   About this entry:    • Updated 27 October 2008   • Updates
planned: 2  Lords of the West  A title for the Valar  A common
title for the Valar, fourteen beings of great power that had
existed before the World, and descended into it to guide and
govern it at the time it was created. They had originally dwelt
in Middle-earth, on the island of Almaren, but after Melkor
wreaked destruction on that dwelling, they removed to Aman in
the West.  In Aman, they founded a new land for themselves,
Valinor, and created a city, Valmar. Outside the gates of Valmar
was the Máhanaxar, the Ring of Doom where the Valar sat
enthroned in council, and so they truly became the Lords of the
West. There they grew the Two Trees of Valinor, and ruled their
land in bliss for the ages until its Darkening.  When the Elves
awoke in Middle-earth, the Valar attempted to guide them, and
brought many of them to dwell in the West. Through the
machinations of Melkor, many of those Elves rebelled and exiled
themselves. After that time, the Vala