Elvish cities in writings of J.R.R. Tolkien

This article compares visions of elvish cities in writings of J. R.R. Tolkien: built at the top of the trees Caras Galadhon and stone cities like Menegroth, Nargothrond and Gondolin. In the first part the author describes both types of cities, in the second, basing on Nordic mythology and beliefs and own ideas tries to answer why Elves preferred building their cities underground and why in modern fantasy literature it is not a popular vision of elvish city