Part 4/9:
Before the sun was born, the universe existed in what could be called an embryonic state. The supreme being, Eru Ilúvatar, conceived the world and its inhabitants. This primordial period, while not officially named by Tolkien, represents the beginning of existence, encompassing the creation of the Valar, the divine entities entrusted with guiding the world, and the universe typically referred to as Ea.
The First Age, as we know it, only begins with the rise of the sun and the subsequent creation of two enormous lights, known as the Lamps, to illuminate the world. This monumental creation lasted more than 33,000 years, during which the Valar established their domain in Middle-earth.