Gardens of Lórien
Also calledLórien of Valinor, The Gardens of Irmo
The Gardens of Lórien were the dwelling of Irmo and Estë in the south of Valinor, the fairest gardens in the world and a place of rest, dreams and healing. Melian dwelt there before she went to Middle-earth, Olórin visited often, and Míriel's body was laid there when her spirit went to Mandos.
Description
The gardens of rest
In the south of Valinor lay the gardens of Irmo, the younger of the two brothers called the Fëanturi, who was known by the name of his dwelling, Lórien, just as his elder brother Námo was called Mandos. Irmo was the master of visions and dreams, and his spouse Estë was the healer of hurts and weariness. Their gardens were the loveliest place in all Arda, full of fountains, flowering trees and quiet shade, and at their heart lay the lake of Lórellin, on whose island Estë slept by day. All who came there, Valar, Maiar or Eldar, found rest and were relieved of the burdens of the world, and the Valar themselves went there to be refreshed.
Several notable figures of the legendarium were associated with the gardens. Melian, whose singing was the loveliest in Valinor, served both Vána and Estë and dwelt in Lórien before she went east to Middle-earth and met Thingol in Nan Elmoth. Olórin, the wisest of the Maiar, who ages afterwards was sent to Middle-earth as Gandalf, lived in Lórien and went often to the house of Nienna to learn pity and patience. The Noldor named the woodland realm of Lothlórien in Middle-earth after Irmo's gardens, and Galadriel, who had walked in the original, shaped her own land in its memory.
Míriel
When Míriel, the wife of Finwë, was worn out by the bearing of Fëanor and wished only for rest, she was brought to the gardens of Lórien. There she lay down, and her spirit left her body and went to the Halls of Mandos, but her body remained in the gardens, tended by Estë's maidens and never withering. It lay there through the long years while Finwë grieved, married Indis, and was himself slain; and the whole history of the Noldor's division began in that quiet place.
Geography
The gardens lay in the south of Valinor, far from Valmar, the Trees and the northern Halls of Mandos. The lake Lórellin and its island were at their centre, and the woods around them were the richest in the realm after the woods of Oromë.
Associated figures
Dwelt in
Wizard
Gandalf
IstariGandalf, called Olórin in Valinor and Mithrandir by the Elves, was the wisest of the Istari, a Maia sent by the Valar to rouse the free peoples against Sauron. Bearer of Narya, the Ring of Fire, he uncovered the Necromancer, set the quest of Erebor in motion, unmasked the One Ring, led the Fellowship, died against the Balrog of Moria and returned as Gandalf the White to guide the West to victory in the War of the Ring, after which he sailed into the West.
None; a wanderer through the West of Middle-earthQueen of Doriath
Melian
MaiarMelian is the Maia who took bodily form in Middle-earth, wedded the Elven-king Thingol and reigned with him in Doriath, protecting the realm for an age with the Girdle of her power. Mother of Lúthien and the only Ainu to have children among the Eldar, she was the wisest counsellor in Beleriand; after Thingol's death she withdrew her protection and returned to Valinor.
DoriathLord of Lórien
Irmo
ValarIrmo, usually called Lórien after his gardens, is the younger of the Fëanturi, the master of visions and dreams, whose gardens in Valinor are the fairest place in the World and a refuge for the weary. Melian and Olórin, who became Gandalf, both dwelt in his realm.
The gardens of Lórien in ValinorThe Gentle
Estë
ValarEstë the Gentle is the Vala of healing and rest, spouse of Irmo, who sleeps by day on an island in the lake of Lórelin and whose fountains refresh all who are weary in Valinor. Melian was of her people.
The gardens of Lórien in Valinor
Ruled
Lord of Lórien
Irmo
ValarIrmo, usually called Lórien after his gardens, is the younger of the Fëanturi, the master of visions and dreams, whose gardens in Valinor are the fairest place in the World and a refuge for the weary. Melian and Olórin, who became Gandalf, both dwelt in his realm.
The gardens of Lórien in Valinor
Visited
Guide of the Moon
Tilion
MaiarTilion is a Maia of Oromë's hunting company, a lover of silver light, who was chosen to steer the vessel of the Moon made from the last flower of Telperion. Wayward in his course and drawn to Arien's fire, he was attacked by Morgoth's spirits of shadow and bears the scars on the Moon's face; he raised the first moonrise seven days before the Sun.
The Moon
Died in
Queen of the Noldor
Míriel
NoldorMíriel Serindë was the first wife of Finwë and the mother of Fëanor, the most skilled needleworker among the Noldor. Worn out by the birth of her son, she chose to release her spirit to Mandos and refused ever to return, and her death opened the rift in the house of Finwë.
Tirion
Timeline
- Years of the Lamps
The gardens planted
Irmo and Estë make their home in the south of Valinor when the Valar settle Aman.
- Y.T. 1050
Melian departs
Melian, who had dwelt in Lórien, leaves for Middle-earth at about the time the Elves awake.
- Y.T. 1170
Míriel lies down in Lórien
Míriel's spirit passes to Mandos and her body is kept unwithered in the gardens.
- T.A. 1000
Olórin sent east
The Maia who dwelt in Lórien is chosen among the Istari and goes to Middle-earth as Gandalf.
Sources
- The SilmarillionValaquenta; Quenta Silmarillion, chapters 4, 6
- Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earthThe Istari, on Olórin's dwelling in Lórien
- The Fellowship of the RingBook II, chapter 6, on Lothlórien and its naming
See also
Part of
Elsewhere in Valinor
- Ezelloharplace
- Formenosfortress
- Halls of Mandosplace
- Taniquetilmountain
- Valmarcity
- Máhanaxarplace