Time
Time is the life of Eä.[1] The Timeless Halls and the Void are implied to be outside Time. The Time began with Eä and the Valar descending to Arda.[2] Time perhaps represents the sequence of the chords sung by Eru in the Ainulindalë.[3]
The Count of Time begun with the Two Trees[4] (see: Years of the Trees).
The expression Deeps of Time probably loosely refers to the vast extent of Time[5] in the unfathomable past or future, and each specific point is a finite space in the Deeps of Time.[2]
Other versions of the legendarium
In an excerpt related to The Book of Lost Tales, Tolkien introduced some Ainur who represented the concept of time, and presented themselves to Manwë: Aluin was the eldest of the Ainur and represented Time itself, and his children were Fanuin (year), Ranuin (month) and Danuin (day).[6] The excerpt however was soon rejected and the concept was not developed.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Fourth section of the Annals of Aman"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur"
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Time"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Deeps of Time"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "IX. The Hiding of Valinor", p. 219