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.

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Latest entries and updates

Land of the Valley of Singing Gold
Laurelindórenan, an old name for Lórien
The Causeway
The roadway between the Osgiliath and the Pelennor
Land of the Prince
A region within Gondor
Sea-longing
A yearning to sail the waters of the Great Sea
Battle Pit
The grave of Sharkey’s Men

Featured Entry

Guild of Weaponsmiths

The armourers of Númenor

In Beleriand, under the tutelage of the master craftsmen of the Noldor, the smiths of the Edain had acquired great lore and skill in the making of weapons. After the end of the First Age, when these people travelled across the Great Sea to the new land of Númenor, they took this knowledge with them. Though they now dwelt in a peaceful land far from any trouble or warfare, they nonetheless established the Guild of Weaponsmiths to maintain their hard-won knowledge.

Throughout the early centuries of Númenor's existence, there was little need for weapons and, for the most part, the Weaponsmiths used their arts to produce tools rather than arms. When a new King's Heir was announced, the Guild would be called upon to produce a new sword as a gift (but given the centuries-long lives of the Kings of Númenor, this would have been a rare commission indeed).

Read the full entry...