Avendesora

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Avendesora, or The Tree Of Life, is a recurring object in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.

[edit] Significance

Avendesora is symbolic to the inhabitants of Randland, predominantly Ogier and the Aiel for unexplained reasons. It is described as being 'hundreds of spans high' with wide spreading branches and unusual trefoil leaves. Until recently, the whereabouts of Avendesora have been a mystery. However, it was revealed by Rand al'Thor in The Shadow Rising that Avendesora is located in the center of Rhuidean, a city located in the Aiel Waste. During a battle beneath the tree in Rhuidean with Asmodean, one of the Forsaken, Rand set Avendesora alight, and just after, Rand believed that he had killed it. However, Moiraine revealed soon after that the tree was still alive, if barely harmed.

Avendesora is the last cutting remaining from the chora trees that lined the streets of Paaren Disen, in the Age of Legends.

[edit] Avendoraldera & The Aiel War

A cutting from Avendesora, named Avendoraldera, was given by the Aiel to Cairhenien nobility as a gift for the mercy bestowed upon their ancestors by the nobles in Cairhien. It grew in the palace grounds for many generations until King Laman cut it down to make himself a throne like no other that had ever been seen. When the Aiel learned of this, they crossed the Spine of The World (or Dragonwall) and started the Aiel War, not stopping until they had killed Laman, before they returned back across the Dragonwall to the Aiel Waste. They did not cross it again until the coming of the Car'a'carn.