Middle-earth

Location

Lothlórien

Also known as Lórien, The Golden Wood, Lothlórien, Dwimordene

The golden Elven realm of Galadriel and Celeborn, preserved outside ordinary time by the ring Nenya.

Tolkien’s textsSupported by the narratives published in Tolkien’s lifetime.
Type
Realm
Region
between the Misty Mountains and Anduin
Age
The Third Age
On the map
49%, 37%
Lothlórien

On the interactive atlas

Coordinates shown here are approximate, marking this place on the shared atlas map for orientation rather than cartography. It sits on the Third Age layer.

View on the interactive atlas →

Geography

Built on a triangle of land between the Silverlode and the Anduin, its great trees including the mallorn, with the hill of Cerin Amroth at its heart.

History

Settled by Galadriel and Celeborn; its people mingled Noldor, Sindar and Silvan Elves. It repelled Dol Guldur’s assaults during the War of the Ring.

People & inhabitants

Galadriel, Celeborn and the Galadhrim, largely Silvan Elves.

Significance

A vision of what the Elves preserve and what must fade. The Mirror of Galadriel and her refusal of the Ring are turning points.

Events here

Figures of this place

Galadriel
Character

Galadriel

An Elven-queen of the Noldor, wielder of Nenya, and one of the wisest and most powerful figures remaining in Middle-earth.

Celeborn
Character

Celeborn

Lord of Lothlórien, husband of Galadriel, and a Sindarin prince of Doriath.

Frodo Baggins
Character

Frodo Baggins

The hobbit of the Shire who carried the One Ring across Middle-earth to Mount Doom and destroyed it.

Samwise Gamgee
Character

Samwise Gamgee

Frodo’s loyal gardener and companion, who carried him — and, briefly, the Ring — to the end of the quest.

Gimli
Character

Gimli

The Dwarf of the Fellowship, whose friendship with Legolas becomes a symbol of reconciliation between their peoples.

Legolas Greenleaf
Character

Legolas Greenleaf

Son of Thranduil and the Elven archer of the Fellowship, whose friendship with Gimli breaks an old estrangement.

Haldir
Character

Haldir

An Elf of Lothlórien who guides the Fellowship and later dies defending Helm’s Deep in the film adaptation.

Sources

  • The Lord of the Rings · 1954–55

    Three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

  • The Silmarillion · 1977

    Posthumously edited. Contains the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power.

  • Unfinished Tales · 1980

    Expanded and alternative accounts of the First, Second and Third Ages.

Related places