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Welcome to The Encyclopedia of ArdaThe 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 encyclopediaThe 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 approachThe 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 ArdaArda 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 thanksThanks 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 1997-2026. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Discus is a powerful, flexible DISC profile solution - find out much more in our free guide. |
Latest entries and updates
Featured EntryThe EyrieThe Great Shelf of the EaglesThe home of the Eagles of the Misty Mountains, from which they patrolled the skies over the upper Vales of Anduin. Also called the Great Shelf, the Eyrie was the seat of the Lord of Eagles, protected by sheer and inaccessible cliffs. It was not within the main range of the Misty Mountains themselves, but on a peak that stood a little way out into the plain, eastward of the main mountain-chain, with the Eagles' shelf facing back westwards towards the Mountains. When Thorin and Company were rescued from marauding Goblins and Wargs during the Quest of Erebor, the Eagles carried them up to the Eyrie. With the aid of the Eagles, with whom Gandalf had some familiarity, the party passed on from the Eyrie to the Carrock, another great rock protruding from the plain out eastward in the course of the Great River itself. Gandalf was not the only Wizard to call on the Eagles of the Eyrie for aid: they were also well known to Radagast, for whom they were ready to act as scouts during the War of the Ring. |
