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The Creation of Arda
as given by the Ainulindalë
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'There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were
the offspring of his thought...'
Ainulindalë
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Eru, known to the Elves as Ilúvatar, created the Ainur as the first beings in the void. He instructed them in the arts of music and by assembling them he
created through the Music of the Ainur a vision of Arda, the world that is.
Ilúvatar granted the world a true being, wherein many of the Ainur descended to prepare it for the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men).
The fourteen greatest of the Ainur became the Valar of the World who took physical form and gave order to the world and combat the evils of Melkor, the
greatest of the Ainur who is not counted among the Valar.
These are the Valar in their Order:
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Lords of the Valar
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Queens of the Valar
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Manwë Súlimo
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Varda Elentári
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Ulmo
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Yavanna Kementári
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Aulë
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Nienna
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Oromë
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Estë
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Mandos
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Vairë
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Lórien
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Vána
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Tulkas
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Nessa
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At first the Valar dwelt on the island of Almaren. At this time the two Lamps of the Valar, Illuin and Ormal, were raised which signified the beginning of the First Spring of Arda.
These lamps were thrown down by Melkor in the first major defeat of the Valar, destroying much of the works of the Valar and changing the face of Arda.
After this the Valar left Middle-Earth seldom to return. They founded a new land to the far west which they called afterwards Valinor and lit this land by the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin, the Trees of Silver and of Gold.
A long period of peace which lasted approx. 6.000 years (the time is only stated by 'the ages drew on). During this time all of Middle-Earth lay in Darkness lit by starlight alone.
When Oromë discovered the Awakening of the Elves at the lake Cuiviénen the Valar made war on Melkor, who had fortified his fortress of Utumno in the years.
Melkor was thrown down and brought to Valinor in chains before the seat of Manwë to be judged. Manwë´s judgement was that Melkor should be bound and imprisoned in the halls of Mandos for three ages (about 9.000 years) and be judged afterwards again.
The Valar summoned the Elves to dwell with them in Valinor and many of the Elves followed this call. The ones who stayed in Middle-Earth were referred to as the Dark Elves, since Middle-Earth still had no light. During this time also the Fathers of Dwarves awoke.
After his sentence Melkor was released and allowed to dwell in Valinor. He at first pretended friendship to Valar and Elves but returned to evil again by destroying the two trees with the help of Ungoliant, an evil creature of spider form.
Stealing the Silmarils, made by Fëanor, he fled back to the north of Middle-Earth. Fëanor in his wrath followed him with a great part of the Noldor Elves against the will of the Valar.
The Valar laid a dreadful prophecy and curse on the Noldor fortelling many things that later came to pass, especially the evil consequences of the Oath of Fëanor for himself and his Sons. So powerful were Mandos' words that Fëanor's half-brother Finarfin gave up the march and led his people back to dwell in Valinor.
With the last flower of Telperion and the last fruit of Laurelin the Valar made the sun and the moon and by setting them on their paths through the heaven the
First Age of the World began.
The First Rising of the Moon
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