Hall of Ingwë
Ingwëmar (Q."House of Ingwë), also known as Elderhome (Q. Yáramar, Vn. Yáremáre), is the sacred capital of Vanyamar and chief dwelling of the Vanyar, the First Kindred of the Elves, located in the Blessed Realm of Aman. It serves as the seat of Ingwë Ingweron, High King of the Elves, and the central hub of life for the Vanyar people. Built on the slopes of Mount Taniquetil, the highest mountain in Aman, Ingwëmar is strategically and symbolically situated near the halls of the Valar Manwë and Varda. This proximity reflects the Vanyar's role as the closest of all the Elves to the Valar.
Structure[]
Ingwëmar is a tiered city, built into the slopes of Taniquetil. The uppermost level houses the Hall of Ingwë, an awe-inspiring palace where the High King of the Elves resides. The Hall itself is made of polished crystal and alabaster, shimmering faintly with hues of gold and silver. Vast arches open into grand courtyards, where fountains sing softly in endless streams of clear water. Each courtyard is filled with gardens of ever-blooming flowers, perfumed with a sweetness said to rival even the gardens of Yavanna.
From the Hall of Ingwë, the city descends in tiers, each interconnected by broad stairways of polished marble and pathways paved in shimmering gold-flecked stone. The terraces are adorned with graceful dwellings, their walls carved with intricate patterns of trees, stars, and flowing rivers, reflecting the Vanyar's reverence for the natural and celestial. Surrounding these homes are verdant gardens, each planted with flowers that bloom in soft hues of silver and gold, their fragrance wafting through the air as a constant reminder of the fallen Two Trees. Ingwëmar also contains Courts of Song, open spaces where the Vanyar gather to sing and tell stories. Music is a central part of life in the city, and these courts are designed with acoustics that carry the sound of voices throughout the terraces.
The city’s outermost edge is framed by a low wall, more ceremonial than defensive, as the Vanyar have no need for fortifications in Aman. Beyond the wall, pathways descend toward the lower plains of Valinor, linking Ingwëmar with the broader realm of the Valar.