Reckoning of Rivendell
The Calendar of Imladris or Reckoning of Rivendell (in the Red Book) is an Elvish calendar, and perhaps the only one known to the Hobbits.
The Eldar measured time on two scales:
- Long periods of time were reckoned in yéni, which corresponded to 144 solar years[note 1] containing 8,766 enquier ("weeks") or 52,596 days.
- A single solar year was called a Coranar ("sun-round") or Loa ("growth"); this was divided in six astar of irregular length, having the role of "months" or rather "seasons".
In addition to the six astar, a coranar had additional days inserted into the calendar to bring the total to 365 days. The first day of the year was yestarë, which preceded Tuilë, and the last day of the year was mettarë, which followed Coirë. Between yávië and quellë were three enderi ("middle-days") which were doubled every twelve years as leap days.
The names of the six astar and additional days of the coranar were:
| Quenya name | Sindarin name | English Translation | Length in Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yestarë | First Day | 1 | |
| Tuilë | Ethuil | Spring | 54 |
| Lairë | Laer | Summer | 72 |
| Yávië | Iavas | Autumn | 54 |
| Enderi | Middle Days | 3 or 6 | |
| Quellë | Firith | Fading | 54 |
| Hrívë | Rhîw | Winter | 72 |
| Coirë | Echuir | Stirring | 54 |
| Mettarë | Last Day | 1 |
Quellë was also known as Lasse-lanta ("leaf-fall") or, in Sindarin, Narbeleth ("Sun-waning").
Other calendar adjustments to deal with inaccuracies are unknown. As stated above a yén would be over a day too long. There is an indication that the last year of every third yén had its enderi omitted (see: haranyë), but any further methods of adjustment are unknown.[1]
Notes
- ↑ The number 144 (12x12) is 100 in the duodecimal system; in other words a yén is a duodecimal century.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D, "The Calendars"
