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Before the time of the [[Two Trees]] of [[Valinor]], and even before the [[Valar]] came to Valinor, they dwelt on the green island of '''Almaren''' ([[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈalmaren]}}) in the Great Lake.  
{{location infobox
| name=Almaren
| image=[[File:Sage - Almaren.png|250px]]
| caption=
| pronun=
| othernames="Isle of Almaren"
| location=In the centre of the [[Great Lake]] in early [[Middle-earth]]
| type=Island
| description=Large green island, fairest land during the [[Years of the Lamps]]
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Valar]]
| created=
| destroyed=V.Y. 3450
| events=[[Spring of Arda]]<br>Wedding of [[Tulkas]] and [[Nessa]]
}}
The Isle of '''Almaren''' lay in the midst of the [[Great Lake]] in the center of [[Middle-earth]] when all the lands and seas were symmetrical, and thus the island was the midmost point of all [[Arda]].


==History==
==History==
In the mists of time, long before the awakening of [[Elves]] or [[Men]], the [[Valar]] dwelt east of the Sea in [[Middle-earth]]. This was a time called the [[Spring of Arda]], when [[Arda]] was lit by the two Lamps of the Valar, and Almaren lay in the central regions of the World, where the light of the two Lamps mingled.
In the 1,500th Valian year since the coming of many of the [[Valar]] to Arda, another Vala came to the aid of [[Manwë]]. This was [[Tulkas]] the Strong who caused [[Melkor]] to abandon Middle-earth.<ref name="Annal">{{MR|P2a}}</ref>  In the peace that followed the Valar were able to bring order to the seas and lands,<ref>{{S|Days}}</ref> and it may have been that Almaren was created at that time.


Almaren was covered with grass, and the Valar had a dwelling there, which presumably constituted a city, or at least a town. In the history of the Valar, Almaren was known as the place where [[Tulkas]] wed [[Nessa]].  
By the Valian year 1,900 [[Aulë]] had wrought the [[Two Lamps]], [[Illuin]] and [[Ormal]], and [[Varda]] had given them hallowed fire that lit Arda and brought living things to life.  Almaren certainly did exist by this time, for being between the Two Lamps all things grew richest and fairest upon the island and the Valar made their dwelling there (though they were often abroad upon their business).


Of much greater importance, though, is the fact that Almaren was the site of the Valar's first major defeat at the hands of [[Melkor]]: he loosed his forces secretly from his northern fortress of [[Utumno]] (then newly delved). Both the Lamps of the Valar were thrown down and destroyed, and Almaren lay in ruins. Tulkas gave chase, but Melkor escaped into the dungeons of Utumno.  
When at last the Valar were content Manwë ordained a great feast upon the isle in the Valian year 3,400.  At the feast Tulkas wed Nessa and then slept, for he was weary with his labors in the ordering of Arda.  Seeing his chance, Melkor and his host surmounted the [[Walls of Night]] and began the delving of [[Utumno]] in the north. His coming marred the [[Spring of Arda]], turning many living things sick, rotted, or corrupted. The Valar then knew that Melkor was returned but did not know his hiding-place.


After this, the [[Valar]] left [[Middle-earth]] and seldom returned. They founded a new land far away to the west, in [[Aman]], that they called [[Valinor]]; a land lit by the fabled light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]].  
In the year 3,450 Melkor came forth in war and cast down the Two Lamps.  Their destruction broke the lands and roiled the seas.  The dwelling of the Valar upon Almaren was utterly destroyed and the island and the Great Lake disappeared in the tumult.<ref name="Annal"/>


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[[Category:Ainur realms]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category:Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Quenya locations]]
[[Category:Quenya locations]]
[[de:Almaren]]
[[de:Almaren]]
[[fi:Almaren]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/iles/almaren]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/iles/almaren]]
[[fi:Almaren]]

Revision as of 19:13, 10 October 2019

Almaren
Island
Sage - Almaren.png
General Information
Other names"Isle of Almaren"
LocationIn the centre of the Great Lake in early Middle-earth
TypeIsland
DescriptionLarge green island, fairest land during the Years of the Lamps
People and History
InhabitantsValar
DestroyedV.Y. 3450
EventsSpring of Arda
Wedding of Tulkas and Nessa

The Isle of Almaren lay in the midst of the Great Lake in the center of Middle-earth when all the lands and seas were symmetrical, and thus the island was the midmost point of all Arda.

History

In the 1,500th Valian year since the coming of many of the Valar to Arda, another Vala came to the aid of Manwë. This was Tulkas the Strong who caused Melkor to abandon Middle-earth.[1] In the peace that followed the Valar were able to bring order to the seas and lands,[2] and it may have been that Almaren was created at that time.

By the Valian year 1,900 Aulë had wrought the Two Lamps, Illuin and Ormal, and Varda had given them hallowed fire that lit Arda and brought living things to life. Almaren certainly did exist by this time, for being between the Two Lamps all things grew richest and fairest upon the island and the Valar made their dwelling there (though they were often abroad upon their business).

When at last the Valar were content Manwë ordained a great feast upon the isle in the Valian year 3,400. At the feast Tulkas wed Nessa and then slept, for he was weary with his labors in the ordering of Arda. Seeing his chance, Melkor and his host surmounted the Walls of Night and began the delving of Utumno in the north. His coming marred the Spring of Arda, turning many living things sick, rotted, or corrupted. The Valar then knew that Melkor was returned but did not know his hiding-place.

In the year 3,450 Melkor came forth in war and cast down the Two Lamps. Their destruction broke the lands and roiled the seas. The dwelling of the Valar upon Almaren was utterly destroyed and the island and the Great Lake disappeared in the tumult.[1]

References

Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar