Dark Land: Difference between revisions
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| name=Dark Land | | name=Dark Land | ||
| type=Continent | | type=Continent | ||
| location=[[Arda]], east of [[Belegaer]] and | | location=[[Arda]], east of [[Belegaer]] and the innner East Sea | ||
| inhabitants=Unknown | | inhabitants=Unknown | ||
| realms= None known | | realms= None known | ||
| description=A continent in the far east | | description=A continent in the far south and east | ||
| othernames= South Land | | othernames= South Land | ||
| etymology= | | etymology= | ||
Revision as of 07:40, 21 February 2017
| Dark Land | |
|---|---|
| Continent | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Other names | South Land |
| Location | Arda, east of Belegaer and the innner East Sea |
| Type | Continent |
| Description | A continent in the far south and east |
| Regions | None known |
| Inhabitants | Unknown |
The Dark Land, also referred to as the South Land, was a continent that lay southeast of where the events of the The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings occured.[1]
History
The Dark Land was created as a byproduct of the War for the Sake of the Elves, in which the Valar overthrew Melkor in his original fortress of Utumno.[2][3]. Originally, Middle-earth was one landmass, set between the western sea of Belegaer and the East Sea.[4] This changed during the War, when the inland Sea of Ringil, originally landlocked and set in the mid-south of Middle-earth, grew in size and "became a great sea flowing north-eastward and joining by straights both the Western and Eastern Seas."[5][6] This event split Middle-earth into two landmasses; the landmass to the south and east of the former of Sea of Ringil (which confusingly was also called the "East Sea" by Tolkien) was known as the Dark Land.[7][1]
No inhabitants of the Dark Land were ever officially recorded.
Inspiration
The Dark Land has no role in the legendarium and appears only in an early map by Tolkien,[1] likely dating from the mid-1930s.[8][9]
Fans have suggested and discussed different theories of inspiration behind this notion:
- the Dark Land as reminiscent of Lemuria.[10]
- the Dark Land as perhaps representing a combination of both Australia and Antarctica (because of its geographic position).[11]
Portrayal in adaptations
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Although never fleshed out in much detail, a "dark continent" called Mórenorë is said to be situated south of Middle-earth, separated by the sea of Haragaer.[12] A few glimpses of this remote continent, however, were provided:
- A black cold-drake, Naikamil, fled from mountains in the south of Endor to Mórenorë after killing her mate.[13]
- Ungoliant, a monster of the Elder Days, is said to have "settled in the shadowy reaches of Morenórë, the Dark Continent",[note 1] according to tales of the Avari Elves.[14]
- Ninko Goldmaster, a mysterious merchant appearing as a character in an adventure setting, is rumoured to have visited distant lands, including Mórenorë.[15]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Inspired by a passage in The Silmarillion, which says that Ungoliant went "into the forgotten south of the world", after having dwelt at Nan Dungortheb (cf. "Of the Flight of the Noldor").
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map V"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Of the Fashion of the World", First Ballantine Books Edition, pp. 293-294
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Commentary on the Ambarkanta", First Ballantine Books Edition, pp. 304-305
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map IV"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Of the Fashion of the World", First Ballantine Books Edition, pp. 293-294
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Commentary on the Ambarkanta", First Ballantine Books Edition, p. 305
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Commentary on the Ambarkanta", First Ballantine Books Edition, p. 305
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, pp. 9, 108
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 42
- ↑ Message 35418 (dated 8 May 2009) at Elfling (accessed 20 October 2011)
- ↑ "Dark Land...a continent south of Middle Earth?" at The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza Forum (accessed 20 October 2011)
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr., Jessica M. Ney-Grimm, Terry K. Amthor (1993), Middle-earth Campaign Guide (#2003), pp. 7, 9
- ↑ Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012), p. 102
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 117
- ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Coleman Charlton, Jessica Ney, John Croudis, Keith Robley, Anders Blixt (1990), Gorgoroth (#3112), p. 117
