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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>
The '''Dark Land''', also referred to as the '''South Land''', was a continent that lay south-east of [[Middle-earth]].<ref name=AmbarV>{{SM|A5}}</ref> The Dark Land was created as a by-product of the [[War for the Sake of the Elves]].<ref name="SM293"/><ref name="SM305"/>


==History==
==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 />
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 in which the [[Valar]] overthrew [[Melkor]] in his original fortress of [[Utumno]]: the inland [[Sea of Ringil]],<ref group=note>Ringil confusingly was also called the "East Sea" by Tolkien</ref> originally 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 name="SM293">{{SM|5b}}, pp. 293-294</ref> This event split Middle-earth into two landmasses; and the Dark Land was the landmass to the south and east of the former of Sea of Ringil.<ref name="SM305">{{SM|5e}}, p. 305</ref><ref name=AmbarV />


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

Revision as of 08:58, 26 February 2017

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
LocationArda, east of Belegaer and the innner East Sea
TypeContinent
DescriptionA continent in the far south and east
RegionsNone known
InhabitantsUnknown

The Dark Land, also referred to as the South Land, was a continent that lay south-east of Middle-earth.[1] The Dark Land was created as a by-product of the War for the Sake of the Elves.[2][3]

History

Originally, Middle-earth was one landmass, set between the western sea of Belegaer and the East Sea.[4] This changed during the War in which the Valar overthrew Melkor in his original fortress of Utumno: the inland Sea of Ringil,[note 1] originally 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."[2] This event split Middle-earth into two landmasses; and the Dark Land was the landmass to the south and east of the former of Sea of Ringil.[3][1]

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 Tolkien,[1] likely dating to the mid-1930s.[5][6]

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

  • the Dark Land as reminiscent of Lemuria.[7]
  • the Dark Land as perhaps representing a combination of both Australia and Antarctica (because of its geographic position).[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]
  • Ungoliant, a monster of the Elder Days, is said to have "settled in the shadowy reaches of Morenórë, the Dark Continent",[note 2] according to tales of the Avari Elves.[11]
  • Ninko Goldmaster, a mysterious merchant appearing as a character in an adventure setting, is rumoured to have visited distant lands, including Mórenorë.[12]

See also

Notes

  1. Ringil confusingly was also called the "East Sea" by Tolkien
  2. 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