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(From J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe Middle-earth)

Ages of the World

The time of Arda is typically rendered in Ages. Ages are one epoch of the Valar. Before the arising of the Sun they were approximately one thousand Valian Years in length (the exact length of a Valian Year is close to 10 "Sun"-years). After the Sun Ages "sped up", and length is more variable. The Years of the Sun began with the 30th Valian Age, and the Fourth Age of Middle-earth began with the 37th Valian Age. However, only four, not seven Ages are counted. The Ages of the Sun correspond more to the earlier Valarian Eras than to their Ages.

• Before the Ainur were made. Duration: Meaningless.
• Before Eä (the universe) was made. Duration: Meaningless.
• Before Arda (the world) was made. Duration: Meaningless.
• The earliest age of Arda, when the Valar shaped the world. Duration : Valarian Years 1–~5,000 (five Ages).
• The Years of the Lamps. Duration: V.Y. ~5,000–~10,000 (five Ages).
• The Years of the Trees. Duration V.Y. ~10,000–~30,000 (twenty Ages).
  • The first Era of the Two Trees, and the beginning of the count of Time. Duration V.Y. ~10,000–20,000 (ten Ages).
  • The second Era of the Two Trees, and the coming of the Elves. Duration V.Y. ~20,000–~30,000 (ten Ages).
    • The Age of the Stars, when the Elves awoke, and the first age of the captivity of Melkor.
    • The second age of the captivity of Melkor.
    • The third age of the captivity of Melkor.
    • The age in which Melkor lived in ValinorAman and Valinor A fictional location from J. Tolkien's legendarium, Valinor (meaning Land of the Valar is the realm of the Valar in Aman, the place to which they moved after being driven from Almaren by Melkor. Its major city was Valimar. After the destr.
• The Years of the SunIn the fiction of J. Tolkien, the Years of the Sun are the last of the three great time-periods of Arda, together with the Years of the Lamps and the Years of the Trees. They begin with the Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, and last until the present.
  • The First AgeIn the fiction of J. Tolkien, the First Age began with the rise of the Sun and the arrival of the Noldor in the land Beleriand in Middle-earth, and ended with the overthrow of Morgoth. The First Age was also known as the Elder Days . It lasted just over 5. Duration: 583 years. Beginning at V.Y. ~30,000
  • The Second AgeThe Second Age is a fictional time period from J. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. The Second Age began after the banishment of Morgoth into the Void by the Lords of the West led by Eonwe the Herald of Manwe. It lasted for 3441 years, and ended with th. Duration: 3441 years. Beginning at V.Y. ~31,000
  • The Third AgeThe Third Age is a fictional time period from J. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. The Third Age began after the first downfall of Sauron, when he was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men following the downfall of Numenor. This age was charact. Duration: 3021 years. Beginning at V.Y. ~34,000
  • The Fourth AgeThe Fourth Age is a fictional time period from J. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. The Fourth Age began after Sauron was finally defeated, when his Ruling Ring was destroyed, and the Elves left Middle-earth for the Uttermost West. Tolkien's writing doe. Duration: Not specified. Beginning at V.Y. ~37,000
  • Later Ages up to the present day

See also: Timeline of ArdaThis article includes several timelines relating to J. Tolkien's fiction. With Respect to Real Events Tolkien has often mentioned that after the War of the Ring the ages went on and now we are likely in the beginning of the Seventh Age, a bridge that conn.