#time moodboard

[fallensapphires]

Items: Clocks

The hours of folly are measured by the clock; but of wisdom, no clock can measure.

[a-lgbtq-moodboards-blog]

Agender with space, time, and fairy lights for Anon! Ask me if you want me to change anything!

-Star

[ainurmoodboards]

The Children of Aluin, the Ainu of Time

Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin

In Tolkien’s earlier writings, primarily The Book of Lost Tales, there is a plot element involving the control of time in Arda. Around the time that the sun and moon were created, three Ainur named Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin appear to the Valar. They tell the Valar that they were sent by their father Aluin, the eldest of all the Ainur who represents Time and still abodes with Illuvatar, to help the Valar “govern” time in Arda. All three siblings are described as being elderly in appearance, much like the Istari. Danuin represents a day, Ranuin represents a month, and Fanuin represents a year, and each one creates an invisible cord relating to their period of time to present to Manwe. 

This story was eventually dropped from Tolkien’s later writings and doesn’t appear in the published Silmarillion, probably because the story is confusing/problematic. This event is presented as if Time is first being established in Arda, which doesn’t make much sense because many of major events (the Music of the Ainur, The Spring of Arda, The Two Trees, etc.) that do appear in the Silmarillion have already happened by the time this happens. Obviously time already existed or nothing could have already happened, right? Also, “Father Time” type figures appear in many cultures and are typically depicted as elderly, but calling Aluin the eldest of the Ainur doesn’t make sense since they were all created at the same time by Eru Illuvatar. Writings eventually make it clear that the Valarin Years that preceeded the creation of the Two Trees of Valinor, as well as the Years of the Trees, were different from each other as well as from the “normal” years after the Sun and Moon (Years of the Sun) were created (one “day” in the Years of the Trees is equivalent to 84 hours in “normal” time), so this event was maybe supposed to help clarify that. I will eventually make seperate moodboards for each of the three sons.

[kickassclefable]