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Welcome to The Encyclopedia of ArdaThe Encyclopedia of Arda is a personal project - a tribute to and a celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The site is evolving into an illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples. It already contains about four thousand entries, and we're constantly adding new entries and expanding existing ones. Inside the encyclopediaThe Encyclopedia of Arda contains thousands of articles covering topics from J.R.R. Tolkien's world, some brief, some lengthy and some containing detailed essays and discussions. You'll also find a selection of interactive tools, including a chronicle to help you explore Tolkien's fictional history, and calendar to translate dates and events, a lexicon of names, a glossary of old and rare words, and much more. Context and approachThe content of the Encyclopedia is written in the same context as Tolkien himself used; he presented himself simply as a translator, rather than originator of the tales. Hence, we try to describe his world from a 'historical' rather than a literary perspective, though sometimes it's useful to explore ideas in their wider context. Where relevant, therefore, you'll also find a few references to Tolkien's life or opinions, or to real historical or mythological parallels to events in his universe. About the name ArdaArda was the name given by the Elves to their world and all it contained, and so 'Encyclopedia of Arda' seemed a peculiarly apt title for this project. Special thanksThanks to all those who've e-mailed us over the years with their suggestions, corrections, ideas and just general support. But the real Special Thanks, though, belong to the memory of J.R.R. Tolkien for his extraordinary and unparalleled creation. For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2024. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Discus is a powerful, flexible DISC profile solution - find out much more in our free guide. |
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Featured EntryWhite Tree of Tol EressëaThe tree at the heart of the Lonely IsleA tree descended from an image of Telperion, one the Two Trees that cast Light over the land of the Valar in ages past. The great Tree Telperion shone with a silver-white Light that was beloved of the Eldar, and so Yavanna (who had created Telperion itself) made a gift for the Elves: a White Tree of their own. This was fashioned as a lesser image of the original Tree, except that it did not shine with its own Light. The Eldar named this White Tree Galathilion, and they planted it with reverence in the courts of their city of Tirion. The White Tree Galathilion produced many seedlings, and one of these was taken to the island of Tol Eressëa in the Bay of Eldamar. The Elves who dwelt there planted it in the midst of their island home, and it prospered. This offspring of Galathilion was given the name Celeborn, from the Elvish for 'silver tree'. In time, the White Tree of Tol Eressëa produced seedlings of its own. |
