My dearest Vana,
I will make some notes about Tirion. My first thought is not about Tirion itself
but you in Tirion. Ever since I led the
Eldar from Middle Earth to Aman, you have cared for them and loved them too,
particularly the Noldor and Vanyar who settled in Tirion. Both you and I spend
much time there helping them learn and care for each other.
I
enjoy meeting with you in your gardens or in my palace in Valimar. Most of all, I like working with you in
Tirion and on occasion living there in the rooms that the Eldar provide
us. We are then among the people we both
love.
Enough! I will now write my notes about Tirion.
Your adoring husband,
Oromë
Tirion upon Túna
When Oromë had led the Eldar from Middle
Earth because of the darkening of the lands by Melkor, the Noldor and the
Vanyar settled not far from Valimar but east of that Valarian city. “To these the Valar had given a land and a
dwelling-place. Even among the radiant flowers of the Tree-lit gardens of
Valinor they longed still at times to see the stars.” In cooperation with the Valar, the Eldar
created a grand plan to let the light pour through from the Two Trees onto the
their lands.
The first part of the plan was to clear a
section of the Pelóri Mountain Range twixt Valimar and the Bay of Eldamar. The
Eldar harvested lumber of all sorts: much pine from the upper slopes but also
some other conifers and from the lower slopes several hardwoods including an
abundance of oak, chestnut, and walnut.
These lumbers were stored in huge seasonings sheds for later use in the
construction of their city.
“and therefore a
gap was made [by the Valar] in the great
walls of the Pelóri and there in a deep valley that ran down to the sea the
Eldar raised a high green hill: Túna it was called. From the west the light of the Trees fell
upon it and its shadow lay ever eastward, and to the east it looked toward the
Bay of Elvenhome, and the Lonely Isle, and the Shadowy Seas.”
The Eldar mined the exposed slopes of the
mountains on either side of the valley for metals recovering not only iron,
tin, and copper but also more precious ones such as gold, silver, and a bit of
mithril. From escarpments to the north
they quarried huge blocks of white marble and on the south they cut crystals
from the great deposits there. Taking these building resources from the land,
the Eldar took great care to preserve the natural environment for they loved
nature so.
They constructed waterways and built
ingenious devices to carry it up to where it was needed.
“And it came to pass that the masons of the
house of Finwë, quarrying in the hills after stone (for they delighted in the
building of high towers), first discovered the earth-gems, and brought them
forth in countless myriads; and they devised tools for the cutting and shaping
of gems, and carved them in many forms. They hoarded them not, but gave them
freely, and by their labour enriched all Valinor.”
With lumber and metals and white marble and
earth-gems, the Eldar began building first sawmills and smelterings, then workshops
and laboratories. Architects and
designers and planners created plans for a great city. The Eldar were familiar
with the structures, designs, and architectures of Valimar being it was less
than a half-day’s journey to the west.
Their buildings emulated those of Valimar but with Elven flair and
decorations of earth-gems that were so abundant.
“… Upon the
crown of Túna the city of Elves was built, the
white walls and terraces of Tirion; and the highest of the towers of
that city was the Tower of Ingwë, Mindon Eldaliéva, whose silver lamp shone far
out into the mists of the sea.” The Eldar built “the high court of the King upon the summit of Túna; “
“In
Tirion upon Túna the Vanyar and Noldor dwelt long in fellowship. And since of
all things in Valinor they loved most the White Tree, Yavanna made for them a
tree like to lesser image of Telperion, save that it did not give light of its
own being. Galathilion it was named in
the Sindarin tongue. The tree was planted in the courts beneath the Mindon. and
there flourished, and its seedlings were many in Eldamar.”
“The Noldor were
beloved of Aulë, and he and his people came often among them. Great became
their knowledge and their skill; yet even greater was their thirst for more
knowledge, and in many things they soon surpassed their teachers. They were
changeful in speech, for they had great love of words, and sought ever to find
names more fit for all things that they knew or imagined.”
The wife or Oromë, Vana, encouraged and
aided the Noldor in many ways and pursuits of knowledge and kindness to those
less fortunate. She supported the Eldar in the construction of buildings
dedicated to learning with rooms for classes and laboratories for
demonstrations and experiments.
Dormitories were constructed to house students and scholars and teachers coming
from afar, such was the reputation of Tirion as a learning center. Vana
inspired the Eldar to create a building for temporary housing of the
unfortunate who lacked places to reside and to erect a hospital for the caring
of the injured and ill. Such was her
kindness, caring, and leadership among the Eldar.
The Teleri came at last to the lands of
Aman .”There they dwelt, … and could tread the crystal stairs of Tirion upon
Túna.”
The Eldar live and work in a wondrous
community upon Túna and Tirion
flourishes.
__________________
Reference:
Tolkien, J.R.R., The Silmarillion. 2nd ed., Edited by
Christopher Tolkien. …
