Time relation in Aman - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

elbenprincess · 02-25-2012, 02:05 PM

Until now I always thought that one year in Aman (time of the trees) equals ca. 9,5 sun years, but in Wikipedia I read that it was Tolkiens latest conception that one year in Valinor are 144 Sun years.

"In the 1930s and 40s Tolkien used a figure which fluctuated slightly around ten before settling on 9.582 solar years in each Valian year. However, in the 1950s Tolkien decided to use a much greater value of 144 solar years per Valian year, and included this figure in The Lord of the Rings appendices as the length of the elven year (the yen)."

He wrote that in a letter I think.

Was that really his last word on it? I find that unbelieveble, for example the flight of the Noldor would have lasted 700 insetad of ca 50 years and Galadriel would have been ca. 19000 years old when leaving Valinor, and Tolkien often said that she did it in her youth and so on, but with 19000 years she wouldn´t have been that young and the 7000 sun years in ME wouldn´t seem that long in contrast to the 19000 years she lived in Aman and I wouldn´t buy her longing for the west, cause 7000 years for her would just be a small holiday.

I just wanted to hear your thoughts about it.

02-25-2012, 02:05 PM	#1
elbenprincess Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 69	Time relation in Aman Until now I always thought that one year in Aman (time of the trees) equals ca. 9,5 sun years, but in Wikipedia I read that it was Tolkiens latest conception that one year in Valinor are 144 Sun years. "In the 1930s and 40s Tolkien used a figure which fluctuated slightly around ten before settling on 9.582 solar years in each Valian year. However, in the 1950s Tolkien decided to use a much greater value of 144 solar years per Valian year, and included this figure in The Lord of the Rings appendices as the length of the elven year (the yen)." He wrote that in a letter I think. Was that really his last word on it? I find that unbelieveble, for example the flight of the Noldor would have lasted 700 insetad of ca 50 years and Galadriel would have been ca. 19000 years old when leaving Valinor, and Tolkien often said that she did it in her youth and so on, but with 19000 years she wouldn´t have been that young and the 7000 sun years in ME wouldn´t seem that long in contrast to the 19000 years she lived in Aman and I wouldn´t buy her longing for the west, cause 7000 years for her would just be a small holiday. I just wanted to hear your thoughts about it.