Dark Land: Difference between revisions

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| realms= None known
| realms= None known
| description=A continent in the far east
| description=A continent in the far east
| othernames= South Land
| othernames= South Land, Morenórë
| etymology=
| etymology=
| events=
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Revision as of 17:55, 30 September 2015

This article is about the mysterious dark continent. For the other "Dark Land" in Middle-earth, see Mordor.
Dark Land
Continent
Quentin Lowagie - Arda in the Third Age.png
General Information
Other namesSouth Land, Morenórë
LocationArda, east of Belegaer and Middle-earth
TypeContinent
DescriptionA continent in the far east
RegionsNone known
InhabitantsUnknown

The Dark Land, also referred to as the South Land, was a mysterious continent far south-east of the landmass of which Middle-earth was part. It laid east of the East Sea.[1]

History

No inhabitants or history of the Dark Land were ever officially recorded.

Inhabitants

The Dark Land is home to a race of evil Ents, pygmies and a race of cannibalistic (it is not made clear wether this means they eat humans or each other) ogres called the Sarqindi[2].

Geography

The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad assumes most of the Dark Land to be covered in forest. However, if the Dark Land really is the last remnant of the Southland, then the Yellow Mountains would be somewhere in the east of the continent[3]. It is also known that some areas (or one area) are/is volcanic[4] and that the far south would be just as cold as the far north of Middle-earth[5] due to its proximity to the Chasm of Ilmen[6].

Canonicity and 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.[7][8]

Fans have suggested and discussed different theories of inspiration behind this notion:

  • the Dark Land as reminiscent of Lemuria.[9]
  • the Dark Land as perhaps representing a combination of both Australia and Antarctica (because of its geographic position).[10]

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.[11] 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.[12]
  • 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.[13]
  • Ninko Goldmaster, a mysterious merchant appearing as a character in an adventure setting, is rumoured to have visited distant lands, including Mórenorë.[14]

See also

Notes

  1. 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. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "The Ambarkanta: Map V", pp. 250-1
  2. The Book of Lost Tales Part 2, J.R.R. Tolkien
  3. The Ambarkanta, J.R.R. Tolkien
  4. The Book of Lost Tales Part 2, J.R.R. Tolkien
  5. The Book of Lost Tales Part 1
  6. The Ambarkanta, J.R.R. Tolkien
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, pp. 9, 108
  8. Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 42
  9. Message 35418 (dated 8 May 2009) at Elfling (accessed 20 October 2011)
  10. "Dark Land...a continent south of Middle Earth?" at The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza Forum (accessed 20 October 2011)
  11. Peter C. Fenlon, Jr., Jessica M. Ney-Grimm, Terry K. Amthor (1993), Middle-earth Campaign Guide (#2003), pp. 7, 9
  12. Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012), p. 102
  13. Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 117
  14. Peter C. Fenlon, Coleman Charlton, Jessica Ney, John Croudis, Keith Robley, Anders Blixt (1990), Gorgoroth (#3112), p. 117