From Lexicanum

Maiden Worlds are the lush paradise worlds originally created by the Eldar before the Fall of their race. The creation involved seeding barren planets with life, gradually leading to their transformation into lush, life-supporting worlds. The seeding of worlds was part of a program of colonization which would take many thousands of years to reach fruition, and the result would only be seen by later generations of Eldar.

The development of a lifeless planet into a Maiden world was a slow one. Simple bacteria were introduced to create a stable atmosphere first and gradually more complex organisms were added to stabilise the bio-system of the planet. Eventually, in the distant future the world would be ready to colonise by the Eldar. Once the process began it was fairly self-sustaining but took thousands of years to complete.

These worlds are referred to as Maiden worlds or Lileathan worlds after the Eldar goddess Lileath. They are often highly rich in resources and safe from illnesses as they were developed to resist harmful lifeforms. The Eldar consider these worlds their own, created by their forefathers for them to settle.

The seeded worlds survived the Fall of the Eldar, and continued to develop on their own. In the Age of the Imperium these worlds are now verdant paradise worlds. Inevitably, many have been settled by non-Eldar races. Although these races may have lived on Maiden Worlds for thousands of years, the descendants of the colonists are considered invaders by Eldar.

After the Fall, the Eldar began to settle the verdant worlds they created, sometimes finding their worlds already inhabited by other races. The invaders are given the choice of leaving or being exterminated. The Eldar show no tolerance in this, even though the colonists may be little more than feral savages unable to leave the planet.

Known Maiden Worlds

• Hannibal

Sources

• Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition)
• Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)
• Inquisition War Trilogy (Novel Series), Harlequin

Worlds of the Galaxy
Imperium	Adeptus Astartes Homeworld • Agri World • Cardinal World • Civilised World • Dead World • Death World • Desert World • Feral World • Feudal World • Forge World • Garden World • Hive World • Ice World • Industrial World • Jungle World • Mining World • Ocean World • Paradise World • Penal World • Research Station • Shrine World
Xeno	Xenos World • Daemon World • Exodite World • Tomb World • Maiden World • Crone World • Ork World • Tau Empire • Craftworld