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Places in Middle-earth

Hallow of Eru, The

Type: Other Constructions

Region: Numenor

Other Names
The Hallow
The Hallow of Eru Ilúvatar

Location: An open-air temple on the summit of the Meneltarma in Númenor.

Description: ... in the midst of the land was a mountain tall and steep, and it was named the Meneltarma, the Pillar of Heaven, and upon it was a high place that was hallowed to Eru Ilúvatar, and it was open and unroofed, and no other temple or fane was there in the land of the Númenóreans.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

For the summit was somewhat flattened and depressed, and could contain a great multitude; but it remained untouched by hands throughout the history of Númenor. No building, no raised altar, not even a pile of undressed stones, ever stood there; and no other likeness of a temple did the Númenóreans possess in all the days of their grace, until the coming of Sauron. There no tool or weapon had ever been borne....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 1, Description of the Island of Númenor

... in the spring of the year, when the time of the Erukyermë1 was come, [Aldarion and Erendis] ascended in the retinue of the King to the summit of the Meneltarma, which was the Hallowed Mountain of the Númenóreans. ... They did not speak, for no one, save only the King, spoke upon the height of Meneltarma....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

... there none might speak any word, save the King only. Thrice only in each year the King spoke, offering prayer for the coming year at the Erukyermë in the first days of spring, praise of Eru Ilúvatar at the Erulaitalë2 in midsummer, and thanksgiving to him at the Eruhantalë3 at the end of autumn. At these times the King ascended the mountain on foot followed by a great concourse of the people, clad in white and garlanded, but silent. At other times the people were free to climb to the summit alone or in company, but it is said that the silence was so great that even a stranger ignorant of Númenor and all its history, if he were transported thither, would not have dared to speak aloud.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 1, Description of the Island of Númenor

If anyone approached the summit, at once three eagles would appear and alight upon three rocks near to the western edge; but at the times of the Three Prayers they did not descend, remaining in the sky and hovering above the people. They were called the Witnesses of Manwë, and they were believed to be sent by him from Aman to keep watch upon the Holy Mountain and upon all the land.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 1, Description of the Island of Númenor

... after the days of Tar-Ancalimon the offering of the first fruits to Eru was neglected, and men went seldom any more to the Hallow upon the heights of Meneltarma in the midst of the land.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

[Ar-Gimilzôr] revered nothing, and went never to the Hallow of Eru.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 3, The Line of Elros, Kings of Númenor

[Tar-Palantir] gave peace for a while to the Faithful; and he went once more at due seasons to the Hallow of Eru upon the Meneltarma, which Ar-Gimilzôr had forsaken.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

Therefore Amandil withdrew to Rómenna ... for he feared that ... the Elf-friends were in peril. ... For the Meneltarma was utterly deserted in those days; and though not even Sauron dared to defile the high place, yet the King would let no man, upon pain of death, ascend to it, not even those of the Faithful who kept Ilúvatar in their hearts.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

Then suddenly fire burst from the Meneltarma, and there came a mighty wind and a tumult of the earth ... and Númenor went down into the sea.... And last of all the mounting wave ... climbing over the land, took to its bosom Tar-Míriel the Queen.... Too late she strove to ascend the steep ways of the Meneltarma to the holy place; for the waters overtook her, and her cry was lost in the roaring of the wind.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

Among the Exiles many believed that the summit of the Meneltarma ... was not drowned for ever, but rose again above the waves, a lonely island lost in the great waters; for it had been a hallowed place, and even in the days of Sauron none had defiled it.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

Notes

1
Erukyermë: 'Prayer to Eru,' the feast of the Spring in Númenor....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: Notes, Note 16

2 Erulaitalë: 'Praise of Eru', the midsummer feast of Númenor.

Unfinished Tales, Index

3 Eruhantalë: 'Thanksgiving to Eru', the autumn feast in Númenor....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: Notes, Note 5

Contributors: Elena Tiriel 27Feb05, 5Mar05

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