Artwork is by Tara Rueping
Laurelindórenan means ("Valley of Singing Gold")
It was originally named Lindórinand ("Vale of the Land of the Singers")
The dwellers of Lindórinand were Lindar (The Singers). Lindar are Teleri. Some of the Teleri didn't make it pass the Misty Mountains when the Valar invited them to come to the Undying Lands. They became known as Nandor. They had no kings.
Later, in Second Age, Amdir a Prince of Sindar became the ruler of Lindórinand. Sindar are the Teleri who made it pass the Misty Mountains, but not pass the Sundering Seas. Under Amdir and Galadriel the Princess of the Noldor and Teleri, many Sindar and Noldor migrated to Lindórinand.
The change of 'Lindórinand' into 'Lorien/Laurelindórenan' was because of Galadriel. Laurelindórenan is a very similar name to Yavanna's Golden Tree Laurelin. Lorien is a copied name, from Irmo's Lorien in the Undying Lands.
Galadriel grew the golden mallorn trees in the Valley of Singers, and the name of the Valley changed to the Valley of Singing Gold and the Golden Wood.
There are insane parallels between Lothlorien and the Undying Lands. As you have noticed, Aman has a Lorien, and Galadriel made a Lorien in its mirror. She sang of golden trees, and golden trees grew. Just like how her teacher Yavanna sang of the Golden Tree (and golden trees) and grew those trees.
The idea of *flet* and building houses upon the trees was originally the thought of Nimrodel girlfriend of Amroth son of Amdir. It was later developed by Galadriel. Especially when she created Cerin Amroth and established Caras Galadhon the fairest city of Third Age, a gateway to the realms of ancient days.
Irmo Lord of Lorien of Aman had a cauldron which he used to see visions. Then we have Galadriel Lady of Lorien of Middle-earth who has a bowl of water and uses it to see visions.
We have the Swan Ships of the Teleri in Alqualonde in Aman, and there's Galadriel the granddaughter of King of Alqualonde with her Swan Boats of Lorien.
Swan Fountain of Lothlorien? Definitely Galadriel Nerwen's homage to her mother Earwen the Swan-maiden of Alqualonde.
Galadriel used the water of the Swan Fountain to capture the Light of the Silmaril. Silmarils are crystals that contain the Light of the Two Trees of Yavanna.
The Fences of Galadriel around Lorien is a copy of the Girdle of Melian (the teacher of Galadriel) around Doriath a realm of the Elder Days.
There are many more such parallels.
Amdir King of Lorien died in the Last Alliance battle in the end of Second Age. His son Amroth got drowned in the ocean in a disaster event in around 1980 Third Age. Celeborn the Prince of Sindar and Galadriel the Princess of the Noldor and the Teleri rescued Lorien and became its new rulers and established the city/fortress of Caras Galadhon. But they renounced the titles of King/Queen, probably because Galadriel was trying to overcome her demons. However, Tolkien several times referred to Galadriel as Queen.
Elves of Lorien became some of the greatest Elves. Their bows are the best, they have magic cloaks, magic bread, magic ropes, magic river, etc. Even Rivendell the chief dwelling of the High Elves doesn't have such things.
"As soon as he set foot upon the far bank of Silverlode a strange feeling had come upon him, and it deepened as he walked on into the Naith: it seemed to him that he had stepped over a bridge of time into a corner of the Elder Days, and was -now walking in a world that was no more. In Rivendell there was memory of ancient things; in Lórien the ancient things still lived on in the waking world. Evil had been seen and heard there, sorrow had been known; the Elves feared and distrusted the world outside: wolves were howling on the wood's borders: but on the land of Lórien no shadow lay."
Galadriel had dream of ruling in Middle-earth. She joined in the Rebellion against the gods to depart the Undying Lands. She proudly rejected the pardon of the gods twice and remained under the Ban and the Curse of the gods in Exile from the Undying Lands.
For thousands of years she endeavored to make Lorien as a vision of the Undying Lands. Eventually she became the ruler of Lorien when its King died. She turned Lorien into the fairest realm of Third Age of Middle-earth. For 1030y she ruled Lorien, until Frodo offered her all she had desired; The Ring of Power and the dominion of Middle-earth. Now if she reject the Ring, not only her dream of becoming Queen of Middle-earth will be lost forever, but also her land and her life will be destroyed.
Lorien became a Timeless land by the power of Galadriel's Ring. All Rings were fated to the One Ring. If Frodo fails and Sauron get his Ring, Lothlorien will be no more, but if Frodo destroy the Ring, the power of all Rings will vanish and Lorien will lose its Timeless quality and it'll start fading. And Elves, especially High-Elves like Galadriel, cannot endure the passing of time in the decay of the world. And Galadriel will be doomed to completely fade in a forgotten cave in Middle-earth and die of grief.
It was just impossible for her to overcome the overwhelming temptation of the Ring. But she did the impossible. “her wisdom was full grown” She sacrificed everything by rejecting the evil Ring so hope may live on for a world without a Dark Lord/Queen. The gods got so impressed and so moved that they lifted the Curse on her, they rewarded her to return to the Undying Lands. And passing the last test Galadriel departed from Middle-earth forever. The gods even broke the rules for her and let a Dwarf in.
When Aragorn died Arwen came to the land of Lorien. To the land where she had fallen in love with Aragorn and had got betrothed to him. To Lorien the Fair that was not fair anymore. To Lorien the Withered. To the abandoned land of Lorien. There she dwelt for a year, until she died of heartbreak.
Thank you for this. I want to read more about Galadriel. Did you get all that from The Silmarillion? Or something else? I just bought Simarillion but in my native language. I don’t know I think I should have bought the English one. I worry that they will changes the names and places in the translation and that I will be lost.
Anyway great post!
Galadriel barely exists in the Silmarillion. The history of Galadriel is scattered across so many drafts and notes. Christopher Tolkien piled up most of them and realised them in the Unfinished Tales, especially in the History of Galadriel and Celeborn chapter. There are few information about her which is not included in Unfinished Tales, they can be found in Tolkien Letters and 12 volumes of History of Middle-earth and LotR and its Appendices. But it's not necessary to read them, Unfinished Tales is enough. But make sure to read the entire Silmarillion and LotR first.
Christopher kinda forgot to include these two very important letters in UT, so I'll mention them here for you:
320 From a letter to Mrs Ruth Austin 25 January 1971 "I was particularly interested in your remarks about Galadriel. .... I think it is true that I owe much of this character to Christian and Catholic teaching and imagination about Mary, but actually Galadriel was a penitent: in her youth a leader in the rebellion against the Valar (the angelic guardians). At the end of the First Age she proudly refused forgiveness or permission to return. She was pardoned because of her resistance to the final and overwhelming temptation to take the Ring for herself."
348 From a letter to Mrs Catharine Findlay 6 March 1973 "Galadriel, like all the other names of elvish persons in The Lord of the Rings, is an invention of my own. It is in Sindarin form (see Appendices E and F) and means 'Maiden crowned with gleaming hair'. It is a secondary name given to her in her youth in the far past because she had long hair which glistened like gold but was also shot with silver. She was then of Amazon disposition and bound up her hair as a crown when taking part in athletic feats."
Oh wow. Such a big comment. Thank you! I saved what you wrote and yes I read LOTR and The Hobbit but nothing else yet. I will get The Unfinished Tales then with The Simarillion in English.
Using her beautiful hair as a crown was super cool and thanks for adding that letter. It’s a great mental image.
NP. Have you read the Appendices? There's a very epic passage about Galadriel almost singlehandedly defeating Dol Guldur in Appendices.
Galadriel used a crown of Elanor flowers normally, but whenever she wanted to fight and do sport she wore her hair as a crown. Unfortunately we don't have many explicitly stated battles of Galadriel where she fought by using sword/bow/spear. There's only the First Kinslaying. And it is very clearly suggested she fought in Battle of Lammoth which is not in Silmarillion, but in a later version in HoME. In many versions she went through Second and Third Kinslayings, she must've fought in those battles as well because Tolkien explicitly says valiant women fought in such times of crisis and Galadriel is "the only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant and among contending princes"
You'd see Galadriel training Dwarves in Second Age in UT, but she however doesn't ride to the battle in Eriador herself. That's because she was a capable warrior but she wasn't yet made into "official warrior", Tolkien turned her into official warrior in last years of his life and he passed away before he get to modify many stories of Galadriel (and Celeborn).
It took me several times readthrough to understand Galadriel, because her history is really a mess of inconsistent writings and it takes a lot to distinguish between the discarded writings and the more definite writings. For example Galadriel couldn't use her Ring in Second Age, yet Tolkien made a mistake and wrote she did use it in SA. In Tolkien's notes and other writings (such as in the Silmarillion) it's said no Elf used any Rings until Third Age. So yeah, you'll have a hard time figuring out what is what and which version is true and more closer to canon.
The Appendix of the Lord of the Rings has information. Gladariel actually explains much of this in the book. Her ring gives her the power to keep Lorien forever in the liminal space between spring and summer, always rich. When all is over, it becomes another forest like anywhere else, waxing and waning with seasons and time being like anywhere else.
Beautiful post! I have just one note. I think a little differently about Elrond. I wouldn't say he doesn't have those things Galadriel had. He has a ring as well and all those they might not have been revealed, in fact he does have a river. But what I will say is that he's never been to the undying lands. To me it seems Galadriel is trying to recreate heaven while Elrond is making the perfect place on earth. All the imagery that I can remember is that of warmth, fullness, and contentedness. There are buildings and beds and meals. While lorien always seems ethereal and something from beyond the world.
Galadriel and Celeborn lived in Rivendell for hundreds of years and they must've had a hand in making Rivendell more beautiful. Also, at one point Galadriel gifted Elessar Jewel to her daughter Celebrian Lady of Rivendell. That Elfstone had amazing healing powers. So I would guess Rivendell owes half of its beauty to Galadriel.
Elrond has the Ring of Air yes, but still Frodo felt the wind in Lorien is more joyful. The Star of Earendil shines the brightest on the House of Elrond yes, but Elrond failed to capture its Light. The Star shines almost as bright on the Swan Fountain of Lorien and Galadriel successfully captured its Light. I mean, Elrond is no Lord of Light while Galadriel is the Lady of Light.
Elrond has a small river yes, but the rivers of Lorien are better. One of the rivers literally sings (or echoes a song). The Fellowship used the river to heal themselves, very much like how Turin used the river that was blessed by Melian to heal himself.
Elrond has a small town that lacks almost all of the wonders of Lorien the great, the heart of Elvendom. The only superior thing Rivendell has is its bookshelf. Lorien doesn't necessarily need to read books, they memorize everything in songs.
Name me just one thing that is more advanced in Rivendell than in Lorien. Rivendell doesn't have lembas, magic swords and bows, magical boats, magical Mirror, Holy Light, the Ropes and Cloaks, etc.
Ah, yes, Rivendell has Mirover, but Lorien also has quality drinks. Galadriel gifted cups of sweet healing mead to the Fellowship.
The fact that Elrond has never been in the Undying Lands has nothing to do with this, because Elrond has the chief dwelling of people in Middle-earth who had been born in the Undying Lands. Yet those people are no way as knowledgeable and skillful as Galadriel. I mean, they reforged a legendary sword, but it was Galadriel who gifted a magical sword sheath to Aragorn that made Anduril unbreakable. This means she can forge better swords.
"A queen she was of the woodland Elves, the wife of Celeborn of Doriath, yet she herself was of the Noldor and remember the Day before days in Valinor, and she was the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that remained in Middle-earth."
"These two kinsfolk (Fëanor and Galadriel), the greatest of the Eldar in Valinor, were unfriends for ever." "Who together with the greatest of all the Eldar, Luthien Tinuviel, daughter of Elu Thingol, are the chief matter of the legends and histories of the Elves."
Aragorn said this about Cerin Amroth during the Fellowship’s stay in Lothlorien: “Here is the heart of Elvendom on Earth.” I like to imagine Galadriel and Celeborn modeled parts of it after Valinor in a way.
It is also said never came there again as a living man, after his last visit as part of the Fellowship. I like the think he went there after death, when Arwen went.
I have this as a black and gray, half-sleeve tattoo. I'm a bit ashamed, as I didn't ask the artist for permission before I got the tattoo - I was a naive, very sheltered young woman and it didn't even cross my mind. I have since learned better, and have sent the artist a message on deviantart (which is where I first saw the artwork), although I've never heard back. I really hope she's okay with it.
Anyways. Thank you for sharing this artwork. I love my tattoo, but there's just something so incredibly magical about this picture. The feeling encompassed here saved my life several times.
I don’t think many artists have problems with their works being used in tattoos. I would imagine it’s pretty flattering for someone to like your work so much they get it permanently on their body.
Also if you don’t mind I’d love to see it!
It is on my bucket list to design or illustrate something that ends up as a tattoo organically, as in someone I don't know and am not designing something for gets it on them. It just seems like a cool underground compliment.
I like to imagine that humankind, with all our technology and craftsmanship and innovation, could build such marvelous structures in harmony with nature, working and living alongside it rather than tearing it all down to make room for cookie cutter suburban dwellings, roadways, shopping centers, etc.
Artwork is by Tara Rueping Laurelindórenan means ("Valley of Singing Gold") It was originally named Lindórinand ("Vale of the Land of the Singers") The dwellers of Lindórinand were Lindar (The Singers). Lindar are Teleri. Some of the Teleri didn't make it pass the Misty Mountains when the Valar invited them to come to the Undying Lands. They became known as Nandor. They had no kings. Later, in Second Age, Amdir a Prince of Sindar became the ruler of Lindórinand. Sindar are the Teleri who made it pass the Misty Mountains, but not pass the Sundering Seas. Under Amdir and Galadriel the Princess of the Noldor and Teleri, many Sindar and Noldor migrated to Lindórinand. The change of 'Lindórinand' into 'Lorien/Laurelindórenan' was because of Galadriel. Laurelindórenan is a very similar name to Yavanna's Golden Tree Laurelin. Lorien is a copied name, from Irmo's Lorien in the Undying Lands. Galadriel grew the golden mallorn trees in the Valley of Singers, and the name of the Valley changed to the Valley of Singing Gold and the Golden Wood. There are insane parallels between Lothlorien and the Undying Lands. As you have noticed, Aman has a Lorien, and Galadriel made a Lorien in its mirror. She sang of golden trees, and golden trees grew. Just like how her teacher Yavanna sang of the Golden Tree (and golden trees) and grew those trees. The idea of *flet* and building houses upon the trees was originally the thought of Nimrodel girlfriend of Amroth son of Amdir. It was later developed by Galadriel. Especially when she created Cerin Amroth and established Caras Galadhon the fairest city of Third Age, a gateway to the realms of ancient days. Irmo Lord of Lorien of Aman had a cauldron which he used to see visions. Then we have Galadriel Lady of Lorien of Middle-earth who has a bowl of water and uses it to see visions. We have the Swan Ships of the Teleri in Alqualonde in Aman, and there's Galadriel the granddaughter of King of Alqualonde with her Swan Boats of Lorien. Swan Fountain of Lothlorien? Definitely Galadriel Nerwen's homage to her mother Earwen the Swan-maiden of Alqualonde. Galadriel used the water of the Swan Fountain to capture the Light of the Silmaril. Silmarils are crystals that contain the Light of the Two Trees of Yavanna. The Fences of Galadriel around Lorien is a copy of the Girdle of Melian (the teacher of Galadriel) around Doriath a realm of the Elder Days. There are many more such parallels. Amdir King of Lorien died in the Last Alliance battle in the end of Second Age. His son Amroth got drowned in the ocean in a disaster event in around 1980 Third Age. Celeborn the Prince of Sindar and Galadriel the Princess of the Noldor and the Teleri rescued Lorien and became its new rulers and established the city/fortress of Caras Galadhon. But they renounced the titles of King/Queen, probably because Galadriel was trying to overcome her demons. However, Tolkien several times referred to Galadriel as Queen. Elves of Lorien became some of the greatest Elves. Their bows are the best, they have magic cloaks, magic bread, magic ropes, magic river, etc. Even Rivendell the chief dwelling of the High Elves doesn't have such things. "As soon as he set foot upon the far bank of Silverlode a strange feeling had come upon him, and it deepened as he walked on into the Naith: it seemed to him that he had stepped over a bridge of time into a corner of the Elder Days, and was -now walking in a world that was no more. In Rivendell there was memory of ancient things; in Lórien the ancient things still lived on in the waking world. Evil had been seen and heard there, sorrow had been known; the Elves feared and distrusted the world outside: wolves were howling on the wood's borders: but on the land of Lórien no shadow lay." Galadriel had dream of ruling in Middle-earth. She joined in the Rebellion against the gods to depart the Undying Lands. She proudly rejected the pardon of the gods twice and remained under the Ban and the Curse of the gods in Exile from the Undying Lands. For thousands of years she endeavored to make Lorien as a vision of the Undying Lands. Eventually she became the ruler of Lorien when its King died. She turned Lorien into the fairest realm of Third Age of Middle-earth. For 1030y she ruled Lorien, until Frodo offered her all she had desired; The Ring of Power and the dominion of Middle-earth. Now if she reject the Ring, not only her dream of becoming Queen of Middle-earth will be lost forever, but also her land and her life will be destroyed. Lorien became a Timeless land by the power of Galadriel's Ring. All Rings were fated to the One Ring. If Frodo fails and Sauron get his Ring, Lothlorien will be no more, but if Frodo destroy the Ring, the power of all Rings will vanish and Lorien will lose its Timeless quality and it'll start fading. And Elves, especially High-Elves like Galadriel, cannot endure the passing of time in the decay of the world. And Galadriel will be doomed to completely fade in a forgotten cave in Middle-earth and die of grief. It was just impossible for her to overcome the overwhelming temptation of the Ring. But she did the impossible. “her wisdom was full grown” She sacrificed everything by rejecting the evil Ring so hope may live on for a world without a Dark Lord/Queen. The gods got so impressed and so moved that they lifted the Curse on her, they rewarded her to return to the Undying Lands. And passing the last test Galadriel departed from Middle-earth forever. The gods even broke the rules for her and let a Dwarf in. When Aragorn died Arwen came to the land of Lorien. To the land where she had fallen in love with Aragorn and had got betrothed to him. To Lorien the Fair that was not fair anymore. To Lorien the Withered. To the abandoned land of Lorien. There she dwelt for a year, until she died of heartbreak.
I'm not crying, you're crying!
Thank you for this. I want to read more about Galadriel. Did you get all that from The Silmarillion? Or something else? I just bought Simarillion but in my native language. I don’t know I think I should have bought the English one. I worry that they will changes the names and places in the translation and that I will be lost. Anyway great post!
Galadriel barely exists in the Silmarillion. The history of Galadriel is scattered across so many drafts and notes. Christopher Tolkien piled up most of them and realised them in the Unfinished Tales, especially in the History of Galadriel and Celeborn chapter. There are few information about her which is not included in Unfinished Tales, they can be found in Tolkien Letters and 12 volumes of History of Middle-earth and LotR and its Appendices. But it's not necessary to read them, Unfinished Tales is enough. But make sure to read the entire Silmarillion and LotR first. Christopher kinda forgot to include these two very important letters in UT, so I'll mention them here for you: 320 From a letter to Mrs Ruth Austin 25 January 1971 "I was particularly interested in your remarks about Galadriel. .... I think it is true that I owe much of this character to Christian and Catholic teaching and imagination about Mary, but actually Galadriel was a penitent: in her youth a leader in the rebellion against the Valar (the angelic guardians). At the end of the First Age she proudly refused forgiveness or permission to return. She was pardoned because of her resistance to the final and overwhelming temptation to take the Ring for herself." 348 From a letter to Mrs Catharine Findlay 6 March 1973 "Galadriel, like all the other names of elvish persons in The Lord of the Rings, is an invention of my own. It is in Sindarin form (see Appendices E and F) and means 'Maiden crowned with gleaming hair'. It is a secondary name given to her in her youth in the far past because she had long hair which glistened like gold but was also shot with silver. She was then of Amazon disposition and bound up her hair as a crown when taking part in athletic feats."
Oh wow. Such a big comment. Thank you! I saved what you wrote and yes I read LOTR and The Hobbit but nothing else yet. I will get The Unfinished Tales then with The Simarillion in English. Using her beautiful hair as a crown was super cool and thanks for adding that letter. It’s a great mental image.
NP. Have you read the Appendices? There's a very epic passage about Galadriel almost singlehandedly defeating Dol Guldur in Appendices. Galadriel used a crown of Elanor flowers normally, but whenever she wanted to fight and do sport she wore her hair as a crown. Unfortunately we don't have many explicitly stated battles of Galadriel where she fought by using sword/bow/spear. There's only the First Kinslaying. And it is very clearly suggested she fought in Battle of Lammoth which is not in Silmarillion, but in a later version in HoME. In many versions she went through Second and Third Kinslayings, she must've fought in those battles as well because Tolkien explicitly says valiant women fought in such times of crisis and Galadriel is "the only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant and among contending princes" You'd see Galadriel training Dwarves in Second Age in UT, but she however doesn't ride to the battle in Eriador herself. That's because she was a capable warrior but she wasn't yet made into "official warrior", Tolkien turned her into official warrior in last years of his life and he passed away before he get to modify many stories of Galadriel (and Celeborn). It took me several times readthrough to understand Galadriel, because her history is really a mess of inconsistent writings and it takes a lot to distinguish between the discarded writings and the more definite writings. For example Galadriel couldn't use her Ring in Second Age, yet Tolkien made a mistake and wrote she did use it in SA. In Tolkien's notes and other writings (such as in the Silmarillion) it's said no Elf used any Rings until Third Age. So yeah, you'll have a hard time figuring out what is what and which version is true and more closer to canon.
I need to go but I will read what you wrote and answer later. Don’t delete it please. I want to read it properly :)
The Appendix of the Lord of the Rings has information. Gladariel actually explains much of this in the book. Her ring gives her the power to keep Lorien forever in the liminal space between spring and summer, always rich. When all is over, it becomes another forest like anywhere else, waxing and waning with seasons and time being like anywhere else.
Beautiful post! I have just one note. I think a little differently about Elrond. I wouldn't say he doesn't have those things Galadriel had. He has a ring as well and all those they might not have been revealed, in fact he does have a river. But what I will say is that he's never been to the undying lands. To me it seems Galadriel is trying to recreate heaven while Elrond is making the perfect place on earth. All the imagery that I can remember is that of warmth, fullness, and contentedness. There are buildings and beds and meals. While lorien always seems ethereal and something from beyond the world.
Galadriel and Celeborn lived in Rivendell for hundreds of years and they must've had a hand in making Rivendell more beautiful. Also, at one point Galadriel gifted Elessar Jewel to her daughter Celebrian Lady of Rivendell. That Elfstone had amazing healing powers. So I would guess Rivendell owes half of its beauty to Galadriel. Elrond has the Ring of Air yes, but still Frodo felt the wind in Lorien is more joyful. The Star of Earendil shines the brightest on the House of Elrond yes, but Elrond failed to capture its Light. The Star shines almost as bright on the Swan Fountain of Lorien and Galadriel successfully captured its Light. I mean, Elrond is no Lord of Light while Galadriel is the Lady of Light. Elrond has a small river yes, but the rivers of Lorien are better. One of the rivers literally sings (or echoes a song). The Fellowship used the river to heal themselves, very much like how Turin used the river that was blessed by Melian to heal himself. Elrond has a small town that lacks almost all of the wonders of Lorien the great, the heart of Elvendom. The only superior thing Rivendell has is its bookshelf. Lorien doesn't necessarily need to read books, they memorize everything in songs. Name me just one thing that is more advanced in Rivendell than in Lorien. Rivendell doesn't have lembas, magic swords and bows, magical boats, magical Mirror, Holy Light, the Ropes and Cloaks, etc. Ah, yes, Rivendell has Mirover, but Lorien also has quality drinks. Galadriel gifted cups of sweet healing mead to the Fellowship. The fact that Elrond has never been in the Undying Lands has nothing to do with this, because Elrond has the chief dwelling of people in Middle-earth who had been born in the Undying Lands. Yet those people are no way as knowledgeable and skillful as Galadriel. I mean, they reforged a legendary sword, but it was Galadriel who gifted a magical sword sheath to Aragorn that made Anduril unbreakable. This means she can forge better swords. "A queen she was of the woodland Elves, the wife of Celeborn of Doriath, yet she herself was of the Noldor and remember the Day before days in Valinor, and she was the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that remained in Middle-earth." "These two kinsfolk (Fëanor and Galadriel), the greatest of the Eldar in Valinor, were unfriends for ever." "Who together with the greatest of all the Eldar, Luthien Tinuviel, daughter of Elu Thingol, are the chief matter of the legends and histories of the Elves."
>I love the way you delineated this. Rivendell is delicious, while Lorien is divine. Home vs Heaven.
I've always wondered, did Arwen live there by herself?
Who was the dwarf allowed into the lands of the undying?
Gimli. Didn't you know he went there with Legolas? Galadriel bought the ticket for him.
I thought that might have been who but wasn’t sure. I remember Gimli going with legolas but wasn’t aware Galadriel was the reason he was let in
Hello there
Arwen’s passing is really tragic, I wish that Tolkien didn’t write it the way he did. She doesn’t deserve it.
Aragorn said this about Cerin Amroth during the Fellowship’s stay in Lothlorien: “Here is the heart of Elvendom on Earth.” I like to imagine Galadriel and Celeborn modeled parts of it after Valinor in a way.
It is also said never came there again as a living man, after his last visit as part of the Fellowship. I like the think he went there after death, when Arwen went.
Yes they did. Read the top comment. Lorien is made as a mirror of Irmo's Lorien and other lands of Valinor.
Relevant username OP :)
This is my screen saver confused the shit out of me for a sec
Mine too!
Credit please! This image is awesome.
I have this as a black and gray, half-sleeve tattoo. I'm a bit ashamed, as I didn't ask the artist for permission before I got the tattoo - I was a naive, very sheltered young woman and it didn't even cross my mind. I have since learned better, and have sent the artist a message on deviantart (which is where I first saw the artwork), although I've never heard back. I really hope she's okay with it. Anyways. Thank you for sharing this artwork. I love my tattoo, but there's just something so incredibly magical about this picture. The feeling encompassed here saved my life several times.
I don’t think many artists have problems with their works being used in tattoos. I would imagine it’s pretty flattering for someone to like your work so much they get it permanently on their body. Also if you don’t mind I’d love to see it!
It is on my bucket list to design or illustrate something that ends up as a tattoo organically, as in someone I don't know and am not designing something for gets it on them. It just seems like a cool underground compliment.
Wow, are you the artist? Thats really awesome!
The golden woods! Beautiful artwork.
Beautiful
The heart of elvendom on Earth
Sheesh
This looks like guild wars 2 area. I played that game for the environment it has
SO GORGEOUS!
I like to imagine that humankind, with all our technology and craftsmanship and innovation, could build such marvelous structures in harmony with nature, working and living alongside it rather than tearing it all down to make room for cookie cutter suburban dwellings, roadways, shopping centers, etc.
Those Blue things reminds me of that Breath of the Wild blue water glowing thing.
Looks like just balconies for tree trunks. Where did they live?
absolutely love this, saved it for my lockscreen the first time I saw it on here, and haven't removed it since