The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Immortal; existed before the creation of Arda
Location
Associated with the Timeless Halls in the Void
Pronunciation
iloo'vatarr (the final 'r' should be pronounced - 'rr' is used here to emphasise this)
Meaning
'Father of all'1
Other names
Titles
Note
Ilúvatar is sometimes used alone as the name of this being, but also often in combination with his other name Eru, as Eru Ilúvatar

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 4 May 1998
  • Updates planned: 10

Ilúvatar

A name of Eru

The name among Elves of Eru, the One, from whom the Ainur and the Children of Ilúvatar had their being. Through the Music of the Ainur, Ilúvatar created the world and the beings who inhabit it, and only he fully knows its fate.


Notes

1

'All-father' was also a title of the Norse god Odin, a fact of which Tolkien must certainly have been aware.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 4 May 1998
  • Updates planned: 10

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2000. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Discus questionnaires work on the screen or in printed form to suit your needs, in any of dozens of languages.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Menu
Homepage Search Latest Entries and Updates Random Entry