Two Lamps

The Two Lamps were the original source of light in Arda, before both the Two Trees of Valinor and the Moon and the Sun.

The two lamps were named Illuin and Ormal, and were placed atop giant mountainous towers at each end of the world, such that no place on the surface of Arda was hidden in darkness.

Melkor hated the lamps and their eternal, ever-reaching light, and vowed to destroy them. So he did, and their fall was disastrous. Arda was marred, its symmetry was destroyed, continents broke, and fire burned the land. The Valar's original home on the island of Almaren was lost to the seas for all time.

The land in the places where the two lamps had stood was destroyed utterly, forming two inland seas, which were named Helcar and Ringil. And thus ended the Spring of Arda.