A pagoda is a tiered tower with multiple eaves, built in traditions originating
in historic South Asia or with respect to those traditions, common to Nepal,
India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia.
Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to
have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist, and were often located in or
near viharas. In some countries, the term may refer to other religious
structures. In Vietnam and Cambodia, due to French translation, the English term
Pagoda is a more generic term referring to a place of worship, although pagoda is
not an accurate word to describe a Buddhist vihara. The modern pagoda is an
evolution of the Ancient Nepal stupa, a tomb-like structure where sacred relics
could be kept safe and venerated. The architectural structure of the stupa has
spread across Asia, taking on many diverse forms as details specific to different
regions are incorporated into the overall design.
Rivendell is an Elven outpost in Middle-earth, a fictional realm created by J. R.
R. Tolkien. It is an important location in Tolkien's legendarium, and is featured
in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. It
was established and ruled by Elrond Half-elven in the Second Age of Middle-earth
four or five thousand years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, and was
protected by the powers of its lord and his elven ring Vilya.
