Two Trees of Valinor

Arda in the Years of the Trees

Two Trees of Valinor were two luminous trees that stood in the land of Valinor, before the First Age in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. These trees, named Telperion and Laurelin, were of great significance in the mythology of Middle-earth, serving as the source of light before the creation of the Sun and the Moon. They were created by the Vala Yavanna, the giver of fruits, and were cherished by all the inhabitants of Valinor, including the Valar, the Maiar, and the Elves.

Description

Telperion, the older of the two trees, was silver in color and its dew was collected as a source of light. Laurelin, the golden tree, complemented its counterpart by shining with a brilliant golden light. The cycle of the trees, where Telperion would shine for seven hours followed by Laurelin for another seven, created a measure of time for the inhabitants of Valinor before the first rising of the Sun and Moon.

History

The Two Trees of Valinor illuminated the land of the Valar for ages until the coming of Melkor, the first Dark Lord, and Ungoliant, a primordial being of darkness. They conspired to destroy the Trees, leaving Valinor in darkness and leading to significant events in the history of Middle-earth, including the crafting of the Silmarils by Fëanor, which contained the last remnants of the Trees' light.

Following the destruction of the Trees, the Valar created the Sun and Moon from the last surviving flower of Laurelin and the last surviving fruit of Telperion, respectively. This marked the beginning of the count of time in Middle-earth according to the Years of the Sun.

Significance

The Two Trees are central to the mythology of Middle-earth, symbolizing the themes of loss and hope, a recurring motif in Tolkien's works. They also play a crucial role in the history and cosmology of Tolkien's world, influencing the events that lead to the War of the Jewels and the eventual fading of the Elves.

The legacy of the Trees continues through the Silmarils, the Phial of Galadriel given to Frodo Baggins during the Third Age, and the White Tree of Gondor, which is said to be a descendant of Telperion.

Influence

The Two Trees of Valinor draw on various mythological and religious sources, including the Norse mythology of Yggdrasil, the biblical Tree of Life, and the Zoroastrian concept of dualism. Tolkien, a philologist and scholar of mythology, wove these influences into his creation of the Trees, enriching the tapestry of Middle-earth's history and mythology.

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