Years of the Trees: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{History of Arda}}
{{History of Arda}}
The '''Years of the Trees''', also called the '''Days of Bliss (of Valinor)''' or the '''Noontide of Valinor'''<ref>{{S|6}}</ref>, were the long years that lay between the founding of [[Valinor]] and its [[Darkening of Valinor|Darkening]]. This period began at the [[Opening Hour]], in the [[First Day]], when [[Telperion]] first started to bloom. It was also the beginning of the [[Count of Time]].<ref>{{S|1}}</ref> During this time, Valinor was lit by the light of the [[Two Trees]], but [[Middle-earth]] lay in darkness.
The '''Years of the Trees''', also called the '''Days of Bliss (of Valinor)''' or the '''Noontide of Valinor'''<ref>{{S|6}}</ref>, were the long years that lay between the founding of [[Valinor]] and its [[Darkening of Valinor|Darkening]]. During this time, Valinor was lit by the light of the [[Two Trees]], but [[Middle-earth]] lay in darkness.
 
The Years of the Trees preceded the [[Years of the Sun]], and perhaps belonged, or at least overlapped with, the [[First Age]].<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', entry "First Age"</ref>
==History==
==History==
Long before the [[Elves]] awoke, Yavanna created the Two Trees of Valinor to give light to realm of the [[Valar]]. So began a reign of peace in Valinor, but Middle-earth was lit by starlight alone, and [[Morgoth|Melkor]] worked in the depths of [[Utumno]] in the north of the World. We are not told how long this time lasted, just that 'the ages drew on'; this period would have lasted roughly 10,500 years. It was during this period that [[Aulë]] made the [[Dwarves]], and at [[Ilúvatar|Eru]]'s direction, set them to sleep until the coming of the Elves.
Long before the [[Elves]] awoke, Yavanna created the Two Trees of Valinor to give light to realm of the [[Valar]]. This period began at the [[Opening Hour]], in the [[First Day]], when [[Telperion]] first started to bloom. It was also the beginning of the [[Count of Time]].<ref>{{S|1}}</ref>


So began a reign of peace in Valinor, but Middle-earth was lit by starlight alone, and [[Morgoth|Melkor]] worked in the depths of [[Utumno]] in the north of the World. We are not told how long this time lasted, just that 'the ages drew on'; this period would have lasted roughly 10,500 years. It was during this period that [[Aulë]] made the [[Dwarves]], and at [[Ilúvatar|Eru]]'s direction, set them to sleep until the coming of the Elves.
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Oromë espies the first Elves.jpg|thumb|Orome discovers the [[Quendi]].]]
When [[Oromë]] discovered that the Elves had awoken at [[Cuiviénen]], great changes came about. The Valar made war on [[Morgoth|Melkor]] to protect the [[Elves|Elder Children of Ilúvatar]]; Utumno was destroyed and Melkor brought in chains to Valinor. The Valar also summoned the Elves to dwell in their land, and many answered this summons.
When [[Oromë]] discovered that the Elves had awoken at [[Cuiviénen]], great changes came about. The Valar made war on [[Morgoth|Melkor]] to protect the [[Elves|Elder Children of Ilúvatar]]; Utumno was destroyed and Melkor brought in chains to Valinor. The Valar also summoned the Elves to dwell in their land, and many answered this summons.


Line 10: Line 14:
These Years came to an end when [[Manwë]] released Melkor from his imprisonment. For a time, the [[Dark Lord]] pretended friendship with the Eldar, but he turned back to the darkness. With [[Ungoliant]], he destroyed the Trees, stole the [[Silmarils]] and fled back to the north of Middle-earth. Seeking revenge, [[Fëanor]] led a great part of the [[Noldor]] out of Valinor and back to Beleriand.
These Years came to an end when [[Manwë]] released Melkor from his imprisonment. For a time, the [[Dark Lord]] pretended friendship with the Eldar, but he turned back to the darkness. With [[Ungoliant]], he destroyed the Trees, stole the [[Silmarils]] and fled back to the north of Middle-earth. Seeking revenge, [[Fëanor]] led a great part of the [[Noldor]] out of Valinor and back to Beleriand.


So the Years of the Trees came to an end. At this time, the Valar made the Sun and Moon to give light to the World, and the Years of the [[Sun]] began, and with them the [[First Age]].
So the Years of the Trees came to an end. At this time, the Valar made the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]] to give light to the World, and the [[Years of the Sun]] began.
==Reckoning==
==Reckoning==
<poem>
<poem>

Revision as of 14:20, 8 April 2013

History of Arda
Before the Creation
Before the Ages
Days before days
Years of the Trees (up to Y.T. 1050)
Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar
First Age (begins in Y.T. 1050
and overlaps with the Years of the Trees
up to Y.T. 1500
)
- Years of the Sun begin in F.A. 1
Second Age
- Arda made round in S.A. 3319
Third Age
Fourth Age
Later Ages (up to present day)
End of Arda
Timeline of Arda
(See: Round World version of the Silmarillion
for a later conception of Tolkien's cosmology)

The Years of the Trees, also called the Days of Bliss (of Valinor) or the Noontide of Valinor[1], were the long years that lay between the founding of Valinor and its Darkening. During this time, Valinor was lit by the light of the Two Trees, but Middle-earth lay in darkness.

The Years of the Trees preceded the Years of the Sun, and perhaps belonged, or at least overlapped with, the First Age.[2]

History

Long before the Elves awoke, Yavanna created the Two Trees of Valinor to give light to realm of the Valar. This period began at the Opening Hour, in the First Day, when Telperion first started to bloom. It was also the beginning of the Count of Time.[3]

So began a reign of peace in Valinor, but Middle-earth was lit by starlight alone, and Melkor worked in the depths of Utumno in the north of the World. We are not told how long this time lasted, just that 'the ages drew on'; this period would have lasted roughly 10,500 years. It was during this period that Aulë made the Dwarves, and at Eru's direction, set them to sleep until the coming of the Elves.

Orome discovers the Quendi.

When Oromë discovered that the Elves had awoken at Cuiviénen, great changes came about. The Valar made war on Melkor to protect the Elder Children of Ilúvatar; Utumno was destroyed and Melkor brought in chains to Valinor. The Valar also summoned the Elves to dwell in their land, and many answered this summons.

A period of three ages (about 2,900 years) followed. Melkor was imprisoned in the Halls of Mandos, and the Valar and Eldar dwelt together in the light of the Trees. In the darkness of Middle-earth, the Dark Elves who had not journeyed to Valinor still dwelt, and the Fathers of the Dwarves stirred. Men would not appear until some time after the end of the Years of the Trees.

These Years came to an end when Manwë released Melkor from his imprisonment. For a time, the Dark Lord pretended friendship with the Eldar, but he turned back to the darkness. With Ungoliant, he destroyed the Trees, stole the Silmarils and fled back to the north of Middle-earth. Seeking revenge, Fëanor led a great part of the Noldor out of Valinor and back to Beleriand.

So the Years of the Trees came to an end. At this time, the Valar made the Sun and Moon to give light to the World, and the Years of the Sun began.

Reckoning

(i) According to the reckoning by the Trees
12 hours (a full flowering of both Trees) = 1 day
1000 days (12,000 hours) = 1 year
100 years = 1 age of the Valar

(ii) Relation of the reckoning by the Trees to the reckoning by the Sun
1 hour of the Trees = 7 hours of our time
1 day of the Trees = (7 x 12) 84 hours of our time
1 year of the Trees = (7 x 12,000) 84,000 hours of our time
There are (365.25 x 24) 8766 hours in a Sun Year, and thus:
1 year of the Trees = (84,000 / 8766) 9 years, 212 days, 18 hours of the Sun

(iii) Original intention of the Valar for the new reckoning by the Sun and Moon
12 hours of moonlight + 12 hours of sunlight = 24 hours = 1 full day
700 times of sunlight and moonlight = 350 full days = 1 Sun Year
1 hour = 1/7 of 1 hour of the Trees
Therefore:
1 Sun Year would have (24 x 350) 8400 hours = (8400 / 7) 1200 hours of the Trees = 1/10 of a Valian Year (see (i) above); thus 1 Valian Year would = 10 Sun Years
The matter can be expressed more concisely thus:
1 year of the Trees = (7 x 12,000) 84,000 hours of our time
84,000 / (350 x 24) 8400 = 10
but
84,000 / (365.25 x 24) 8766 = 9.582

(iv) The dates of the first flowering of the Trees and the first rising of the Moon
The Trees first flowered after 3500 Valian Years had passed, or 33,530 Sun Years. The Moon first rose after 5000 Valian Years had passed, or 47,901 Sun Years. The Trees shone for 1495 Valian Years, or 14,322 Sun Years.

-- The Annals of Aman, Notes

References