This world was, at first, not lit by a sun. Instead, the Valar created two lamps to illuminate it: Illuin ('Sky-blue') and Ormal ('High-gold'). To support the lamps, the Vala Aulë forged two enormous pillars of rock: Helcar in the north of the continent Middle-earth, and Ringil in the south. Illuin was set upon Helcar and Ormal upon Ringil. Between the columns, where the light of the lamps mingled, the Valar dwelt on the island of Almaren in the midst of a Great Lake.