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Dates
A period of millennia1 from the making of the Two Trees to the Darkening of Valinor and the beginning of the Years of the Sun
Location
The Two Trees grew on the mound of Ezellohar, to the west of Valmar, and shed their Light across Valinor
Origins
The Trees were made by Yavanna and Nienna
Races
Valinor was the land of the Ainur in Arda, and many Elves also dwelt there
Settlements
There were numerous halls, mansions and fortresses in Valinor; the chief city of the Valar was Valmar, and the Elves' most important city was Tirion
Pronunciation
Valinor is pronounced 'va'linorr' (where 'rr' emphasises that the final r sound should be distinctly pronounced)
Meaning
Valinor means 'land of the Valar'
Other names
Effectively equivalent to the Years of the Trees

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About this entry:

  • Updated 3 March 2026
  • This entry is complete

Noontide of Valinor

The years of the Light of the Two Trees

The period that followed the making of the Two Trees of Valinor, when Aman was bathed by their extraordinary silver-gold light. In this time the Calaquendi lived in peace alongside the Valar, and Melkor was imprisoned within the Halls of Mandos. The Noontide (the term is meant symbolically, representing the time of greatest glory) lasted for three ages, but with Melkor's release the bliss of Aman began to fail. Eventually, Melkor's corruption led to the Darkening of Valinor, in which the Two Trees were destroyed forever.


Notes

1

According to the Annals of Aman (in Morgoth's Ring, volume X of The History of Middle-earth), the Noontide of Valinor - measured as the time that the Light of the Two Trees shone on the land - lasted for 1,495 Valian Years. Converting the long Valian Years to the shorter solar years gives a period of approximately 14,325 years, in modern terms

See also...

Light of the Trees

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 3 March 2026
  • This entry is complete

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