#universe: eä
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"Arda Unmarred"
Tolkien’s legendarium is full of unreliable narrators. “The Silmarillion”, for example, is based on the lore of the Elves, and “The Lord of the Rings” is based on a fictional book written by Hobbits. In these stories, Melkor, the fallen Vala who later goes by the name Morgoth, is the power-hungry being that brought evil to Middle-earth. According to the Elves, the Valar refer to the world as “Arda Marred” – a name based on the assumption that Ilúvatar’s original design, “Arda Unmarred”, has to have been free from evil.
I use the phrase “unreliable narrators”, because we don’t know for sure what Eru Ilúvatar was truly planning when he created the Music of the Ainur. Not even the Valar, who are described as being the offspring of his thought, could fully understand his vision. So, can we really say for sure that there ever was, or ever will be, an “Arda Unmarred”? Was Melkor’s initiation of the cycle of evil in Middle-earth unintentional, or was it a part of Ilúvatar’s design all along? Those are the questions that this short essay is going to explore.
The creation of the world is described in “Ainulindalë”. The story has gone through multiple changes over the years, but its foundations remain the same. Eä, the universe, is sung into existence by the Ainur. Melkor, gifted with the most power and knowledge of them all, tries to introduce his own ideas into the song, but Ilúvatar simply incorporates the discord into his Music. Melkor is incapable of creating anything of his own, since he is ultimately an offspring of Ilúvatar’s own thought. This is later stated by Ilúvatar himself.
“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.”
(The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë)
The statement is repeated again when the Ainur are shown the world that their Music has created.
“Behold your Music! This is your minstrelsy; and each of you shall find contained herein, amid the design that I set before you, all those things which it may seem that he himself devised or added. And thou, Melkor, wilt discover all the secret thoughts of thy mind, and wilt perceive that they are but a part of the whole and tributary to its glory.”
(The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë)
The Ainur learn much about this new world from Ilúvatar, but their god also withholds a lot of information, especially regarding his Children – the Elves and Men.
Yet some things there are that they cannot see, neither alone nor taking counsel together; for to none but himself has Ilúvatar revealed all that he has in store, and in every age there come forth things that are new and have no foretelling, for they do not proceed from the past.
(The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë)
For the Children of Ilúvatar were conceived by him alone; and they came with the third theme, and were not in the theme which Ilúvatar propounded at the beginning, and none of the Ainur had part in their making.
(The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë)
These statements prove that not even the Valar can be considered fully reliable narrators. They never saw the full design, and their knowledge of the fate of Elves and Men is ultimately limited.
Later in the chapter, we find out that there’s another layer of unreliability in this story.
For what has here been declared is come from the Valar themselves, with whom the Eldalië spoke in the land of Valinor, and by whom they were instructed; but little would the Valar ever tell of the wars before the coming of the Elves. Yet it is told among the Eldar that the Valar endeavoured ever, in despite of Melkor, to rule the Earth and to prepare it for the coming of the Firstborn; and they built lands and Melkor destroyed them; valleys they delved and Melkor raised them up; mountains they carved and Melkor threw them down; seas they hollowed and Melkor spilled them; and naught might have peace or come to lasting growth, for as surely as the Valar began a labour so would Melkor undo it or corrupt it. And yet their labour was not all in vain; and though nowhere and in no work was their will and purpose wholly fulfilled, and all things were in hue and shape other than the Valar had at first intended, slowly nonetheless the Earth was fashioned and made firm.
(The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë)
The phrasing of this paragraph reveals that “Ainulindalë” is not a story told by an omniscient narrator – it’s Elven lore. Melkor is depicted as the culprit behind all of Arda’s flaws, but since we now know that it’s an Elven story, we also have to take possible bias into consideration.
Even here, however, is it clearly stated that Melkor was incapable of creating anything of his own, and that the Valar didn’t know every detail of Ilúvatar’s design. It’s also worth noting that it’s the will and purpose of the Valar that were never wholly fulfilled. This is also reiterated in a similar description of the formation of Arda, told in “The Annals of Aman”.
… And the shape of Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands was marred in that time, so that the first designs of the Valar were never after restored.
(Morgoth’s Ring: The Annals of Aman)
At this point in the story, Ilúvatar is no longer an active participant. The Valar are acting on their own, based on the vast yet still limited information that’s been given to them. The greatest fears of Elves and Men – fading and dying – are blamed on Arda being marred by Melkor. This is clearly expressed in “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth”:
Now the Eldar learned that, according to the lore of the Edain, Men believed that their hröar were not by right nature short-lived, but had been made so by the malice of Melkor. It was not clear to the Eldar whether Men meant: by the general marring of Arda (which they themselves held to be the cause of the waning of their own hröar); or by some special malice against Men as Men that was achieved in the dark ages before the Edain and the Eldar met in Beleriand; or by both.
(Morgoth’s Ring: Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth)
Valar, Elves, and Men alike believe that they live in Arda Marred, and that Melkor is the sole culprit behind the cycle of evil that plagues Middle-earth. As readers, we’re led to believe that this is true, but Tolkien does occasionally remind us that this is a story told by unreliable narrators. He himself considers Melkor a Lucifer-like figure, but he also recognizes the differences between his Catholic faith and the universe he created.
I suppose a difference between this Myth and what may be perhaps called Christian mythology is this. In the latter the Fall of Man is subsequent to and a consequence (though not a necessary l consequence) of the 'Fall of the Angels': a rebellion of created free-will at a higher level than Man; but it is not clearly held (and in many versions is not held at all) that this affected the 'World' in its nature: evil was brought in from outside, by Satan. In this Myth the rebellion of created free-will precedes creation of the World (Eä); Eä has in it, subcreatively introduced, evil, rebellious, discordant elements of its own nature already when the ‘Let it Be’ was spoken.
The Fall or corruption, therefore, of all things in it and all inhabitants of it, was a possibility if not inevitable.
(The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: 212.)
So, here we are again. Evil was created before Melkor descended into Eä. This raises even more questions about Ilúvatar’s original design – the supposed “Arda Unmarred”. There was evil in Arda before Melkor entered it. Does that mean that Ilúvatar knew that the world that he was about to send his Children into was already marred? Or was it a part of his design all along?
What we do know for sure is that there was always evil in Eä. We’re presented with another perspective in “Myths Transformed”, which puts even more emphasis on Melkor being a catalyst rather than the source of that evil.
Out of the discords of the Music – sc. not directly out of either of the themes, Eru's or Melkor's, but of their dissonance with regard one to another – evil things appeared in Arda, which did not descend from any direct plan or vision of Melkor: they were not 'his children'; and therefore, since all evil hates, hated him too.
(Morgoth’s Ring: Myths Transformed)
Another important aspect of Melkor’s role in the supposed marring of Arda is the evil’s independence. As previously stated, the cycle started before his descent into Eä, and it continues after he’s been thrust into the Timeless Void at the end of the First Age.
One of the reasons for his self-weakening is that he has given to his 'creatures', Orcs, Balrogs, etc. power of recuperation and multiplication. So that they will gather again without further specific orders. Part of his native creative power has gone out into making an independent evil growth out of his control.
(Morgoth’s Ring: Myths Transformed)
Yet the lies of Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest day.
(The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion)
When Melkor is defeated, Sauron takes his place, upholding the cycle of evil.
The servants of Sauron were routed and dispersed, yet they were not wholly destroyed; and though many Men turned now from evil and became subject to the heirs of Elendil, yet many more remembered Sauron in their hearts and hated the kingdoms of the West. The Dark Tower was levelled to the ground, yet its foundations remained, and it was not forgotten.
(The Silmarillion: Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
This is where Tolkien decides to end his grand saga about Middle-earth. Sauron is defeated, but evil is not. Months before his death, however, he started a draft of a story taking place about a century into the Fourth Age called “The New Shadow”. He eventually decided to scrap it, but the parts he did write indicate that evil still lingers in Middle-earth after the end of “The Lord of the Rings”.
He halted in the narrow passage that ran through the house, and it seemed that he was wrapped in a blackness: not a glimmer of twilight of the world outside remained there. Suddenly he smelt it, or so it seemed, though it came as it were from within outwards to the sense: he smelt the old Evil and knew it for what it was.
(Morgoth’s Ring: “The New Shadow”)
The cycle of evil continues, even though Melkor no longer has any influence over the world. The Arda we see in Tolkien’s universe has always been marred – always, or never. These texts show that the concept of “Arda Unmarred” was most likely an invention of the Valar, or possibly the Elves – unreliable narrators with a desperate need for an explanation for why their world is full of evil. Ilúvatar’s original design was known to him and him alone, and Melkor was always a part of it.
Arda is simply Arda.
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Thinking how entropy is vital to the cycle of this universe and pondering how more connected with other forces it could be without setting it entirely apart and forcing dissonance in one brethren.
Melkor is chaos and destruction. Chaos and destruction are part of one larger symbiosis. Without destruction there can be no creation. But destruction without limits can only bring about Nihilism, death call to death. Creation and destruction should have been balanced and working hand in hand. Manwë and Melkor are brothers, twins even, the counterpart of the other. Yet that relation is sundered and from it is born nothing but grievance.
Melkor and Manwë should have been working hand in hand. Diety of life and Diety of death. If nothing dies then what is the purpose of Námo. If nothing gets damaged then what is the purpose of Estë and Nienna, if no hope is lost then what is the purpose of dreams - Irmo.
Fire is both creation and destruction. It is both vital to life and hurtful to it. Without fire there would be no life. And without life there would be no daily need for Fire.
There's a reason a Flame is the Kindler of Eä, there's a reason fire takes so many lives and there's a reason fire gives back hope as it rises above the horizon.
There's a reason the balance of forces is required to the stability of a system. There's a reason why the equation for life to even exist is that specific. Too much light never does any good as too much darkness has a null purpose.
If the World is to end in the destruction of the embodiment of Darkness, the ending is solely because one can not exist without the other.
Melkor defeated does not bring about stability in the universe. It breaks it. For a true renewal, it aks of the rebooting of all forces equally.
If a new Song must arise it demands all of its participants to partake in it. Light and Dark. Life and Death. Creation and Destruction.
This is about symbiosis. An ecosystem cannot run on one end of the spectrum only. And in this, the Valar did not understand Eru's Vision.
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Today’s (Jan 3) Silmarillion Daily section covers the end of the Ainulindalë, and the very start of the first chapter of the Silm proper, “Of the Beginning of Days”. This is because both of those parts are about the early wars between the Valar and Melkor, prior to the Ages of the Lamps, so it made sense to me to put them together; and also because they mention how the Valar first took on physical forms, and it made sense to put that before the Valaquenta where some of their physical forms are described. After this we’re going to have a one-day break before starting on the Valaquenta.
Until I started putting together the Silm Daily entries, I didn’t remember that the Ainulindalë contained anything about events within Eä; I had thought it had ended after the Music and the vision.
And the first work of the Valar is not just shaping the lands and life-forms of an already-existing Planet Earth, but creating it (and all the other stars and planets) basically from scratch; this is the distinction between Eä (the universe) and Arda (Earth).
So began their great labours in wastes unmeasured and unexplored, and in ages uncounted and forgotten, until in the Deeps of Time and in the midst of the vast halls of Eä there came to be that hour and that place where was made the habitation of the Children of Ilúvatar.
(There’s plenty of space for headcanons and fic here - for example, the many uninhabitable planets in the universe including ones that the Valar were trying to make habitable and that Melkor wrecked, with the Earth being their last try.)
The main work on making Earth is done by Manwë, Ulmo, and Aulë, which makes sense given that their domains are air, water, and earth. (Melkor’s own original domain seems to involve both heat/fire and cold; both are mentioned in connection with him both in this section of the Ainulindalë and in Ilúvatar’s earlier conversation with Ulmo, and Melkor uses both in his wars with the Elves). Varda is initially off doing her own thing in the rest of the universe (creating stars and other cool astronomical objects); the Valaquenta says that “Out of the depths of Eä she came to the aid of Manwë,” during the first war with Melkor over the newly-made Earth. This may also be the case for the other spirits that Manwë calls - they are coming not newly from the Timeless Halls, but are coming from elsewhere in Eä (other planets?) to Arda:
…and [Manwë] called unto himself many spirits both greater and less, and they came down into the fields of Arda and aided Manwë, les Melkor should hinder the fulfillment of their labours forever.
After the initial battle where Melkor tries to lay claim to the Earth (Arda) and is driven off, he goes to other parts of Eä, while the Valar focus on Arda and take on physical forms.
Then there seems to be an additional group of Maiar who come to Arda (possibly, again, from elsewhere in Eä rather than from outsude it) after that early battle is over, to aid in the shaping of the planet:
And the Valar drew unto themselves many companions, some less, some well nigh as great as themselves, and they laboured together in the ordering of the Earth and the curbing of its tumults.
Then Melkor is envious of the beauty of the Earth and of the Valar in it, and he makes a physical form for himself as well, “as a mountain that wades into the sea and has its head above the clouds and is crowned with smoke and fire”. The battles between the Valar and Melkor change the Earth greatly, and nothing is set up the way the Valar intended, but over time it takes on a more permanent form. For most of the war Melkor is winning, even against all the rest of the Valar (this kind of gives an indication of why they’re so concerned in later ages that fighting him directly could destroy the earth or render it uninhabitable, and are so wary of doing so.) But at last they win when Tulkas shows up (from ‘far heaven’, which could be either elsewhere in Eä or in the Timeless Halls, but I kind of think the former) and Melkor runs away from him into the parts of Eä outside Arda, and there is peace for a long age.
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Loki associations in Tolkien's legendarium, part 2
[Part 1]
The Bound God: Loki’s similarities with Melkor
This post includes personal and fannish interpretations on the characters. CW for mentions of violence and torture (as described in their canon/myth – their fates are not nice).
In the Silmarillion, Melkor is said to be the mightiest of the Ainur, but his spiritual brother Manwë Súlimo is the one who becomes the High King of Arda. Loki, too, has an influential blood-brother in Odin Allfather, King of the Æsir. Like Manwë Súlimo, Odin is pictured as a ruling figure, sitting on a high seat where he can watch the entire world. Odin’s companions are his two ravens and wolves; while ravens work for Odin, Manwë has his eagles. Interestingly, Odin’s hall is called Valaskjálf. In Tolkien’s legendarium, a Vala mean a being similar to the Æsir in Norse mythology. (On the contrary, Odin’s famous byname Allfather has been given to the creator god Eru Ilúvatar in Tolkien’s legendarium; Ilúvatar means Allfather.) Relationship between Loki and Odin is rather complicated, just like the relationship between Melkor and Manwë. It’s clear that both Manwë and Odin care about their brother, but in the end, both of them end up using their power over their renegade brother, imprisoning them.
Already in the beginning, Melkor’s behaviour is very individualistic. Before the creation of the universe, he often wanders alone in void places, seeking the Imperishable Flame. It is said that he had a desire to create things of his own, and he was impatient. During the creation process, which is made by music, he makes music that is not harmonious with others, creating discord.
Loki can be seen as a Trickster god who is a boundary-crosser and breaks both physical and societal rules. Also, Melkor, going where no one else goes and disobeying the rules during the Music of Ainur, can be seen as a Trickster figure. Tricksters, like Loki, are often known to create disruptions that cause change. Melkor’s discord is a disruption to Eru’s plans, causing changes in the great plan. Still, it can be said that both Loki and Melkor’s influence is needed to prevent stagnation.
Odin gives Loki a place in Asgard, and Manwë allows Melkor to enter Eä. Neither of them is fully trusted, however. In Melkor’s case, he becomes openly antagonistic earlier; Loki stays with the Æsir and helps them (also plays tricks on them) longer before the eventual rift. Melkor continues to cause disruptions in the advanced creation of the world: he meddles in all that is done, and he is said to kindle great fires. In Asgard, Loki’s help is essential in creating protective walls around the place and giving the Æsir their most important weapons. Because of their actions, both Melkor and Loki are sometimes viewed as linked to chaos, although I personally see them rather linked to disruptions and change. But I agree there’s a certain Surtr-like chaos element in Melkor (Surtr is a jötunn connected to flames and chaos).
Soon after, Melkor builds his first underground fortress Utumno, and later, Angband. These places are connected with fire and volcanos, and also earthquakes. Many people connect Loki with fire even though there’s actually no mention of this in the Eddic sources. I’m going to return to this connection to transformative fire in the next part where I’ll discuss Mairon and Loki. In the end, when Loki is imprisoned underground, he is causing earthquakes with his movements. Melkor’s presence in a place creates volcanic eruptions.
Melkor causes universal destruction by destroying first the Two Lamps (the main source of light in the world), and later, the Two Trees. The destruction Loki causes is more mischievous or opportunistic, but he is also capable of causing a universal crisis, for example with his involvement in the capture of Idunn, the goddess of youth.
Like Loki, Melkor appears also as a thief. The theft of the Silmarils is a major event in the Silmarillion. At this time, Melkor is allied with Ungoliant, a monster in spider form. Loki is associated with spiders in shared personal gnosis, and eight-legged creatures in general.
One of Loki’s bynames is “Father of Monsters”. Loki is indeed a father of a couple of monstruous beings, and in one Eddic poem it’s said that Loki gave birth to the monsters. Melkor is also surrounded by monstruous beings. He creates Orcs and dragons. Balrogs that serve him might have been different kind of Ainur before Melkor’s influence changed them.
One of the famous myths about Loki is Loki’s quarrel where he goes to a feast where all the gods and some elves are celebrating and starts a quarrel by telling uncomfortable truths and basically irritating everyone present. Melkor, while in Valinor, causes unrest by telling lies or half-truths and makes Fëanor quarrel with his brother, causing a family feud.
But it’s in the eventual fate of both Melkor and Loki where their similarities are shown in an especially powerful way. In the end, The Æsir capture Loki and take him to an underground cave, bind him on a rock with the entrails of his own son and put a poison-dripping snake over him. There Loki writhes in torment until the end of the world, Ragnarök, when he becomes free and leads a monstruous army in the last battle against the Æsir. Melkor is similarly captured and imprisoned by the Valar and bound with the chain Angainor. His very own crown is made into a collar to bind him, keeping him in a painful position. Loki is cast underground, and Melkor is cast in the Void. But there’s a prophecy that Melkor will return one day and attack Arda, and that will be the last battle of the world.
Next: The Cunning God: Loki’s similarities with Mairon
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Morgoth: The First Dark Lord: Part 1
Melkor - the original Dark Lord of Middle-earth. After sowing discord in the creation of the world, he goes on to wreak havoc upon its inhabitants. In this retelling of Tolkien’s story, we will look at the entire life of Tolkien’s most evil and most powerful Dark Lord.
Map during the Years of the Lamps
Arda Marred (Melkor destroys the Two Lamps)
Map of Aman
In the beginning, Eru Ilúvatar, the god of Tolkien’s world, creates the Ainur - that is the Valar and the Maiar. Melkor is among the Valar, and the mightiest of them all. In his impatience to fill the Void with created life, he searches throughout the Void for the Flame Imperishable - the mysterious power of Eru that allows him to create and give life. Melkor is unable to locate the Flame Imperishable, also known as the Secret Fire, as it is not located in the Void, but with Eru himself. As Melkor wanders through the Void, he comes to have ideas different from those of the other Ainur. He grows rebellious against Eru and wants to create life himself. Without the Flame Imperishable, however, he is unable to create life, but can merely corrupt and twist it.
When it comes time for the creation of the universe, the Ainur make a great music. At this time, Melkor weaves his own thoughts into his song, which clashes with the Theme of Ilúvatar. This causes some of the Ainur around him to change their music to his. For a time, the Theme of Ilúvatar and the Discord of Melkor battle one another. Eru smiles and sends forth a second theme. Most of the Ainur join this new theme, but Melkor opposes it even more violently with his discord. Finally, shocked at what they are witnessing, many of the Ainur stop singing and Melkor’s discord gains the upper hand. Eru begins a third theme, sweeter and more beautiful than the previous two. This theme cannot be beaten by Melkor. Still, he opposes the music of Eru. Finally, Eru stops the music completely with a single chord of his own.
“...the music ceased. Then Ilúvatar spoke, and he said: ‘Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Ilúvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.’” - The Silmarillion, "Ainulindalë"
Melkor is shamed and angered by this rebuke, but hides his feelings.
As the Ainur see the work of their song, Melkor is among those who beg Eru to allow them to enter Arda. Melkor pretends to have a desire to guide the world and its inhabitants for Ilúvatar’s glory, but secretly he desires to dominate Arda and its creatures - especially the forthcoming Children of Ilúvatar - that is, the Elves and Men.
Along with the other Valar, Melkor enters Eä - the created universe - and makes his way to Arda - the world. After they arrive, Melkor drops his facade, declaring to the other Valar that he is now Master of Arda. Manwë, who is Melkor’s brother, fears that Melkor will attempt to disrupt their labors in Arda and calls forth more Ainur to protect them. Melkor leaves, making his way to the remote regions of Eä.
As the Valar work to form Arda (Valian Year 1), Melkor seeks to destroy or taint anything they create. He demolishes their mountains, raises their valleys, and spills their seas. Aulë’s works are among the most affected by Melkor’s deeds.
After uncounted battles and years pass, news reaches the Ainur who remained with Eru. Hearing of the war, Tulkas, the most war-like of all the Valar, comes to Arda in the Valian Year 1499. Melkor flees before the laughter and anger of Tulkas, escaping beyond the Walls of Night. From that moment on, he will forever possess a hatred for Tulkas.
To give some context for how time is measured during this age of the earth, Valian years equal just over 9.5 solar - real world - years. From the Valar arriving in Arda in Valian Year 1, to Melkor fleeing in Valian Year 1499, well over 14000 solar years pass.
As the remaining Valar work to restore Arda as best they can, Melkor dwells in the outer darkness. The Valar complete Arda and raise up Two Lamps which give the world light - this begins the era known as the Years of the Lamps (measured in Valian Years). They dwell in a land called Almaren.
Unfortunately, Melkor’s power earned him a following among some of the Maiar, which at this time likely includes Sauron. Some act as his spies, and eventually, he meets with them as the Valar hold a feast after completing their work. It is at this feast that Tulkas marries Nessa. As Nessa dances before the Valar, Tulkas falls into a peaceful sleep. Melkor, looking down in hatred, decides his time to strike has come.
Melkor and his followers come over the Walls of Night, returning to Arda. He delves deep into the earth, creating the fortress of Utumno in the Iron Mountains of the North. Evil flows from the fortress. Death and illness strike at the vegetation of Arda. Animals fight and kill one another. The Valar realize - Melkor has returned.
The Valar begin to search for Melkor’s hiding place, but the future Dark Lord strikes first. He comes to Almaren, and destroys the city and the Two Lamps.
“But Melkor… assailed the lights of Illuin and Ormal, and cast down their pillars and broke their lamps. In the overthrow of the mighty pillars lands were broken and seas arose in tumult; and when the Lamps were spilled destroying flame was poured out over the Earth. And the shape of Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands was marred in that time, so that the first designs of the Valar were never after restored.” - The Silmarillion, "Of the Beginning of Days"
As the world is filled with fire and water and chaos, Melkor escapes, returning to his fortress. The Spring of Arda, what should have been a joyous occasion, ends in disaster, as the Valar must use all their power to hold the world together.
With their home destroyed, the Valar travel across the sea and come to a new land - Aman. There, they build the city of Valinor and they create new sources of light, the Two Trees (Laurelin the Gold Tree, and Telperion the Silver Tree). This ushers in a new era for Arda, the Years of the Trees (also measured in the same manner as Valian Years. Every year is 9.5 to our own. Once we make our way into the First, Second and Third Ages, the years of Middle-earth are equal to our own).
With the Valar now across the sea, Melkor is relatively free to roam Middle-earth; though some among the Valar appear in Middle-earth to thwart him as they are able. One is Ulmo, who will come into play quite a lot during the First Age. Yavanna is also mentioned as taking action in Middle-earth, and Oromë, the huntsman, would ride throughout Middle-earth, delighting in hunting down and killing the monsters of Melkor.
Believing the Valar might move against him, Melkor dwells in his fortress, building his strength and breeding monsters. He also gathers the Maiar who are loyal to him. These servants, cloaking themselves in shadow and flame, come to be known as Balrogs. During this time, he also constructs the fortress of Angband, where he places his greatest servant - Sauron.
In the Year of the Trees (YT) 1050, the first Elves awake at Cuiviénen. While the hunter Oromë would come across them, Melkor would find them first. He wracks the Elves with fear, killing or capturing many in his time. Through the torture of his captives and other foul works, it is believed Melkor creates the race of Orcs.
After the Valar discover the Elves, Manwë concludes it is the will of Eru to reclaim the lands of Middle-earth from Melkor. The Valar come to Middle-earth in YT 1090 to do battle with Melkor. This massive war of the gods, also known as the Battle of the Powers, begins with the army of the west confronting Melkor’s forces in the north-west of Middle-earth; the entire region is ruined by the battle. The Valar are victorious in this first battle as the servants of Melkor retreat to Utumno.
The Valar place guards in the land around the bay of Cuiviénen, protecting the Elves who had first awakened there. The Valar lay siege to Melkor’s fortress, the Siege of Utumno. From where they stand, far away from the conflict, the Elves can only see fires in the north, and feel a mighty shaking of the earth. Finally, in YT 1099, seven Valian years (66.5 solar years) after their arrival in Middle-earth, the Valar break the gates and roof of Utumno. Melkor hides in the deepest pits of his fortress, but Tulkas arrives and binds him in the chain Angainor which Aulë the Smith had forged.
While Utumno is destroyed in this final act, the Valar don’t discover all the deepest darkest places within. Sauron and many of the Balrogs manage to escape capture. In the aftermath of this long war, Middle-earth is changed. New mountain ranges are raised up, the Great Sea becomes larger, and new lands and waterways take shape.
“The Valar drew Melkor back to Valinor, bound hand and foot, and blindfold; and he was brought to the Ring of Doom. There he lay upon his face before the feet of Manwë and sued for pardon; but his prayer was denied, and he was cast into prison in the fastness of Mandos, whence none can escape, neither Vala, nor Elf, nor mortal Man. Vast and strong are those halls, and they were built in the west of the land of Aman. There was Melkor doomed to abide for three ages long, before his cause should be tried anew, or he should plead again for pardon.” - The Silmarillion, "Of The Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
Melkor is imprisoned within the Halls of Mandos, for three ages (300 Valian years), roughly 2850 solar years - all the while he plots his revenge. As this time passes, many of the Elves would come to dwell in Aman.
After the three ages pass, Melkor is once again brought before his brother. Melkor bows down, prostrating himself once again before Manwë, begging for pardon. Manwë releases him from his captivity, much to the displeasure of Tulkas and Ulmo. The Valar decree that he will not return to Middle-earth, instead staying in Aman where they can keep an eye on him.
In secret, Melkor begins working to corrupt the Elves, for whom he holds a grudge - as it was for their safety that the Valar came to Middle-earth to overthrow him. As Melkor assesses the Elves, he realizes the Vanyar - the Elves that would forever dwell in Aman - do not trust him. The Teleri, known for their ship building, Melkor deems too weak to be effective in his plans. In the Ñoldor, however, he finds a curious people who are eager to learn from the Valar - even himself. In YT 1169, one among the Ñoldor is born who would be Melkor’s most bitter enemy, but also his greatest tool for his evil purposes - Fëanor, the creator of the Palantíri and most importantly, the Silmarils, three great gems which shone with the light of the Two Trees.
Melkor begins to spread rumors throughout the Ñoldor. He tells of Middle-earth and its wide lands - realms they would be free to rule were it not for the Valar keeping them in Aman. This distrust of the Valar and desire to rule takes hold in the hearts of many of the Ñoldor, especially Fëanor. Melkor sows even more discord within the House of Finwë between Fëanor and his younger half-brother Fingolfin. Manipulating Fëanor’s pride and quick temper, Melkor convinces Fëanor that Fingolfin plans to usurp his place as their father Finwë’s heir and take the Silmarils in the process. After Fëanor threatens to kill Fingolfin in YT 1490, the Valar banish him to Formenos, where he takes the Silmarils as well. In solidarity, Finwë also moves to Formenos to be with his son. Realizing that Melkor is pulling the strings in this feud, Tulkas goes to imprison him, but finds him gone.
Two years later (YT 1492), Melkor reappears at Formenos, seeking to further influence Fëanor. This time, however, he goes too far and Fëanor recognizes Melkor for what he is. Fëanor’s heart was still bitter at his humiliation before Mandos, and he looked at Melkor in silence, pondering if indeed he might yet trust him so far as to aid him in his flight. And Melkor, seeing that Fëanor wavered, and knowing that the Silmarils held his heart in thrall, said at the last:
“'Here is a strong place, and well guarded; but think not that the Silmarils will lie safe in any treasury within the realm of the Valar!' But his cunning overreached his aim; his words touched too deep, and awoke a fire more fierce than he designed; and Fëanor looked upon Melkor with eyes that burned through his fair semblance and pierced the cloaks of his mind, perceiving there his fierce lust for the Silmarils." - The Silmarillion, "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Ñoldor"
Fëanor slams the door in his face and Melkor flees once again, making his way south to the valley of Avathar. There he finds a mysterious dark spirit which takes the form of a giant spider - Ungoliant. Melkor promises her rich reward for her assistance and she weaves a cloak of shadow around Melkor and herself to hide them in their travels.
In YT 1495, the Valar seek reconciliation with the Ñoldor - and between Fëanor and Fingolfin. They all assemble in Valimar. Meanwhile, Melkor and Ungoliant make their way to the Two Trees.
“And in that very hour Melkor and Ungoliant came hastening over the fields of Valinor, as the shadow of a black cloud upon the wind fleets over the sunlit earth; and they came before the green mound Ezellohar. Then the Unlight of Ungoliant rose up even to the roots of the Trees, and Melkor sprang upon the mound; and with his dark spear he smote each Tree to its core, wounded them deep, and their sap poured forth as it were their blood, and was spilled upon the ground. But Ungoliant sucked it up, and going then from Tree to Tree she set her black beak to their wounds, till they were drained; and the poison of Death that was in her went into their tissues and withered them, root, branch, and leaf; and they died.” - The Silmarillion, "Of the Darkening of Valinor"
The light of the Trees extinguished, the world is once again plunged into darkness.
After Ungoliant drinks the entirety of the Wells of Varda, they go north to Formenos. There, Melkor kills Finwë and steals the Silmarils and other gems of Fëanor. Ungoliant, who grows in size after consuming the sap of the Two Trees, flees with Melkor across the Helcaraxë and into Middle-earth.
Once they arrive, Ungoliant in her insatiable hunger demands Melkor give her the treasure. Melkor, who is now very weak from his deeds, fears the monstrous spider. He gives her each of the gems of Fëanor and she, in turn, consumes each one. She then demands the Silmarils, but Melkor refuses. Ungoliant uses her webs to trap the Vala and nearly devours him, when he gives a great cry which summons the Balrogs from Angband. With their whips, they drive away Ungoliant and return their master to what remains of his old fortress. There, Melkor sets the Silmarils in an Iron Crown, which from that moment onward, he will never willingly remove - despite the fact that the crown is a great burden to him.
Back in Aman, Fëanor returns to Formenos to find his father slain and the Silmarils gone. Fëanor curses Melkor, and gives him a new name, which the Elves and Men will forever after know him by. A name meaning Black Foe or Dark Tyrant. The Vala Melkor is now known as the Dark Lord Morgoth.
As Fëanor claims kingship of the Ñoldor and leads many to Middle-earth, Morgoth, in his fortress of Angband, the Silmarils upon his crown, declares himself King of all the World. For the next 600 years, the Elves and Morgoth would be at war.
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A bad explanation of Tolkien mythology and backstory of Rings of Power
In the beginning, Eru (the Creator) created the Ainur. The Music of the Ainur created Eä (the Universe) and Arda (the World). The Ainur who entered that Creation as its guardians are known as Valar (greater Ainur) and Maiar (lesser Ainur).
In a sense, Ainur are angels. Valar are the upper choir and Maiar are the lower choir. *
Many of the Ainur who entered Creation have names. Among them is Vala Melkor, the bad boy of the group, who was cast out and retreated to Arda. He continued to misbehave on Arda, stealing three Silmarilli and destroying the Two Trees for good measure. The Elves didn’t like this, and gave him a new name: Morgoth.
The Dwarves mention Aulë on occasion. Vala Aulë’s domain is smithing/metalworking. (Get it??) One of Vala Aulë’s associates was Maia Mairon. Maia Mairon shifted allegiances to Vala Melkor, and eventually became known as Sauron.
Sauron, a skilled metalworker (previously under Aulë), approached Celebrimbor about making special rings, while Sauron planned to make one for himself.
And that’s what happened just before Rings of Power.
* The Valar eventually sent a group of Maiar to Arda to deal with Sauron’s shenanigans. They are known as Istari (or wizards!)
p.s. Tap the #ainur tag to see an updated version
#tolkien#mythology#rings of power#morgoth#sauron#eru iluvatar#ainur#valar#maiar#gandalf#music of the ainur#istari
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As a little girl I longed for a place to escape. A world that could take me away from the stress and turmoil of life. Where beauty and magic could be found around every corner. It wasn't until my lit professor handed me one of her favorite books, that I discovered such a place existed. The author was J.R.R. Tolkien. The Book was Lord of the Rings. The place was Middle Earth.
There are many reasons I chose to begin working on, The Enkarēin. One was because of my deeply profound love for Tolkien. Two was my love for writing, and three was the desire to share with others my own trials and tribulations throughout my life.
This fanfiction piece is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I have quite literally poured my heart into each and every page. Is it perfect? No. Albeit my hope is for others to not only find joy in, The Enkarēin, yet as well understand that after every darkness comes the dawn!
"Some things that should not have been forgotten were lost."
Eru Ilúvatar. The Creator. The Father of all within Eä. It was he who began it, the shaping of the universe and its inhabitants. He bore knowledge in all things; knowledge of things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass. Alas, darkness crept into the hearts of his children, leaving in its wake a world corrupted by those who would seek to dominate all life.
It was for this reason that he came to bear - The Children of Light, Vanyasén. The Enkarein. Peacekeepers and Protectors. A people birthed from the seed of Eru Ilúvatar to procure peace and long life amidst the vast realms of Middle Earth.
What can be said for those who abandon their intendment, for a kingdom of myth that is on the brink of utter annihilation? Those who are seldom what they seem. Those who gave birth to a forgotten daughter, and those who have seen enough of war and yet are once again faced with but one choice... unite or fall.
A tale of betrayal and deception. Of faith and fellowship. Of loss and love. Where one war has ended, another begins!
#books fanfiction fantasy jrrtolkien legolas legolasfanfiction lotr lordoftherings orlandobloom legolasfanfiction#fanfic#fanfiction#jrr tolkien#legolas#legolas fanfiction#legolas greenleaf#lotr#lotr books#lotr movies#lord of the rings#orlando#orlando bloom#wattpad
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Build a Door and Throw Away the Key
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/c02tuoM
by mediumsizedpidgeon
At the end of the First Age, Melkor– Vala, Monster, Morgoth– is locked away outside the bounds of Arda and Eä.
There are no thieved jewels on his crown to give a light to him he could not create, nor any armor to hide that even now, his hands have not healed. He is as pale-haired as bright blight, though the strands around his empty crown are the color of steel rust.
This is not the problem. Though the Valar, of course, would tell you there is none.
Or: The Feanorians are locked in the same cage as the strongest of the Valar, and desperate measures are taken. The rest of Arda deals with the fallout.
Words: 3908, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: Other
Characters: Fëanor | Curufinwë, Sons of Fëanor, Celebrimbor | Telperinquar, Maeglin | Lómion, Morgoth Bauglir | Melkor, Various Valar, Manwë Súlimo, Elbereth Gilthoniel | Varda Elentári, Nienna (Tolkien), Estë (Tolkien), Yavanna Kementári, Vána (Tolkien), Ulmo (Tolkien), Irmo | Lórien, Námo | Mandos, Vairë the Weaver, Tulkas (Tolkien), Aulë | Mahal, Fingon | Findekáno, Findis (Tolkien), Míriel Þerindë | Míriel Serindë, Elrond Peredhel, Mahtan Aulendur, Curufin's Wife, Finwë (Tolkien)
Additional Tags: Narvi (Tolkien) Is A Woman Here, (trans or otherwise), The Void, Arda Remade, Not Canon Compliant, Dagor Dagorath, Background Relationships, including russingon and celebrimbor/narvi, Finwean family drama, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Alternative Universe – the Feanorians Aren't At Dagor Dagorath or Arda Remade, Canonical Character Death
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/c02tuoM
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#The Lord of the Rings#The Fellowship of the Ring#Galadriel#lotr#lotredit#movie: the lord of the rings#character: galadriel#mine: lotr#mine: gifs#universe: eä
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“Then the voices of the Ainur, like unto harps and lutes, and pipes and trumpets, and viols and organs, and like unto countless choirs singing with words, began to fashion the theme of Ilúvatar to a great music; and a sound arose of endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the heights, and the places of the dwelling of Ilúvatar were filled to overflowing, and the music and the echo of the music went out into the Void, and it was not void.
(...)
Therefore I say: Eä! Let these things Be! And I will send forth into the Void the Flame Imperishable, and it shall be at the heart of the World, and the World shall Be; and those of you that will may go down into it.’ And suddenly the Ainur saw afar off a light, as it were a cloud with a living heart of flame; and they knew that this was no vision only, but that Ilúvatar had made a new thing: Eä, the World that Is.’
Excerpts from Ainulindalë, in The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkien.
Paintings by Lithuanian composer and painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875 - 1911), from his Creation of the World series. I felt these paintings would go very well with the sound that ‘passed beyond hearing’ and creates the world in Tolkien’s creation story.
Čiurlionis was a synaesthete whose perception of music and colour were linked.
“He was also interested in theories which analysed imaginary visions and perceptions, and discussions how to activate the creative power of imagination. Čiurlionis’ oeuvre emphasises his predisposition to philosophical issues: man as part of the Universe, man’s relation with the Absolute (deity, ruler, Rex). He investigated these themes in a number of paintings among which the most significant are Creation of the World (1905–1906)” (source)
Drafts of a tone poem with the same name also survive! Sadly Čiurlionis died at only 35, having produced over 400 pieces of music and 300 paintings in his short life.
#Tolkien#the silmarillion#Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis#J.R.R. Tolkien#jirt#ainulindale#art#paintings#tempera on board#music#synaesthesia#my edits#ainur#illuvatar#lithuanian artist#abstract art#symbolism#idk sorta in between really
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The Nature of the Ainur
I. The Creation of the Ainur
There are distinctive similarities between all of the Children and Adopted Children of Ilúvatar— the way they are formed, the way that they develop and grow. The Ainur, though when incarnate they may appear only a little different from the Children, are in fact a vastly different sort of being. Aside from their great power and their base nature as disincarnate spirits, the way they came into being is unlike anything within Eä— for they are not by nature from Eä.
Before any of the Ainur existed, there was only Eru— and the nature of Eru is unknown to any save they, and not even fully known to them. For He is not of the Ainur, nor is he a “god” in the way that Men considered him. Rather, He is the embodiment of all that is, for all that is was generated through Him. He is the conscious embodiment of the universe itself, and all that it contains. For long He was alone amidst the Void, and within Him was the Flame Imperishable, and the designs for a world and for beings to dwell within it. But alone, Eru could not act upon these designs or weave them into being, for though the themes of the world existed within Him, they were entangled and difficult to decipher or command while they remained within Him.
Thus, the first of the Ainur was made. It was Eru’s desire to bring things into being that created Melkor, whose first essence was manifested by a great part of Eru’s creativity, and emblazoned with His ambition.
When Eru saw what His own Thought had created, He imbued the resulting construct with a fragment of the Flame Imperishable— and thus, the first spirit was made. For the Flame Imperishable is the core of the identity of Eru, and those that He gifts it to become beings with their own free will and identity, and act not only according to their Nature and instincts, but also according to a Thought of their own. In a sense, those gifted with the Flame become beings not altogether unlike Eru Himself.
For a time, Melkor was alone with Eru amidst the Void, and he was taught to Sing, and of all of the many things within the mind of Eru. In time, Melkor’s own spirit was nurtured and he began to grow and develop on his own, according to his own will and not only that of Eru. Melkor began to desire to create things of his own, and through his questioning he learned from Eru of the Flame Imperishable— and set out on journeys into the Void seeking it. Now, this was done outside of the will of Eru, and being concerned by it, Eru created a second being to be a companion for Melkor.
This second spirit was manifested from that concern, and from Eru’s will for his creations. And thus, the second of the Ainur, Manwë the brother of Melkor, was created out of loyalty first to Eru as well as to Melkor, as his brother. Manwë too was kindled with the Flame Imperishable, and for a long while these two existed with Eru. Manwë was alike in many ways to Melkor, though he never strayed from Eru’s will as his elder brother did, and his Song blossomed according to the wishes of Eru.
These two were the first of many spirits created of Eru out of fragments of his own consciousness and being, and kindled into life and wills of their own by the Flame Imperishable. Some of these spirits were greater, others lesser, depending on which aspects they were created from and the strength of those aspects within the mind of Eru.
Thus were the Ainur created, and Songs were placed within each of them that were a fragment of the Great Music that would bring the universe into being, and Eru built the Timeless Halls amidst the Void for them to dwell within.
Of this existence before the beginning of Eä and before time itself, of a time before the Great Music of the Ainur echoed through the Void, little is known and little is told. For it was a time before language, and many things cannot be told in words that the Children would understand. Thus, much of the Nature of the Ainur, and especially of the Nature of Eru, remains a mystery to those that dwell within the World.
#silmarillion#tolkien#ainur#Valar#worldbuilding#meta#worldbuilding: the ainur#the nature of the ainur
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Mélamírë, Master Smith of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain :: Crafting of Galadriel's Mirror
"Calling upon the Threads of Vairë was never easy, and invariably she was nauseated, sometimes violently ill, afterward. But he had trained her to see them even if it was an exercise in which she engaged infrequently."
@finweanladiesweek day 6: Original Characters - Mélamírë (Grandaughter of Caranthir)
Mélamírë is my favourite OFC. Created by pandemonium_213 out of a need to link Robert J. Oppenheimer with his ancestors (according to the pandë!verse in Trinity ), she takes on a robust life of her own with a full-bodied personality and unique adventures. Born in Ost-en-Edhil to Culinen (daughter of Caranthir, master of the healers' Guild of the Heart) and Istyar Aulendil, Mélamírë becomes a master smith of the Gwaith-i-Mirdain. She survives the sack of the city, is captured by and subsequently escapes from Sauron into the distant East before returning to Imladris at the end of the third age to play an essential if low-key part. (She's mentioned in LoTR, although not by name).
Pandemonium_213's writing creates such vivid imagery in my mind that I'm simultaneously inspired to paint them and also daunted that I'll do her justice.
This illustration is from The Writhen Pool: Commissioned by Galadriel while in Ost-en-Edhil to create a scrying device that "flows with the very Currents of Time, a device by which the viewer can see not only what was, but also what is, and further, what will be, or at least the possibilities of the future", Mélamírë crafts the vessel from a custom alloy while drawing on the "Threads of Vairë" to imbue it with the requisite properties. The one stipulated condition is that she makes it herself; Galadriel doesn't want Aulendil—or Celebrimbor for that matter—laying their skilled-yet-dubious paws on it.
One of the aspects I enjoy so much in the Pandë!verse—other than excellent characterisations, engaging stories, and satisfyingly 'blasphemous' viewpoints (equally relevant to our Earth as to Arda)— is the scientifiction that pays homage to some of the fascinating (if not always quite so readily understandable) scientific theories of our age.
Mélamírë features in a number of stories (some of which are as-yet unfinished yet entirely worthwhile reading nonetheless) including The Writhen Pool, Risk Assesment, The Jinn and The Glitter of Swords. I also highly recommend reading The Apprentice first, and, oh gosh, just enjoy going down the whole enticing rabbit hole that is Pandemonium_213's excellent collection of fiction. (There is a chronology list, although some of the links are broken so just use the links from the fic title list or the search feature.)
Snippet from The Writhen Pool:
"It's daunting, the idea of tapping into the Currents of Time. The curwë for such a scrying device has not even been invented."
He sat up in the chair, no longer relaxed, but invigorated, as he always was when his mind's wheels started spinning. "Then you shall be the one to invent it. I can help. . ." he raised his forefinger to still her protest. ". . .I can help in a manner that is acceptable to Galadriel: simply the sharing of ideas. I have made notes on the mathematics of temporal oscillations; you may have them for reference. The materials? I will leave that up to you to discover, but my suggestion — and it is an important one — is to use water as the medium."
“Why water?”
“Because water is central to all life in Eä, not only here on Endórë. Ilúvatar may have released the Imperishable Flame to expand through the universe when it came into being, but He brought forth the seeds of life by watering them. Water has unusual properties: its essential components — the one and the two — resonate in a harmony that makes ice expand and steam float, that coats the cells in our bodies, supports the very thoughts within our brains. That harmony will allow your invention to link with the mind and act as a conduit to call upon the Threads of Vairë.”
She felt a tingle of both fear and excitement when she thought of the Threads, those bizarre strings of…well, she wasn't quite sure what they were. She just knew that by virtue of the Maiarin blood she had inherited from her father, she could visualize the things. The Threads, Father had taught her, resonated not only in this manifestation of Eä, but touched upon others, too, a concept that she found unnerving: that there might be many versions of herself living at any given moment in Middle-earths that might obey different laws than this one did. The Threads crossed not only Space, he said, but Time as well. He had explained them to her as probabilities, not certainties, and to be wary of the visions they showed. It was only when Vairë the Weaver plucked them from the multitudes of being that the probabilities became locked in this world as past and present.
Calling upon the Threads was never easy, and invariably she was nauseated, sometimes violently ill, afterward. But he had trained her to see them even if it was an exercise in which she engaged infrequently. Sometimes the visions were too terrifying and alien to process.
“Yes. The Threads of Vairë,” she said. “I see what you mean. But it is one thing to follow them twisting among the stars when you are at my side, helping me to see them. It is another to apply the principles to a material object. Have you derived equations that describe the Threads and their behavior?”
He shook his head. “I have attempted to do so, but I have not arrived at definitive solutions. That will be your province. I will do what I can to assist you, but I am in agreement with Galadriel: this must be your work, not Tyelpo's, not mine. You should use her commission to step out of our shadows.”
“Then you deem the project worthy of a woman's touch?”
He winced with no small drama. “Ouch. That stung.”
#silmarillion art#tolkien elves#tolkien fanfic#fic rec#pandemonium_213#finweanladiesweek#anerea#feynman diagrams#well; elvish versions of feynman diagrams - I have taken liberties#pandê!verse#scientifiction
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I don't have anyone to talk about this so I will ramble about something that takes too much place in my already overcrowded brain before it implodes. It's not a polished idea but i need to put it into words.
So it's a follow up on this post on entropy and Manwë and Melkor.
In it I highlight that Melkor's ultimate destruction about the end of the Great Battle doesn't fix Arda (or the universe in the larger scope regarding entropy) but in the end, is the trigger for its destruction.
It's one of my most fervent headcanon since I read the Silm all these cursed years ago. But to me the end of the Dagor Dagorath isn't a happy ending. The destruction of Evil itself (without inferring with jirt religious views, or the existence of ultimate evil, because I am no believer in both topics.) Should bring about the Healing and usher the era of Remade Arda (Unmarred only implies a reset. Which I always interpreted the D.D as not a reset. It is a deconstruction.)
So, Melkor (or Morgoth - the Evil Dark Lord, Nihilism personified) is finally defeated. Except. Except it breaks the World (as in the entire system housing the Dwelling).
And not because the Battle (in whatever form it will take) creates physical damages to Arda, to the point its fully ruined beyond the skills of the Valar to repair, but because Melkor is part of the equation of Existence.
Light and darkness, life and death, creation and destruction. One can not exist without the other. You kill one, you break the equilibrium. The Breaking of the World is triggered by Melkor's destruction.
What is happening beyond this is something we can use our minds to picture. A new Song? As in a new big bang for Eä ? Why not. The tale is about Arda (as the system) but the Aratar came beyond it and as Melkor is also part of them (despite their most valiant tentative to deny it.) The damage of his destruction must create ripples that go beyond Arda's scope, not unlike gravitational waves traveling through the cosmos. (considering I liken Melkor to a black hole, i like this allegory as well)
But also :) not to dive into the Information Principle because I will refrain from boring most of you, but nothing is supposed to be destroyed and lost forever. Unless you want to take a huge swing at the most cherished law of physics (but you and I are going to have A Talk then.)
The finite destruction of Melkor is unnatural. It goes against the most fundamental law of the universe Eru is said to have created.
And maybe Melkor's role in all of this was to be the trigger for a new era, a better one. He's a tragedy in itself, if so. Heck, he is the most tragic character in this. But in a way he also is the most important of Eru's creation, his most important child, the one that will end up being the cornerstone for the realisation of Eru's vision.
That ended up being a disjointed rant but my point is that I have a lot of feeling about the Dagor Dagorath and the roles of all its participants and the role of Melkor in the larger picture. *makes vague gestures*
#the silm meta#melkor#you know the parallel between him and Ardyn from ffxv are exquisite.#morgoth#dont let this fall into the wrong side of the fandom though#no i wont ever not stop to try to put some proper astrophysics and cosmology in the Legendarium SUE me#also im under a lot of pain killers right now :) hiiii#cassy.tolkien
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The Silmarillion Daily post for today (January 2) is from the end of the first chapter of the Silmarillion proper (“Of the Beginning of Days”), but it describes events in the Timeless Halls, so I thought it was best to put it here, before the story transitions to events in Eä (the created physical universe).
For which reason the Valar are to these kindreds rather their elders and their chieftains than their masters; and if ever in their dealings with Elves and Men the Ainur have endeavoured to force them when they would not be guided, seldom has this turned to good, howsoever good the intent.
Very important to later events in The Silmarillion! Reading this more closely than usual, I’m interested in the distinction between chieftains and masters. Chieftains implies a responsibility, and a place of leadership and guidance; but not absolute rule.
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Magical Compendium: Melkor
Below are my notes that I developed for working with Melkor as a pop culture pagan/chaos magician/I don’t like labels. My primary focus here is on details that can be most directly utilized in spiritual practice/magical workings (e.g. correspondences), but more general information is supplied as well in order to give greater context and develop themes.
I take a generally sympathetic and positive slant, so if that’s not in alignment with your tastes, you probably won’t get much out of this post. Furthermore, I admit that my knowledge of this subject is fragmentary at best and make no claims to expertise. I am simply someone with great interest in this figure/character.
Names:
True (Valarin) Name: unknown
Quenya Name: Melkor, “He Who Arises in Might”; older form Melkórë
Sindarin Names: (after stealing the Silmarils) Morgoth, “Black Foe”/“Dark Tyrant”; Bauglir, “the Constrainer”
Names given by Mairon in Númenórean cult worship: Lord of All, Giver of Freedom, Lord of the Darkness
Names given by himself: King of the World, Master of the Fates of Arda
“It is he whose name is not now spoken; for the Valar have deceived you concerning him, putting forward the name of Eru, a phantom devised in the folly of their hearts, seeking to enchain Men in servitude to themselves. For they are the oracle of this Eru, which speaks only what they will. But he that is their master shall yet prevail, and he will deliver you from this phantom; and his name is Melkor, Lord of All, Giver of Freedom, and he shall make you stronger than they” (Silmarillion, Akallabêth, p. 271).
Title/Occupation: First Dark Lord
Race: Ainur/Valar/Aratar
Texts: The Silmarillion (Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth), Morgoth’s Ring, Ósanwe-kenta
Domains: All*
“To Melkor among the Ainur had been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren” (Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, p.16).
Patron of: children; anyone who creates—artists, musicians, artisans, craftspeople, inventors, engineers; anyone who works with words—linguists, writers, poets; outcasts, criminals, prisoners
“From the first he was greatly interested in “language”, that talent that the Eruhíni would have by nature; but we did not at once perceive the malice in this interest, for many of us shared it, and Aulë above all. But in time we discovered that he made a language for those who served him; and he has learned our tongue with ease. He has great skill in this matter. Beyond doubt he will master all tongues, even the fair speech of the Eldar" (Manwë about Melkor to the Elves, Ósanwe-kenta).
Themes: existence (universe/cosmos/creation/Eä)/nonexistence (Void), parent/child, power/powerlessness, creation/destruction, order/chaos, purity/corruption, divinity/humanity, life/death
Colors: galaxy, black, rainbow, light
Elements/Energies: music, fire, ice, smoke, storm, lightning, darkness/shadow, void
“And he descended upon Arda in power and majesty greater than any other of the Valar, as a mountain that wades in the sea and has its head above the clouds and is clad in ice and crowned with smoke and fire; and the light of the eyes of Melkor was like a flame that withers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold” (Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, p. 22).
Magical Disciplines:
Creation magic/art or music magic/chaos magic/tulpamancy
Corruption magic
Magical languages, runes, and incantations
Dark magical races/creatures: orcs, dragons (draconic magic), werewolves, vampires, evil fay/spirits
Sex magic
Crystals
Blood magic
Necromancy
Spirit work
Ceremonial and sacrificial magic, deity work/worship, constructed places of worship (i.e. temples)
Symbols: hammer, crown, gemstones, chains (Angainor)
Weapon: Grond (Hammer of the Underworld)
Sabbats: Samhain
Animals: cats, bats, wolves, dragons
Plants/Herbs:
Amaranth - immortality
Aloe - immortality
Strelitizia - freedom, immortality
Heather - independence, confidence
Tassel flower - creativity, originality
Muscari - power, confidence, mystery, creativity
Stinging nettle - a stinging plant with a variety of uses, including food, textiles, and folk magic
Crown flower - a plant with flowers resembling crowns that is dangerous if touched or ingested
Cannabis - a plant popularly used as a recreational drug and sometimes associated with artists and creativity, the Devil and immorality, and counterculture
Elgaran flower - a fictional flower appearing in the video game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor that grows on the graves of Men
Materials: metal, especially iron
Tarot Cards: the Tower, Five of Wands, Eight of Swords
Related Entities: Mairon (Sauron)
*Some alternative suggestions for what his domain may be include chaos, destruction, corruption, change/transformation, evil, and darkness/shadow.
Edit 10/26/2021: Added more interesting herblore options.
Edit 10/30/2021: Added link to detailed tarot descriptions.
#pop culture paganism#pop culture magick#chaos magic#magical correspondences#Tolkien#Silmarillion#Ainur#Valar#Aratar#Melkor
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A bad explanation of Tolkien mythology and the story of Rings of Power (Revised, Full, with Hidden Spoilers)
In the beginning, Eru (the Creator) created the Ainur. The Music of the Ainur created Eä (the Universe) and Arda (the World). The Ainur who entered that Creation as its guardians are known as Valar (greater Ainur) and Maiar (lesser Ainur).
The Ainur are beings of Ëala (incorporeal spirit). They create Fanar (physical manifestations) to house their Ëalar so that they can be physically present in Arda.
In a sense, Ainur are angels. Valar are the upper choir and Maiar are the lower choir.
Many of the Ainur who entered Creation have names. One of them is Vala Aulë (the Smith). One of his associates, Maia Mairon, eventually shifted allegiances to Vala Melkor (the Mighty).
Vala Melkor, the bad boy of the group, was cast out and retreated to Arda. He continued to misbehave on Arda, stealing three Silmarilli and destroying the Two Trees for good measure. The Elves didn’t like this, and gave him a new name: Morgoth (the Great Foe). His new associate, Maia Mairon, assumed a new name for himself: Sauron.
Details aside, a Great War was waged, Morgoth was defeated and cast out to the Void (outside Eä), but Sauron remains at large.
In response to the trouble caused by Sauron, Vala Manwë (the King) formed the Heron Istarion (Order of Wizards) to deal with the problem.
At this point, Rings of Power goes all fanfic, and everything we assumed goes out the window. Just roll with it and click through the "Keep Reading" to see all the spoilery details, both major and minor.
When Rings of Power begins, the Elves are cleaning up the remnants of the war and hunting down Sauron. As they have not found him, Gil-Galad recalls the troops. Galadriel (whose brother Finrod was killed and husband Celeborn is MIA) is on a mission of vengance and refuses orders to return, but eventually gives in. While this is going on, Adar kills Sauron. (Shut up. I know. Keep reading.)
Celembrimbor decides so to start a new undisclosed project, but needs the Dwarves to build better forges. Some rando (The Stranger) falls from the sky, making life challenging for the Harfoots. The Orcs invade the Southlands, a collection of Human (Mannish?) settlements under Elven peacekeeprs.
Time passes. Shit happens. People meet, talk, compare notes.
The Dweller and company, seeking the Second Coming of Sauron, arrive from Rhûn (the Far East) to hunt down the Stranger. Unfortunately for them, The Stranger is not Sauron but an Istar with a memory problem. (Personally, I'm guessing Maia Aiwendil)
Adar tells Galadriel that he killed Sauron. Well, he thinks he did. Remeber: Sauron is an Ainu. When Adar did the deed, Sauron's Fana was destroyed, not his Ëala . It is reasonable to assume that Sauron created a new Fana and ran off to encourage Celebrimbor with his project. Nor is it out of the question that Sauron created yet another Fana to fish Galadriel out of the ocean. (Did I mention there would be spoilers? That's on you.)
Elrond's adventures run in parallel with all this. Somehow, the mission to get the Dwarves' help in building new forges becomes "We need your Mithril or we will die". Celebrimbor's attempts to harness the power of the Mithril nugget fail until Halbrand makes some suggestions. Halbrand fucks off, while Galadriel suggests making four rings with the Mithril: Narya, Vilya, Nenya and Nunya. ("Nunya"? Yeah. Nunya business! Lighten up.)
And that’s where it ends. Three Rings are made, Mordor rises, Sauron disappears, and The Stranger wanders off to Rhûn.
#the lord of the rings#rings of power#amazon prime video#galadriel#elrond#durin#halbrand#ainur#valar#maiar#the stranger#the dweller#the ascetic#the nomad#istari#sauron
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