The Encyclopedia of Arda - Aman (original) (raw)

ALPHABETICAL RACES PLACES MISCELLANEOUS REFERENCE INTERACTIVE SHARE User guide Latest entries FAQ and e-mail Disclaimer and bibliography Awards Old and rare words Lexicon of names Excyclopedia of Arda Movie-goer's Guides: • The Fellowship of the Ring • The Two Towers • The Return of the King The Hobbit Viewer's Companions: • An Unexpected Journey • The Desolation of Smaug • The Battle of the Five Armies Tolkien links Book news Latest Chronicle Calendar Old and rare words Lexicon of names Links Random
Location A continent originally lying in the far West of Arda, now removed from the world Origins Settled by the Valar after the destruction of their former home on Almaren in Middle-earth Races At first the home of the Ainur in Arda, but later many Elves also settled here Settlements Numerous halls, mansions and fortresses; the city of the Valar was Valimar, and the Elves' most important cities were Tirion and Alqualondë Important peaks Taniquetil in the Pelóri Passes The Calacirya Meaning 'Blessed Realm' Pronunciation a'man Other names The Ancient West, The Blessed Realm, The Deathless Lands, The Far West, Otherworld, The Twilight, The Undying Lands, The Undying Realm, The Uttermost West, The West, West over Sea, West of the World, West-that-was Indexes: Alphabetical: A Lands, Realms and Regions About this entry: Updated 24 May 2008 This entry is complete The Undying Lands The land of AmanSomewhat conjectural1 The land of AmanSomewhat conjectural1 The land that lay on the extreme western edge of the world, beyond the Great Sea. In the most ancient times, when the world was lit by the Lamps of the Valar, the land that would become Aman was an empty and nameless region. In those distant days, the Valar dwelt across the Sea in Middle-earth, and the lands in the West were apparently uninhabited.2 The History of Aman 0 With their former home of Almaren destroyed by Melkor, the Valar settle in a new land, Valinor in the West, and the Two Trees are made to bring Light to Aman. 10,396 Oromë discovers the Elves in Middle-earth. He remains with them for roughly a decade, and then brings report back to the other Valar in Aman. 10,444 Fearing for the safety of the Elves, the Valar assault Melkor in Utumno. The resulting Battle of the Powers rages for nearly a century, until finally Melkor is captured and taken back to Aman as a prisoner. 10,856 The Noldor and the Vanyar are brought to Aman. The Teleri delay in Beleriand for a time, but many of them later cross the Sea themselves and dwell on Tol Eressëa. 13,415 After three ages of imprisonment, Melkor is released from the Halls of Mandos. 13,894 Fëanor completes the making of the three Silmarils. 14,325 Having fled from Valinor, Melkor allies himself with Ungoliant and together they destroy the Two Trees and plunge Aman into darkness. Melkor steals the Silmarils and escapes into Middle-earth. Fëanor leads many of the Noldor in pursuit. 14,373 The Moon first rises from Aman as the Noldor complete their journey into Middle-earth, and the Sun rises shortly afterwards. So the Years of the Sun begin in Arda. Meanwhile the ways to Aman are hidden behind Enchanted Isles and Shadowy Seas. I 542 Eärendil comes to Aman to plead for mercy and aid from the Valar. The War of Wrath is launched, and Morgoth is defeated and cast out of the world, bringing the First Age to a close. II 3319 Ar-Pharazôn of Númenor brings a great fleet against Aman, seeking to conquer the Undying Lands for himself. The fleet, and the land of Númenor itself, are swallowed by the Sea, and the nature of the world is changed so that Aman can no longer be reached by mortal mariners. c. III 1000 Five emissaries are sent from Aman to aid the peoples of Middle-earth in their struggle against the Shadow. These emissaries come to be known as the Istari or Wizards. III 3021 After the War of the Ring and the defeat of Sauron, the White Ship returns to Aman carrying the Keepers of the Three Rings, as well as the Ring-bearers Bilbo and Frodo. These dates are compiled from various sources, but especially the Annals of Aman and the Grey Annals in volumes X and XI, respectively, of The History of Middle-earth. The dates given in those sources are in 'Valian Years', but are converted here to normal solar years. So, for dates before the Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, dates are shown as years since the foundation of Valinor. Melkor overthrew the Lamps of the Valar and Almaren, the dwelling of the Valar in Middle-earth, was destroyed. The Valar therefore chose a new land to make their home, one where they would be safe from Melkor: a distant land on the western edge of the world, which became known as Aman ('the Blessed') because of their presence. They raised a mountain-fence, the Pelóri, along Aman's eastern borders, and behind those Mountains of Defence they founded the land of Valinor, and built the city of Valmar. From the Green Mound westward of that city, Yavanna brought forth two Trees of light: Telperion and Laurelin, the White Tree and the Golden, to bring light to the West in place of the destroyed Lamps. So Aman was filled with shimmering silver and golden light, while Middle-earth lay dark under the stars.Valinor lay in the central parts of Aman, but to the north and south great arms of land curved eastward, away from the Light of the Two Trees. To the south, the long shores of Avathar, empty and dark, led away from the land of Valar. To the north, eastward beyond the Pelóri, the plains of Araman stretched into the cold north. At its most northerly reach, Aman came close to the northern margins of Middle-earth, and the two lands were separated only by a frozen region of crashing ice known as the Helcaraxë. The Eldar in Aman At this time, the only speaking peoples in Arda were the Valar and their kind, including those lesser Ainur who had accompanied them into the world, and dwelt with them in Aman. That changed when the Elder Children of Ilúvatar - the Elves - awoke in Cuiviénen, a land in the distant east of Middle-earth. They were discovered there by the Vala Oromë, who brought report of their coming back to his peers in Aman. The Valar gathered at the Máhanaxar to decide the fate of the newly awakened Elves, and their choice would shape the fate of Aman and of the world. Finally resolved to overcome Melkor, the Valar launched the Battle of the Powers, in which the Dark Lord's northern stronghold of Utumno was destroyed, and he himself taken captive back to Aman. Through Oromë, the Valar offered the Elves a home of their own beyond the Sea, and at this time the lineage of the Elves split into two: the Eldar who accepted the summons to Aman, and the Avari who refused it. The great westward Journey was long and hard, and many of the Eldar fell away from it, but at last the Vanyar, Noldor and many of the Teleri reached Aman. These were collectively known as the Calaquendi (Elves who had seen the Light of the Two Trees) or the Amanyar ('those of Aman').3 The ages that followed are known as the Days of Bliss in Aman: Melkor was bound in Mandos, and the Valar and Eldar dwelt in peace in the Light of the Two Trees. After three ages had passed, the term of Melkor's imprisonment came to an end, and he was released. He claimed to be reformed, but he set about creating a web of lies and deceits among the Elves that led to violence and betrayal until he was discovered and fled from Valinor. The Darkening of Valinor In the mountains to the south of Aman Melkor discovered the monstrous being Ungoliant, and together they invaded Valinor and destroyed the Two Trees, and then fled from Aman to Middle-earth. When the Light of the Trees failed, Aman was plunged into darkness. The only hope for the rebirth of the Trees lay in the Silmarils of Fëanor, but Fëanor refused to break them. Soon afterwards, it was learned that Melkor had stolen those Jewels and taken them with him to Middle-earth. In madness and grief (for Melkor had also slain his father Finwë) Fëanor assembled the Noldor and led a great part of them out of Aman in pursuit of the Dark Lord. So desperate were they that they spilled the blood of their kin among the Teleri and stole their ships from the haven at Alqualondë. As the Noldor passed into the far north, Manwë sent a herald to them in a final attempt to bring them back to Valinor. It was said to be Mandos himself who delivered the Prophecy of the North, a dreadful foretelling of the ultimate doom of the Noldor if they left Aman behind. At that prophecy, Fëanor's half-brother Finarfin abandoned the march, and returned with many of his people to Valinor, where he ruled over those few of the Noldor who remained in Aman. Meanwhile Fëanor led the rest of the host into the far north, where they crossed out of Aman into Middle-earth. The Hiding of Valinor and the Years of the Sun After the departure of the Noldor, the Valar attempted to rekindle the Two Trees. Their attempts failed, but before the Trees died they produced a brilliant silver flower and a golden fruit. Setting these in vessels, and placing each in the hands of a Maia, they set these aloft and sent them into the sky from Aman: thus the Moon and the Sun first rose in the West. With Melkor free in the world once more, the Valar set about securing Aman against further attack. The mighty mountains of the Pelóri were raised to even greater heights, so that a towering wall of sheer cliffs ran along the coastlands of Aman. In that time the Valar also set a chain of dark rocks in the Great Sea to enmesh mariners in enchantment. So Aman was hidden from those in Middle-earth, and the Powers remained behind the Mountains of Aman as the Years of the Sun began. After this time, the Valar remained in Aman for the most part, and little is known of their doings. Ulmo the Lord of Waters gave greater aid than his peers to the Elves, and to those Men who were their allies (the first Men awoke as the Sun first rose). Ulmo sent wisdom and warnings through the waters of the world, and it was through his guidance that Tuor came to Gondolin, and thus that Tuor's son Eärendil was born there. Tuor himself set out into the West with his bride Idril, and legend said that they came to Aman where Tuor was accepted into the race of the Eldar, alone of all Mortals. The War of Wrath The wisest in Middle-earth had long seen that the only hope of overcoming Morgoth would be to summon the aid of the Valar from Aman. Indeed, Turgon had sent out many vessels to seek a way through the Shadowy Seas and plead for the aid of the Lords of the West. All of these failed, but Eärendil became determined to succeed, though his first attempts to voyage into the West were confounded, just as the attempts of Turgon's mariners had been. On his last voyage, though, his wife Elwing came to him bearing a Silmaril, and through the power of that Jewel, he was able to pass the enchantments and snares of the Valar and reach the shores of Aman. Once there, Eärendil journeyed through the Calacirya and explored the city of Tirion - which was deserted for a festival - before encountering Eönwë the herald of Manwë. Eönwë brought him before the Valar, and there Eärendil asked for mercy for the Elves and Men of Middle-earth, and forgiveness for the Noldor who had exiled themselves from Aman. The Valar answered his prayer, and a vast army left Aman under the command of Eönwë. In the North of Middle-earth, they assaulted and destroyed Angband, and captured Morgoth. Binding him with the chain Angainor, they brought him back to Aman for judgement, and this time the Valar showed him no mercy. He was cast out of the world through the Door of Night, to remain in the Void beyond. The Second Age As the Second Age dawned, the North and West of Middle-earth had been laid waste by the force of the War of Wrath. Though Morgoth had been cast out of the world, Sauron had not returned for judgement by the Powers, and remained hidden in Middle-earth. Close to the eastern coasts of Aman, within sight of Eressëa, a new kingdom was made for the Edain, and they settled there to become the first of the Dúnedain, the Men of Númenor. Close as Númenor was to Aman, the Valar foresaw that Men would be tempted by the Undying Lands, and set a Ban on the Númenóreans to prevent them sailing there. There was no ban on the Elves visiting Númenor, however, and the Eldar of Aman would sail across the Sea to visit the Númenóreans throughout the early centuries of the Second Age. As the Age passed, a great part of the Númenóreans fell away from the friendship of the Elves, and began to envy those who dwelt in the Blessed Realm. Aware of the danger, the Valar sent emissaries to explain the Ban, but their arguments did little to change Men's minds. In the reign of Númenor's last King, the mighty Ar-Pharazôn, Sauron was captured in Middle-earth and brought to the island. The Dark Lord set about corrupting the Númenóreans, falsely claiming that those who dwelt in the Undying Lands - even Mortal Men - could claim eternal life for themselves. Convinced by Sauron's lies, Ar-Pharazôn assembled a vast fleet, and set out to conquer Aman for himself. His armies reached the shorelands of Eldamar beneath Taniquetil, and marched into the Calacirya, where they camped around the city of Tirion. Manwë called on Ilúvatar for aid, and the great armies of Ar-Pharazôn were buried, and trapped beneath the earth, where legend says they will remain until the end of the world. At that time Ilúvatar wrought great changes in the geography of Arda. Númenor sank beneath the waves of the Sea, and to prevent any possible repetition of Ar-Pharazôn's folly, Aman was taken away from the world altogether. New lands were created in its place, and mortal mariners travelling into the West would reach those lands instead of Aman. The Elves, though, could still travel a Straight Road from Middle-earth and return into the true West to reach and dwell in the Blessed Realm. The Third Age After the end of the Second Age, Aman slipped out of the knowledge of the peoples of Middle-earth, and so almost nothing is known of events there after this time. History had taught the Valar that direct interference in the lives of Elves or Men tended to cause ruin and tragedy, and so the rulers of Aman made little attempt to influence events outside their realm during the Third Age. They did not abandon the Outer Lands altogether, but instead adopted a more cautious policy. When the darkness began to fall on Middle-earth once again, Manwë called a council in Aman, and there five of the Maiar were selected to travel across the Sea as emissaries of the Valar, to help combat the evil that was re-emerging there. These five took the forms of Men, and were forbidden to show their true power, but instead were given the task of guiding and advising the peoples east of the Great Sea. In Middle-earth they became known as the Istari or 'Wizards'. Four of these five failed their task in different ways, but one succeeded, helping to vanquish Sauron and returning to Aman some two thousand years after he had left. This was the Maia named Olórin, better known in Middle-earth as 'Gandalf'. It was Gandalf who rallied the forces of the Free Peoples and gave them guidance throughout the years of the Third Age, ultimately bringing about the downfall of Sauron in the War of the Ring. There are hints that some of those in Aman, too, might have also have played a subtle part of their own.4 After the end of the Third Age, Gandalf returned to his homeland in Aman with the other Keepers of the Three Rings. With them travelled Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the first Hobbits to make the journey into the West, in recognition for their part in the destruction of Sauron. A few exceptional cases aside, the way into the West remained closed to mortals, though it is rumoured that Gimli the Dwarf, as a fast friend of Legolas and a Companion of the Ring, was permitted to travel there years later, and so was Frodo's faithful comrade Samwise Gamgee. After this time, no more is said of Aman, and the last description we have of it is in Frodo's vision from the White Ship as it drew towards the end of the Straight Road, and the shores of Aman itself: '...the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.' The Return of the King VI 9_The Grey Havens_ Finding ‘Aman’ Though we know for sure that the name Aman referred to a land or region in the Uttermost West beyond the Great Sea, narrowing down exactly what's meant by the name can be surprisingly tricky. The intended region seems to vary, with the name carrying at least two different meanings in different contexts, and possibly more. In some cases, it refers to the entire western continent of which Valinor and Eldamar were a part, but in other cases it has a narrower meaning, and only refers to certain parts of that continent. 1. Aman as the great western continent At times 'Aman' is a clear reference to the entire western continent that included Valinor and the empty lands to its north and south. This is often evident in general descriptions of the geography of Arda as a whole, as well as more specific references like this one: 'For between the land of Aman that in the north curved eastward, and the east-shores of Endor (which is Middle-earth) that bore westward, there was a narrow strait...' Quenta Silmarillion 9_Of the Flight of the Noldor_ This strait was far, far to the north of the inhabited lands of Aman, so clearly the name is used here for the entire western landmass, rather than just the lands of the Valar or Elves who lived there. 2. Aman as the Blessed Realm More often, though, the name 'Aman' seems to carry a narrower meaning, clearly referring just to the land of Valinor, or to Valinor and Eldamar together. This is evident, for example, in references like this one: '...[Ungoliant] was loath to dare the perils of Aman and the power of the dreadful Lords, and she would not stir from her hiding.' Quenta Silmarillion 8_Of the Darkening of Valinor_ This refers to Ungoliant lurking in Avathar, to the south of Valinor but very definitely on the same continent, and yet 'Aman' is a separate land here. The point is underlined by the name Araman, the name of a region to the north of Valinor but again on the same continent, which means 'outside Aman'. Defining ‘Aman’ It seems that Tolkien himself was well aware of the flux of meaning inherent in the name 'Aman'. For instance, in his essay Quendi and Eldar, he defines the name as follows: 'Chiefly used as the name of the land in which the Valar dwelt.' Quendi and Eldar The History of Middle-earth volume XI_The War of the Jewels_(our italics) While this is unmistakably a reference to 'Aman' as an approximate equivalent of 'Valinor', Tolkien's use of the word 'chiefly' demonstrates that he was aware of the inconsistent application of the name. This kind of ambiguous naming isn't unknown in the real world, either: for example, 'America' is properly the name of a continent, but the name is also often used just to refer to the country of the United States. As in the real world, understanding exactly what's meant by 'Aman' depends on the name's particular context. Notes 1 The map of Aman shown here is based on Maps IV and (especially) V reproduced by Christopher Tolkien in volume IV of The History of Middle-earth. These maps belong to an early phase of Tolkien's mythology, and in a few cases the nomenclature of the originals has been updated (for example, Map V refers to the region known in the published Silmarillion as Avathar by its older name Arvalin). 2 It is not impossible that Ungoliant may have dwelt in the West before the Valar came there, though what little evidence we have seems to suggest that she was tempted there by the light of the Two Trees, and hence arrived after Valinor was founded. Ungoliant's existence means that we can't rule out other strange beings of similar kind dwelling in Aman in the deeps of time, but we have no direct evidence of any inhabitation before the coming of the Valar. 3 To be strictly accurate, the terms Calaquendi and Amanyar are not precisely equivalent; there was a single Elf who belonged to the Calaquendi but not the Amanyar. This was Elu Thingol, who had journeyed to Aman as an ambassador before the Great Journey, and had thus seen the Light of the Two Trees, but who ultimately remained in Middle-earth. 4 For example, after Sauron shrouded the Pelennor Fields in gloom on the Dawnless Day, a wind from the West rose up that dispelled his clouds of darkness. That wind is never explained, but it's made clear that it wasn't expected by Sauron, hinting that it was sent by Manwë (whose special province was the winds and airs of Arda). See also... Aerandir, Aiwendil, Alcarondas, Almaren, Alqualondë, Amanyar, Amrod, Ancient Tongue, Ancient West, Angband, Angrod, Apanónar, Araman, Aranrúth, Arda, [See the full list...]Aredhel Ar-Feiniel, Avallónë, Avathar, Ban of the Valar, Bay of Eldamar, Bay of Elvenhome, Belegaer, Bent World, Black Foe of the World, Blessed Realm, Calaquendi, Castle of the Sea, Caverns of Narog, Caves of the Forgotten, Change of the World, Circles of the World, Cloud of Ungoliant, Coron Oiolairë, Crowned with Stars, Culúrien, Curse of Mandos, Dagor Dagorath, Dark Elves, Dark Lord, Darkening of Valinor, Days of Bliss, Deathless Lands, Dimbar, Doom of Mandos, Doom of the Noldor, Doom of the Valar, Dwarves, Eärendil, Eärendil, Eärrámë, Eglador, Eldamar, Eldar, Eldar of Eressëa, Eldar of Hithlum, Eldar of the West, Elendë, Elerrína, Elf-kings, Elu Thingol, Elven-halls, Elven-wise, Elvenesse, Elvenhome, Elvenland, Elves, Elves beyond the Sea, Elves of Beleriand, Elves of Eressëa, Elves of Middle-earth, Elves of the Darkness, Elves of the High Kindred, Elves of the West, Elves of Valinor, Elvish, Elvish World, Enchanted Isles, Encircling Sea, Erellont, Ever-eve, Ever-snow-white, Evereven, Everlasting Whiteness, Evernight, Exile of the Noldor, Exiles, Faerie, Falmari, Far West, Fëanorians, Finwë, Flower of Silver, Foam-flower, Foamriders, Forsaken Elves, Forsaken People, Fragrant Trees, Galadriel, Gates of Morning, Gondorians, Great Echo, Great Enemy, Great Jewels, Great Journey, Great Rider, Great Sea of the West, Great Water, Grinding Ice, Guarded Realm, Haerast, Halls of Awaiting, Halls of Mandos, Halls of Waiting, Haven of the Swans, Haven of Umbar, Havens of Círdan, Helcaraxë, Hiding of Valinor, High Eldarin, High Ones of Arda, High Sea, High Speech, Hither Lands, Hither Shore, House of Fëanor, Houses of the Dead, Hunting of the Wolf, Huntsman of the Valar, Hyarmentir, Inner Seas, Isildur, Isle of Balar, Isle of Kings, Kindler, King of Kings, King of Men, King of Númenor, King of the Elves, King of the Númenóreans, King of the World, King’s Party, King’s Sword, Kirinki, Lady of the Noldor, Laiquendi, Lamps of the Valar, Last Battle, Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings, Lay of Eärendil, Light in the West, Light of the Trees, Lindar, Lonely Isle, Long Night, Lord of Beleriand, Lord of the Havens, Lords of the Sea, Lords of the Valar, Lords of the West, Lórellin, Losgar, Lost Isle, Máhanaxar, Maiar, Maiar of the Sea, Malinorni, Man of Skill, Marrer of Middle-earth, Masterstone, Middle Days, Middle-earth, Mindon Eldaliéva, Misty Mountains, Mithril, Mount Everwhite, Mountain Wall, Mountains of Aman, Mountains of Defence, Mountains of Turgon, Nan-tasarion, Narrow Ice, Night of Naught, Night-fearers, Noldolantë, Noldor, Noontide of Valinor, Nurtalë Valinóreva, Oath of Fëanor, Olórin, Olwë, Otherworld, Outer Lands, Outer Ocean, Outer Sea, Over-heaven, Palantíri, Pass of Light, Pelóri, People of the Stars, Pillar of the Heavens, Powers of Arda, Powers of the World, Prophecy of the North, Radagast, Rána, Ring of Barahir, River Anduin, Rulers of Arda, Sauron, Sea-elves, Sea-Wing, Second Spring of Arda, Seeing-stones, Seven Stones, Shadows, Shadowy Isles, Shadowy Seas, Silmarils, Soronúmë, Spirit of Fire, Stone of Eärendil, Stones of Arnor, Straight Road, Straight Way, Sundering Seas, Swan-ships, Swanhaven, Teleri, Teleri of Valinor, Telerin, The Blessed, The Dark, The Dead, The Deathless, The Dispossessed, The Downfallen, The Fair, The Golden, The Green, The Light, The Mariner, The Mighty, The Seen, The Shoreless, The Star, The Terrible, The West, The Wise, Third Clan, Three Jewels, Three Kindreds, Timeless Halls, Timeless Halls, Tirion, Tol Eressëa, Tree of Tirion, Túna, Tyelperion, Úmanyar, Unchaining of Melkor, Undying Lands, Undying Realm, Unlight, Unrest of the Noldor, Uttermost West, Valar, Valinor, Valley of the Tombs, Valmar, Voronwë, Voyage of Eärendil, War of the Great Jewels, War of Wrath, Water of Awakening, West of the World, West over Sea, West-that-was, Western Sea, Western Shore, White Ship, White Towers, Wide World, Wolfhounds, World’s End, Years of the Sun Indexes: Alphabetical: A Lands, Realms and Regions About this entry: Updated 24 May 2008 This entry is complete For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2000, 2008. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.How do your personal strengths fit in with career matching? How can you identify them? Try a free personality test from myDISCprofile.

The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien

ALPHABETICAL RACES PLACES MISCELLANEOUS REFERENCE INTERACTIVE

SHARE User guide Latest entries FAQ and e-mail Disclaimer and bibliography Awards Old and rare words Lexicon of names Excyclopedia of Arda Movie-goer's Guides: • The Fellowship of the Ring • The Two Towers • The Return of the King The Hobbit Viewer's Companions: • An Unexpected Journey • The Desolation of Smaug • The Battle of the Five Armies Tolkien links Book news Latest Chronicle Calendar Old and rare words Lexicon of names Links Random

Location A continent originally lying in the far West of Arda, now removed from the world Origins Settled by the Valar after the destruction of their former home on Almaren in Middle-earth Races At first the home of the Ainur in Arda, but later many Elves also settled here Settlements Numerous halls, mansions and fortresses; the city of the Valar was Valimar, and the Elves' most important cities were Tirion and Alqualondë Important peaks Taniquetil in the Pelóri Passes The Calacirya Meaning 'Blessed Realm' Pronunciation a'man Other names The Ancient West, The Blessed Realm, The Deathless Lands, The Far West, Otherworld, The Twilight, The Undying Lands, The Undying Realm, The Uttermost West, The West, West over Sea, West of the World, West-that-was Indexes: Alphabetical: A Lands, Realms and Regions About this entry: Updated 24 May 2008 This entry is complete The Undying Lands Map of Aman

The land of AmanSomewhat conjectural1 The land of AmanSomewhat conjectural1 The land that lay on the extreme western edge of the world, beyond the Great Sea. In the most ancient times, when the world was lit by the Lamps of the Valar, the land that would become Aman was an empty and nameless region. In those distant days, the Valar dwelt across the Sea in Middle-earth, and the lands in the West were apparently uninhabited.2 The History of Aman 0 With their former home of Almaren destroyed by Melkor, the Valar settle in a new land, Valinor in the West, and the Two Trees are made to bring Light to Aman. 10,396 Oromë discovers the Elves in Middle-earth. He remains with them for roughly a decade, and then brings report back to the other Valar in Aman. 10,444 Fearing for the safety of the Elves, the Valar assault Melkor in Utumno. The resulting Battle of the Powers rages for nearly a century, until finally Melkor is captured and taken back to Aman as a prisoner. 10,856 The Noldor and the Vanyar are brought to Aman. The Teleri delay in Beleriand for a time, but many of them later cross the Sea themselves and dwell on Tol Eressëa. 13,415 After three ages of imprisonment, Melkor is released from the Halls of Mandos. 13,894 Fëanor completes the making of the three Silmarils. 14,325 Having fled from Valinor, Melkor allies himself with Ungoliant and together they destroy the Two Trees and plunge Aman into darkness. Melkor steals the Silmarils and escapes into Middle-earth. Fëanor leads many of the Noldor in pursuit. 14,373 The Moon first rises from Aman as the Noldor complete their journey into Middle-earth, and the Sun rises shortly afterwards. So the Years of the Sun begin in Arda. Meanwhile the ways to Aman are hidden behind Enchanted Isles and Shadowy Seas. I 542 Eärendil comes to Aman to plead for mercy and aid from the Valar. The War of Wrath is launched, and Morgoth is defeated and cast out of the world, bringing the First Age to a close. II 3319 Ar-Pharazôn of Númenor brings a great fleet against Aman, seeking to conquer the Undying Lands for himself. The fleet, and the land of Númenor itself, are swallowed by the Sea, and the nature of the world is changed so that Aman can no longer be reached by mortal mariners. c. III 1000 Five emissaries are sent from Aman to aid the peoples of Middle-earth in their struggle against the Shadow. These emissaries come to be known as the Istari or Wizards. III 3021 After the War of the Ring and the defeat of Sauron, the White Ship returns to Aman carrying the Keepers of the Three Rings, as well as the Ring-bearers Bilbo and Frodo. These dates are compiled from various sources, but especially the Annals of Aman and the Grey Annals in volumes X and XI, respectively, of The History of Middle-earth. The dates given in those sources are in 'Valian Years', but are converted here to normal solar years. So, for dates before the Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, dates are shown as years since the foundation of Valinor. Melkor overthrew the Lamps of the Valar and Almaren, the dwelling of the Valar in Middle-earth, was destroyed. The Valar therefore chose a new land to make their home, one where they would be safe from Melkor: a distant land on the western edge of the world, which became known as Aman ('the Blessed') because of their presence. They raised a mountain-fence, the Pelóri, along Aman's eastern borders, and behind those Mountains of Defence they founded the land of Valinor, and built the city of Valmar. From the Green Mound westward of that city, Yavanna brought forth two Trees of light: Telperion and Laurelin, the White Tree and the Golden, to bring light to the West in place of the destroyed Lamps. So Aman was filled with shimmering silver and golden light, while Middle-earth lay dark under the stars.Valinor lay in the central parts of Aman, but to the north and south great arms of land curved eastward, away from the Light of the Two Trees. To the south, the long shores of Avathar, empty and dark, led away from the land of Valar. To the north, eastward beyond the Pelóri, the plains of Araman stretched into the cold north. At its most northerly reach, Aman came close to the northern margins of Middle-earth, and the two lands were separated only by a frozen region of crashing ice known as the Helcaraxë. The Eldar in Aman At this time, the only speaking peoples in Arda were the Valar and their kind, including those lesser Ainur who had accompanied them into the world, and dwelt with them in Aman. That changed when the Elder Children of Ilúvatar - the Elves - awoke in Cuiviénen, a land in the distant east of Middle-earth. They were discovered there by the Vala Oromë, who brought report of their coming back to his peers in Aman. The Valar gathered at the Máhanaxar to decide the fate of the newly awakened Elves, and their choice would shape the fate of Aman and of the world. Finally resolved to overcome Melkor, the Valar launched the Battle of the Powers, in which the Dark Lord's northern stronghold of Utumno was destroyed, and he himself taken captive back to Aman. Through Oromë, the Valar offered the Elves a home of their own beyond the Sea, and at this time the lineage of the Elves split into two: the Eldar who accepted the summons to Aman, and the Avari who refused it. The great westward Journey was long and hard, and many of the Eldar fell away from it, but at last the Vanyar, Noldor and many of the Teleri reached Aman. These were collectively known as the Calaquendi (Elves who had seen the Light of the Two Trees) or the Amanyar ('those of Aman').3 The ages that followed are known as the Days of Bliss in Aman: Melkor was bound in Mandos, and the Valar and Eldar dwelt in peace in the Light of the Two Trees. After three ages had passed, the term of Melkor's imprisonment came to an end, and he was released. He claimed to be reformed, but he set about creating a web of lies and deceits among the Elves that led to violence and betrayal until he was discovered and fled from Valinor. The Darkening of Valinor In the mountains to the south of Aman Melkor discovered the monstrous being Ungoliant, and together they invaded Valinor and destroyed the Two Trees, and then fled from Aman to Middle-earth. When the Light of the Trees failed, Aman was plunged into darkness. The only hope for the rebirth of the Trees lay in the Silmarils of Fëanor, but Fëanor refused to break them. Soon afterwards, it was learned that Melkor had stolen those Jewels and taken them with him to Middle-earth. In madness and grief (for Melkor had also slain his father Finwë) Fëanor assembled the Noldor and led a great part of them out of Aman in pursuit of the Dark Lord. So desperate were they that they spilled the blood of their kin among the Teleri and stole their ships from the haven at Alqualondë. As the Noldor passed into the far north, Manwë sent a herald to them in a final attempt to bring them back to Valinor. It was said to be Mandos himself who delivered the Prophecy of the North, a dreadful foretelling of the ultimate doom of the Noldor if they left Aman behind. At that prophecy, Fëanor's half-brother Finarfin abandoned the march, and returned with many of his people to Valinor, where he ruled over those few of the Noldor who remained in Aman. Meanwhile Fëanor led the rest of the host into the far north, where they crossed out of Aman into Middle-earth. The Hiding of Valinor and the Years of the Sun After the departure of the Noldor, the Valar attempted to rekindle the Two Trees. Their attempts failed, but before the Trees died they produced a brilliant silver flower and a golden fruit. Setting these in vessels, and placing each in the hands of a Maia, they set these aloft and sent them into the sky from Aman: thus the Moon and the Sun first rose in the West. With Melkor free in the world once more, the Valar set about securing Aman against further attack. The mighty mountains of the Pelóri were raised to even greater heights, so that a towering wall of sheer cliffs ran along the coastlands of Aman. In that time the Valar also set a chain of dark rocks in the Great Sea to enmesh mariners in enchantment. So Aman was hidden from those in Middle-earth, and the Powers remained behind the Mountains of Aman as the Years of the Sun began. After this time, the Valar remained in Aman for the most part, and little is known of their doings. Ulmo the Lord of Waters gave greater aid than his peers to the Elves, and to those Men who were their allies (the first Men awoke as the Sun first rose). Ulmo sent wisdom and warnings through the waters of the world, and it was through his guidance that Tuor came to Gondolin, and thus that Tuor's son Eärendil was born there. Tuor himself set out into the West with his bride Idril, and legend said that they came to Aman where Tuor was accepted into the race of the Eldar, alone of all Mortals. The War of Wrath The wisest in Middle-earth had long seen that the only hope of overcoming Morgoth would be to summon the aid of the Valar from Aman. Indeed, Turgon had sent out many vessels to seek a way through the Shadowy Seas and plead for the aid of the Lords of the West. All of these failed, but Eärendil became determined to succeed, though his first attempts to voyage into the West were confounded, just as the attempts of Turgon's mariners had been. On his last voyage, though, his wife Elwing came to him bearing a Silmaril, and through the power of that Jewel, he was able to pass the enchantments and snares of the Valar and reach the shores of Aman. Once there, Eärendil journeyed through the Calacirya and explored the city of Tirion - which was deserted for a festival - before encountering Eönwë the herald of Manwë. Eönwë brought him before the Valar, and there Eärendil asked for mercy for the Elves and Men of Middle-earth, and forgiveness for the Noldor who had exiled themselves from Aman. The Valar answered his prayer, and a vast army left Aman under the command of Eönwë. In the North of Middle-earth, they assaulted and destroyed Angband, and captured Morgoth. Binding him with the chain Angainor, they brought him back to Aman for judgement, and this time the Valar showed him no mercy. He was cast out of the world through the Door of Night, to remain in the Void beyond. The Second Age As the Second Age dawned, the North and West of Middle-earth had been laid waste by the force of the War of Wrath. Though Morgoth had been cast out of the world, Sauron had not returned for judgement by the Powers, and remained hidden in Middle-earth. Close to the eastern coasts of Aman, within sight of Eressëa, a new kingdom was made for the Edain, and they settled there to become the first of the Dúnedain, the Men of Númenor. Close as Númenor was to Aman, the Valar foresaw that Men would be tempted by the Undying Lands, and set a Ban on the Númenóreans to prevent them sailing there. There was no ban on the Elves visiting Númenor, however, and the Eldar of Aman would sail across the Sea to visit the Númenóreans throughout the early centuries of the Second Age. As the Age passed, a great part of the Númenóreans fell away from the friendship of the Elves, and began to envy those who dwelt in the Blessed Realm. Aware of the danger, the Valar sent emissaries to explain the Ban, but their arguments did little to change Men's minds. In the reign of Númenor's last King, the mighty Ar-Pharazôn, Sauron was captured in Middle-earth and brought to the island. The Dark Lord set about corrupting the Númenóreans, falsely claiming that those who dwelt in the Undying Lands - even Mortal Men - could claim eternal life for themselves. Convinced by Sauron's lies, Ar-Pharazôn assembled a vast fleet, and set out to conquer Aman for himself. His armies reached the shorelands of Eldamar beneath Taniquetil, and marched into the Calacirya, where they camped around the city of Tirion. Manwë called on Ilúvatar for aid, and the great armies of Ar-Pharazôn were buried, and trapped beneath the earth, where legend says they will remain until the end of the world. At that time Ilúvatar wrought great changes in the geography of Arda. Númenor sank beneath the waves of the Sea, and to prevent any possible repetition of Ar-Pharazôn's folly, Aman was taken away from the world altogether. New lands were created in its place, and mortal mariners travelling into the West would reach those lands instead of Aman. The Elves, though, could still travel a Straight Road from Middle-earth and return into the true West to reach and dwell in the Blessed Realm. The Third Age After the end of the Second Age, Aman slipped out of the knowledge of the peoples of Middle-earth, and so almost nothing is known of events there after this time. History had taught the Valar that direct interference in the lives of Elves or Men tended to cause ruin and tragedy, and so the rulers of Aman made little attempt to influence events outside their realm during the Third Age. They did not abandon the Outer Lands altogether, but instead adopted a more cautious policy. When the darkness began to fall on Middle-earth once again, Manwë called a council in Aman, and there five of the Maiar were selected to travel across the Sea as emissaries of the Valar, to help combat the evil that was re-emerging there. These five took the forms of Men, and were forbidden to show their true power, but instead were given the task of guiding and advising the peoples east of the Great Sea. In Middle-earth they became known as the Istari or 'Wizards'. Four of these five failed their task in different ways, but one succeeded, helping to vanquish Sauron and returning to Aman some two thousand years after he had left. This was the Maia named Olórin, better known in Middle-earth as 'Gandalf'. It was Gandalf who rallied the forces of the Free Peoples and gave them guidance throughout the years of the Third Age, ultimately bringing about the downfall of Sauron in the War of the Ring. There are hints that some of those in Aman, too, might have also have played a subtle part of their own.4 After the end of the Third Age, Gandalf returned to his homeland in Aman with the other Keepers of the Three Rings. With them travelled Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the first Hobbits to make the journey into the West, in recognition for their part in the destruction of Sauron. A few exceptional cases aside, the way into the West remained closed to mortals, though it is rumoured that Gimli the Dwarf, as a fast friend of Legolas and a Companion of the Ring, was permitted to travel there years later, and so was Frodo's faithful comrade Samwise Gamgee. After this time, no more is said of Aman, and the last description we have of it is in Frodo's vision from the White Ship as it drew towards the end of the Straight Road, and the shores of Aman itself: '...the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.' The Return of the King VI 9_The Grey Havens_ Finding ‘Aman’ Though we know for sure that the name Aman referred to a land or region in the Uttermost West beyond the Great Sea, narrowing down exactly what's meant by the name can be surprisingly tricky. The intended region seems to vary, with the name carrying at least two different meanings in different contexts, and possibly more. In some cases, it refers to the entire western continent of which Valinor and Eldamar were a part, but in other cases it has a narrower meaning, and only refers to certain parts of that continent. 1. Aman as the great western continent At times 'Aman' is a clear reference to the entire western continent that included Valinor and the empty lands to its north and south. This is often evident in general descriptions of the geography of Arda as a whole, as well as more specific references like this one: 'For between the land of Aman that in the north curved eastward, and the east-shores of Endor (which is Middle-earth) that bore westward, there was a narrow strait...' Quenta Silmarillion 9_Of the Flight of the Noldor_ This strait was far, far to the north of the inhabited lands of Aman, so clearly the name is used here for the entire western landmass, rather than just the lands of the Valar or Elves who lived there. 2. Aman as the Blessed Realm More often, though, the name 'Aman' seems to carry a narrower meaning, clearly referring just to the land of Valinor, or to Valinor and Eldamar together. This is evident, for example, in references like this one: '...[Ungoliant] was loath to dare the perils of Aman and the power of the dreadful Lords, and she would not stir from her hiding.' Quenta Silmarillion 8_Of the Darkening of Valinor_ This refers to Ungoliant lurking in Avathar, to the south of Valinor but very definitely on the same continent, and yet 'Aman' is a separate land here. The point is underlined by the name Araman, the name of a region to the north of Valinor but again on the same continent, which means 'outside Aman'. Defining ‘Aman’ It seems that Tolkien himself was well aware of the flux of meaning inherent in the name 'Aman'. For instance, in his essay Quendi and Eldar, he defines the name as follows: 'Chiefly used as the name of the land in which the Valar dwelt.' Quendi and Eldar The History of Middle-earth volume XI_The War of the Jewels_(our italics) While this is unmistakably a reference to 'Aman' as an approximate equivalent of 'Valinor', Tolkien's use of the word 'chiefly' demonstrates that he was aware of the inconsistent application of the name. This kind of ambiguous naming isn't unknown in the real world, either: for example, 'America' is properly the name of a continent, but the name is also often used just to refer to the country of the United States. As in the real world, understanding exactly what's meant by 'Aman' depends on the name's particular context. Notes 1 The map of Aman shown here is based on Maps IV and (especially) V reproduced by Christopher Tolkien in volume IV of The History of Middle-earth. These maps belong to an early phase of Tolkien's mythology, and in a few cases the nomenclature of the originals has been updated (for example, Map V refers to the region known in the published Silmarillion as Avathar by its older name Arvalin). 2 It is not impossible that Ungoliant may have dwelt in the West before the Valar came there, though what little evidence we have seems to suggest that she was tempted there by the light of the Two Trees, and hence arrived after Valinor was founded. Ungoliant's existence means that we can't rule out other strange beings of similar kind dwelling in Aman in the deeps of time, but we have no direct evidence of any inhabitation before the coming of the Valar. 3 To be strictly accurate, the terms Calaquendi and Amanyar are not precisely equivalent; there was a single Elf who belonged to the Calaquendi but not the Amanyar. This was Elu Thingol, who had journeyed to Aman as an ambassador before the Great Journey, and had thus seen the Light of the Two Trees, but who ultimately remained in Middle-earth. 4 For example, after Sauron shrouded the Pelennor Fields in gloom on the Dawnless Day, a wind from the West rose up that dispelled his clouds of darkness. That wind is never explained, but it's made clear that it wasn't expected by Sauron, hinting that it was sent by Manwë (whose special province was the winds and airs of Arda). See also... Aerandir, Aiwendil, Alcarondas, Almaren, Alqualondë, Amanyar, Amrod, Ancient Tongue, Ancient West, Angband, Angrod, Apanónar, Araman, Aranrúth, Arda, [See the full list...]Aredhel Ar-Feiniel, Avallónë, Avathar, Ban of the Valar, Bay of Eldamar, Bay of Elvenhome, Belegaer, Bent World, Black Foe of the World, Blessed Realm, Calaquendi, Castle of the Sea, Caverns of Narog, Caves of the Forgotten, Change of the World, Circles of the World, Cloud of Ungoliant, Coron Oiolairë, Crowned with Stars, Culúrien, Curse of Mandos, Dagor Dagorath, Dark Elves, Dark Lord, Darkening of Valinor, Days of Bliss, Deathless Lands, Dimbar, Doom of Mandos, Doom of the Noldor, Doom of the Valar, Dwarves, Eärendil, Eärendil, Eärrámë, Eglador, Eldamar, Eldar, Eldar of Eressëa, Eldar of Hithlum, Eldar of the West, Elendë, Elerrína, Elf-kings, Elu Thingol, Elven-halls, Elven-wise, Elvenesse, Elvenhome, Elvenland, Elves, Elves beyond the Sea, Elves of Beleriand, Elves of Eressëa, Elves of Middle-earth, Elves of the Darkness, Elves of the High Kindred, Elves of the West, Elves of Valinor, Elvish, Elvish World, Enchanted Isles, Encircling Sea, Erellont, Ever-eve, Ever-snow-white, Evereven, Everlasting Whiteness, Evernight, Exile of the Noldor, Exiles, Faerie, Falmari, Far West, Fëanorians, Finwë, Flower of Silver, Foam-flower, Foamriders, Forsaken Elves, Forsaken People, Fragrant Trees, Galadriel, Gates of Morning, Gondorians, Great Echo, Great Enemy, Great Jewels, Great Journey, Great Rider, Great Sea of the West, Great Water, Grinding Ice, Guarded Realm, Haerast, Halls of Awaiting, Halls of Mandos, Halls of Waiting, Haven of the Swans, Haven of Umbar, Havens of Círdan, Helcaraxë, Hiding of Valinor, High Eldarin, High Ones of Arda, High Sea, High Speech, Hither Lands, Hither Shore, House of Fëanor, Houses of the Dead, Hunting of the Wolf, Huntsman of the Valar, Hyarmentir, Inner Seas, Isildur, Isle of Balar, Isle of Kings, Kindler, King of Kings, King of Men, King of Númenor, King of the Elves, King of the Númenóreans, King of the World, King’s Party, King’s Sword, Kirinki, Lady of the Noldor, Laiquendi, Lamps of the Valar, Last Battle, Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings, Lay of Eärendil, Light in the West, Light of the Trees, Lindar, Lonely Isle, Long Night, Lord of Beleriand, Lord of the Havens, Lords of the Sea, Lords of the Valar, Lords of the West, Lórellin, Losgar, Lost Isle, Máhanaxar, Maiar, Maiar of the Sea, Malinorni, Man of Skill, Marrer of Middle-earth, Masterstone, Middle Days, Middle-earth, Mindon Eldaliéva, Misty Mountains, Mithril, Mount Everwhite, Mountain Wall, Mountains of Aman, Mountains of Defence, Mountains of Turgon, Nan-tasarion, Narrow Ice, Night of Naught, Night-fearers, Noldolantë, Noldor, Noontide of Valinor, Nurtalë Valinóreva, Oath of Fëanor, Olórin, Olwë, Otherworld, Outer Lands, Outer Ocean, Outer Sea, Over-heaven, Palantíri, Pass of Light, Pelóri, People of the Stars, Pillar of the Heavens, Powers of Arda, Powers of the World, Prophecy of the North, Radagast, Rána, Ring of Barahir, River Anduin, Rulers of Arda, Sauron, Sea-elves, Sea-Wing, Second Spring of Arda, Seeing-stones, Seven Stones, Shadows, Shadowy Isles, Shadowy Seas, Silmarils, Soronúmë, Spirit of Fire, Stone of Eärendil, Stones of Arnor, Straight Road, Straight Way, Sundering Seas, Swan-ships, Swanhaven, Teleri, Teleri of Valinor, Telerin, The Blessed, The Dark, The Dead, The Deathless, The Dispossessed, The Downfallen, The Fair, The Golden, The Green, The Light, The Mariner, The Mighty, The Seen, The Shoreless, The Star, The Terrible, The West, The Wise, Third Clan, Three Jewels, Three Kindreds, Timeless Halls, Timeless Halls, Tirion, Tol Eressëa, Tree of Tirion, Túna, Tyelperion, Úmanyar, Unchaining of Melkor, Undying Lands, Undying Realm, Unlight, Unrest of the Noldor, Uttermost West, Valar, Valinor, Valley of the Tombs, Valmar, Voronwë, Voyage of Eärendil, War of the Great Jewels, War of Wrath, Water of Awakening, West of the World, West over Sea, West-that-was, Western Sea, Western Shore, White Ship, White Towers, Wide World, Wolfhounds, World’s End, Years of the Sun Indexes: Alphabetical: A Lands, Realms and Regions About this entry: Updated 24 May 2008 This entry is complete For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2000, 2008. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.How do your personal strengths fit in with career matching? How can you identify them? Try a free personality test from myDISCprofile.