Zeithamlin

Zeithamlin is a fictional concept that appears in the German fantasy novel "Die unendliche Geschichte" (The Neverending Story) by Michael Ende. It is the name of a city located in the Fantastica, the world that the protagonist Bastian Balthasar Bux enters through a book. Zeithamlin is a place of great importance within the narrative, serving as a refuge and a symbol of a specific aspect of Fantastica.

In the story, Zeithamlin is described as a city built on the ruins of ancient civilizations, a testament to the passage of time and the cyclical nature of existence. It is a place where the inhabitants, known as the Old Ones, possess deep knowledge and wisdom. They are guardians of the history and secrets of Fantastica, and their city reflects this profound understanding.

The city's name itself, Zeithamlin, is a compound of German words meaning "time" and "hamlet" or "dwelling," suggesting a place where time itself resides or is preserved. This aligns with its role in the novel as a repository of memory and history, crucial for understanding the fate of Fantastica. Bastian visits Zeithamlin to seek guidance and to understand the encroaching emptiness that threatens his world. The city and its inhabitants offer him vital clues and insights necessary for his quest to save Fantastica.