Dark Land: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-two|the mysterious dark continent|other "Dark Land" in [[Middle-earth]]|[[Mordor]]}}
{{location
| image=[[File:Quentin Lowagie - Arda in the Third Age.png|250px]]
| name=Dark Land
| type=Continent
| location=[[Arda]], east of [[Belegaer]] and the innner East Sea
| inhabitants=Unknown
| realms= None known
| description=A continent in the far south and east
| othernames= South Land
| etymology=
| events=
| references=
|}}


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.<ref name=AmbarV>{{SM|A5}}</ref>
==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]].<ref>{{SM|5b}}, First Ballantine Books Edition, pp. 293-294</ref><ref>{{SM|5e}}, First Ballantine Books Edition, pp. 304-305</ref> Originally, [[Middle-earth]] was one landmass, set between the western sea of [[Belegaer]] and the [[East Sea]].<ref>{{SM|A4}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{SM|5b}}, First Ballantine Books Edition, pp. 293-294</ref><ref>{{SM|5e}}, First Ballantine Books Edition, p. 305</ref> 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.<ref>{{SM|5e}}, First Ballantine Books Edition, p. 305</ref><ref name=AmbarV />
No inhabitants of the Dark Land were ever officially recorded.
==Inspiration==
The Dark Land has no role in the [[legendarium]] and is named only in an early map by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]],<ref name=AmbarV /> likely dating to the mid-1930s.<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 9, 108</ref><ref>{{CG|RG}}, p. 42</ref>
[[Tolkien fandom|Fans]] have suggested and discussed different theories of inspiration behind this notion:
*the Dark Land as reminiscent of [[Wikipedia:Lemuria (continent)|Lemuria]].<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elfling/message/35418 Message 35418] (dated 8 May 2009) at [[Elfling]] (accessed 20 October 2011)</ref>
*the Dark Land as perhaps representing a combination of both Australia and Antarctica (because of its geographic position).<ref>"[http://www.lotrplaza.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=212156 Dark Land...a continent south of Middle Earth?]" at [http://www.lotrplaza.com/forum/default.asp The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza Forum] (accessed 20 October 2011)</ref>
==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.<ref>{{ICE|2003}}, pp. 7, 9</ref> 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.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}, p. 102</ref>
*[[Ungoliant]], a monster of the Elder Days, is said to have "settled in the shadowy reaches of Morenórë, the Dark Continent",<ref group=note>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]]").</ref> according to tales of the Avari Elves.<ref>{{ICE|2006}}, p. 117</ref>
*Ninko Goldmaster, a mysterious merchant appearing as a character in an adventure setting, is rumoured to have visited distant lands, including Mórenorë.<ref>{{ICE|3112}}, p. 117</ref>
==See also==
*[[Nether Darkness]]
*[[Uttermost East]]
{{references|note}}
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[[Category: Locations]]
[[de:Dunkelland]]
[[fi:Musta Maa]]

Revision as of 00:15, 23 February 2017