Palisor

From Tolkien Gateway

Palisor was a name used by J.R.R. Tolkien in his early legendarium for the mid-most region of the Great Lands. In Palisor lay the Waters of Awakening, where the Elves awoke.[1]

The Dark Elves stayed back in Palisor, and in the unfinished Gilfanon's Tale we learn that the Hisildi were ruled by the fay Tu, whose dwelling was in the caves below the Waters of Awakening. East of Palisor was the Murmenalda where the Men awoke.

In the outlines of that story, Palisor was the site of the Battle of Palisor, where Elves and Men fought against Fankil's Dwarves and/or goblins.[2]

Conceptual confusion[edit | edit source]

In The History of Middle-earth Index, Palisor is correctly described as the region where "the Elves awoke", in the index for The Book of Lost Tales Part One and The Book of Lost Tales Part Two. However, in the index for The Shaping of Middle-earth and The Lost Road and Other Writings, Palisor is described to be the region where "the first Men awoke". A misconception is likely to have entered the index, as none of the page references point to any other usage of the name Palisor than the birth-place of the Elves.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

According to Christopher Tolkien's reading of the Qenya Lexicon, 'Palisor' is derived from the root PALA, "whose derivatives have a common general sense of 'flatness', among them palis 'sward, lawn', whence no doubt Palisor."[3]

References