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The Tolkien Encyclopedia

Lauterbrunnen valley, Switzerland. Tolkien travelled in the Swiss Alps in 1911.
Lauterbrunnen valley, Switzerland. Tolkien travelled in the Swiss Alps in 1911. Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

THE PUBLIC MIDDLE-EARTH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Explore Tolkien’s people, places, histories and ideas. Definitions remain free to read. Use a name or keyword, choose a topic, or browse by initial letter.

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13 matching entries · 117 public entries in the encyclopedia. Reset filters

Peoples and creatures

Ainur

Ainur were the mightiest being created by Eru. Divine spirits, the Holy Ones. There are two "orders" of Ainur - Valar and Maia. The Ainur were the offspring of Eru's thoughts.

Characters and genealogies

Aldamir

Aldamir (TA 1330-TA 1540) was the 23rd King of Gondor as Castamir was still counted as the 22nd. The younger of son of Eldacar but took the throne after Eldacar’s death as his…

Characters and genealogies

Anardil

Anardil (TA 136-TA 411) the sixth King of Gondor, son of Earendil. He ruled for 87 years, in what seemed to be an uneventful reign. He is known as the last Gondorian…

Characters and genealogies

Anarion

Anarion (SA 3219-SA 3440) the youngest son of Elendil was part of the 9 faithful that left Numenor after it’s downfall, eventually settling and ruling Gondor with brother Isildur. Anarion settled on…

Places and kingdoms

Angmar

Angmar is the kingdom of the Witch-king, Sauron's greatest servant. It is barren and rocky, with thick clouds striving to block out the sun.Its capital is Carn Dum, a dread city populated…

Characters and genealogies

Aragorn

Reading this entry: This illustrated legacy entry includes discussion of Peter Jackson’s films as well as Tolkien’s books. Film images and adaptation details should not be treated as evidence for the literary…

ENCYCLOPEDIA

Ararat

The High Ones of Arda. Among Valar nine of them were of chief power and reverence, but when Melkor was removed from their number, the Eight remained: ManwëVardaAulëYavannaUlmoOromëMandosNienna

Places and kingdoms

Arda

The world in which all peoples of Middle-earth and of Valinor lived

Places and kingdoms

Argonath

The Argonath by John Howe The Argonath, also called the Pillars of Kings or the Gates of Argonath. Construction was ordered in TA 1248 by Romendacil the 2nd to commemorate his victory against…

Objects and artifacts

Arkenstone

The Arkenstone was considered to be the greatest treasure of all the Dwarf-hoards. It is also called the Heart of the Mountain, or the Arkenstone of Thráin. The jewel was lost, that…

Characters and genealogies

Atanatar

Atanatar 1 (TA 480-TA 748) was the tenth King of Gondor. Ruled in the peace accomplished by his father Turambar following the conquest of the Easterlings. Ruled Gondor for 81 years until…

Characters and genealogies

Atanatar II Alcarian

Atanatar II (TA 977-TA 1226) was the 16th King of Gondor, he was also known as Atanatar II Alcarian, meaning ‘glorious’. He took the crown in 1149 of the Third Age after the…

Cosmology and mythology

Aulë

Aulë was an Ainu and a Vala created by Eru Iliuvatar, and his lordship was over all the substances of which Arda was made. He was a Smith and master of all crafts,…

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