Culúrien

A name for the Golden Tree

Years of the TreesFirst AgeISecond AgeIIThird AgeIIIFourth AgeIV

(Somewhat conjectural)

One of the many names given to Laurelin, the golden Tree of Valinor. The name Culúrien seems to relate to the Elvish for 'shining gold', a natural name for this Tree of shining golden light. Culúrien was created by Yavanna after the Valar settled in Aman, and shone its light across the land of Valinor for many ages until it was destroyed by Melkor and Ungoliant. Its last fruit was set in the sky of Arda and became the Sun.

Notes

This dating is based on the count of years in The Annals of Aman (in volume X of The History of Middle-earth), converted from an original figure of 1,495 Valian Years. It should be noted and Tolkien reconsidered both the dating itself and the means of conversion from Valian into solar years several times, so this value may not be precise, but it gives an impression of the long ages that the Tree Culúrien shone out across Valinor.

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Updated 9 March 2025
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Culúrien

A name for the Golden Tree

Notes

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