Elvish Chronology

[James the Just]

Happy Yuletide!

Twenty-one conjunctions of Uranus and Neptune take 3,600 years, or 25 Long Valian Years. Are there other conjunction cycles that mirror them in this way?

The time between conjunctions of Saturn and Neptune average slightly less than 36 years, or about a quarter of a Long Valian Year. An Elvish Calendar Cycle of 432 years would last a little more than a dozen of these. The Years of the Sun began with an Uranus/Neptune conjunction. So when should a series of Saturn/Neptune conjunctions commence the beginning of an epoch?

The Second Age began on Sunday, December 22, 10962 BC. About a month later there was a triple conjunction of Saturn and Neptune.

Wednesday, January 29, 10961 BC.
Monday, June 1, 10961 BC.
Monday, September 28, 10961 BC.

The Third Age began on Wednesday, December 18, 7521 BC. Eight dozen conjunctions later happened during an important time in Middle-earth history; shortly after the shards of Narsil were brought to Imladris.

Wednesday, January 5, 7517 BC. Third Age 4.

After seven dozen such conjunctions this Age was close to an end; Arwen returned to Imladris.

Tuesday, June 2, 4505 BC. Third Age 3016.

Less than three years later was the Fall of Barad-dûr on Monday, March 13, 4502 BC (Gregorian Proleptic).

The Ages become progressively shorter over time. If the Second Age lasted about eight dozen cycles of Saturn/Neptune conjunctions and the Third Age about seven dozen, then the Fourth Age might have endured for six, the Fifth Age for five, and the Sixth for four. The time that has elapsed since the beginning of the Second Age and the Great Years at the end of the Third Age would be close to the same as that between the latter and today.

So the Seventh Age may have begun fifteen dozen conjunctions of Lumbar and Nenar later.

Friday, November 21, 1952 AD.
Sunday, May 17, 1953 AD.
Wednesday, July 22, 1953 AD.

The Lord of the Rings was finished in this time.

There shall be another such conjunction soon; on Friday, February 20, 2026. 🪐