The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien

Contents

Alphabetical index

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Reference

Other editions

Tolkien news and resources

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Welcome to The Encyclopedia of Arda

The Encyclopedia of Arda is a personal project - a tribute to and a celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The site is evolving into an illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples. It already contains about four thousand entries, and we're constantly adding new entries and expanding existing ones.

Inside the encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of Arda contains thousands of articles covering topics from J.R.R. Tolkien's world, some brief, some lengthy and some containing detailed essays and discussions.

You'll also find a selection of interactive tools, including a chronicle to help you explore Tolkien's fictional history, and calendar to translate dates and events, a lexicon of names, a glossary of old and rare words, and much more.

Context and approach

The content of the Encyclopedia is written in the same context as Tolkien himself used; he presented himself simply as a translator, rather than originator of the tales. Hence, we try to describe his world from a 'historical' rather than a literary perspective, though sometimes it's useful to explore ideas in their wider context. Where relevant, therefore, you'll also find a few references to Tolkien's life or opinions, or to real historical or mythological parallels to events in his universe.

About the name Arda

Arda was the name given by the Elves to their world and all it contained, and so 'Encyclopedia of Arda' seemed a peculiarly apt title for this project.

Special thanks

Thanks to all those who've e-mailed us over the years with their suggestions, corrections, ideas and just general support.

But the real Special Thanks, though, belong to the memory of J.R.R. Tolkien for his extraordinary and unparalleled creation.

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2024. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

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Featured Entry

The East

The far unknown lands of Middle-earth

A general term for the wild lands that lay out eastward beyond the more populated and civilised western parts of Middle-earth. In the most ancient times, the Elves had awoken in the East in the lakeside region known as Cuiviénen. This was a time of darkness in Middle-earth, and the first Elves came into a world lit only by starlight. At the invitation of the Valar, most of these Elves migrated westward in the Great Journey, but some, known as Avari, continued to wander the wilds of the East.

Long afterward, a new race arose in the distant East when the first Men awakened in a land that would become known as Hildórien on the far eastern shores of Middle-earth. These early Men were visited by Morgoth, and a darkness lay on their earliest histories, but by no means all were seduced by the Dark Lord. Many migrated westward from Hildórien, some of whom sought for the Light that they had heard could be found in the West. Over generations, Men made the long journey out of the East and crossed the Blue Mountains into Beleriand. These Edain would eventually give rise to the Dúnedain and the kingdom of Númenor.

The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda