, she thought of all the things that could grow from the mound. Afterwards, Nienna pondered in silence and watered Ezellohar with her tears. As the other Valar watched, two slender shoots emerged from the mound when the song of Yavanna was the only sound that could be heard. The saplings quickly grew "fair and tall", eventually becoming the Two Trees of Valinor.[1]
Later, Manwë sat with Yavanna upon Ezellohar beneath the Two Trees, informing her of Eru's judgment concerning Ents and Eagles.[2]
During a high feast, Melkor and Ungoliant came before Ezellohar. The Unlight of Ungoliant devoured the roots, while Melkor came onto the mound, slaying the Two Trees with his black spear. The sap of the Two Trees poured like blood upon Ezellohar where Ungoliant sucked it up, before draining the Wells of Varda and covering the green mound in a black vapour.[3]
When the winds of Manwë had cleared away the black vapours, Yavanna came onto Ezellohar, only to find that it had become bare and black. After Fëanor refused to break the Silmarils to restore the Two Trees, Nienna came up onto Ezellohar, threw back her grey hood, and washed away the Ungoliant's defilements of the green mound, mourning the Marring of Arda with a bitter song.[4]
Etymology[edit]
Ezellohar is a Vanyarin name meaning "Green Mound", which contains the elements ezel, ezella, ezello ("green").[5] Ezellohar was derived from the Valarin name Ezellôchâr.[6]
Corollairë is a Quenya name meaning "Mound of Summer",[7] which appears to be a compressed version of Coron Oiolairë ("Mound Ever-summer"), from coron ("mound") + oiolairë ("ever-summer", also the name of a a species of tree).[8]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit]
The first mention of Ezellohar in the legendarium is found within "The Lay of Leithian Recommenced", where Ulmo called for the people of Thingol to continue on to Aman in order to be near the evergreen Ezellohar of Valinor in Eldamar.[9]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Aulë and Yavanna"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", note 9, pp. 356-7
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'", pp. 399, 401
- ↑ Paul Strack, "Q. Corollairë loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 4 September 2022)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entry coron
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "IV. The Lay of Leithian Recommenced", verse 659
