What is Rivendell? – Let’s Get Nerdy!

Amazon Studios The Rings of Power is six months away. We want all Spoilerites to have the best viewing experience possible and have the widest knowledge base about the Second Age of Middle-Earth. This is a weekly Let’s Get Nerdy article series highlighting a different piece of Tolkien I think you need to know about!

In past articles I have answered the question:

• What Are the Rings of Power? 
• What is Númenor?
• What is the Second Age? 
• Who are the Harfoots? 
• Who is Prince Durin IV? 
• What is Khazad-dûm? 
• Who is Celebrimbor? 
• What is the Last Alliance of Men and Elves? 
• Who is Elendil? 
• New Pics! Who are Bronwyn and Theo? 

Since Let’s Get Nerdy! started I’ve written pretty extensively about the character Elrond Half-Elven. He’s

slated to be one of the leads of The Rings of Power streaming show played by Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones), and a character I’ve been relying on most readers having background knowledge of from Hugo Weaving’s iconic portrayal of the character from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Along with this assumed knowledge I’ve also assumed readers have at least a passing familiarity with the location of Rivendell where Elrond and, most famously, his daughter Arwen, make their home.

But that was the Rivendell of the Third Age of Middle-Earth. It actually came into being during The Second Age of Middle-Earth when the events of The Rings of Power are set.

As with almost everything in the Tolkien universe, Rivendell has many names. It’s also known as Imladris in the elvish language Sindarin as well as The Last Homely House East of the Sea and often referred to as The Great Elven Refuge.

Why “East of the Sea”, you may be wondering to yourself? Why because Valinor is West of the Sea!

J.R.R. Tolkien himself stated the valley where Rivendell is located is based on a location in the real world. He did an original painting inspired by Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.

Rivendell is tucked into the foothills of the Misty Mountains over a river and mostly easily accessible via the ​​Ford of Bruinen where it had there been established by Elrond during The Second Age of Middle-Earth. If you’ve been reading this series from the beginning you may note a very similar origin story behind the founding of Moria except now we are exploring the elvish side of the location. The geography of Rivendell protects it from easy attack along with the protection of Elven Magic placed upon it.

Rivendell was founded during the year 1697 of The Second Age, which in the timeline of the entire Age, is about halfway between the beginning and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves. Which means, in my opinion, if The Rings of Power is going to feature Elendil and Isildur as main characters then Rivendell should be well-established and recognizable.

Upon establishment Elrond stated he had never intended Rivendell to be a stronghold or fortress, rather a place of peace and learning. When you consider most of the contemporary world’s introduction to Rivendell was Frodo being sent there to heal from his stab wound in The Fellowship of the Ring as a place of healing Elrond’s will is exactly what Rivendell turned out to be. Elrond is also a noted healer who placed great emphasis on the health and well-being of all those who visited Rivendell. 

It came to the valley where it stands by accident. Following the War of the Elves and Sauron (debatable, IMO, whether or not we see this conflict during The Rings of Power), elvish refugees from Eregion built a stronghold in the foothills of the Misty Mountains while awaiting Elrond leading reinforcements. With the eventual support of the Númenóreans, they were able to stand their ground and beat back Sauron’s hordes. It is on these very grounds where Rivendell was built into the glory viewers are so familiar with from The Lord of the Rings films.

Prior to the Last Alliance of Men and Elves the forces amassed at Rivendell to strategize before setting out for Mordor. Think the gathering of Rohan’s forces in The Return of the King before they head down to Gondor for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Post-the Last Alliance of Men and Elves many humans of various standings lived or were fostered in Rivendell and often brought heirlooms or precious items with them during the time they lived amongst the elves. Why am I bringing this oddly specific detail up? Mostly for those of you who have been wondering in the back of your minds why the Shards of Narsil found their way to Rivendell where it would eventually be taken up by Elrond and reforged into Andúril rather than be kept in a stronghold in Gondor, for example.

Founder Elrond lived in Rivendell from its inception until he left to board a ship at the Grey Havens and cross over to Valinor with several other ring bearers following the events of The Lord of the Rings. His life in Rivendell was not singular, however, he resided for a long time with Celebrian – the daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn and his wife – and their three child Elladan and Elrohir (twin brothers), and Arwen. It is fitting the Númenóreans were such an integral part in the founding of Rivendell when year later, during The Third Age of Middle-Earth, Elrond welcomes Gilraen to raise her son, Aragorn son of Arathorn, in Rivendell under its protections ahead of Gondor’s revitalization. 

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