Dark Land: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
m (British English. Don't remove the hyphen again.)
(26 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
| name=Dark Land
| name=Dark Land
| type=Continent
| type=Continent
| location=[[Arda]], east of [[Belegaer]] and [[Middle-earth]]
| location=[[Arda]], east of [[Belegaer]] and the innner East Sea
| inhabitants=Ungoliant (First Age), Evil Ents, Pygmies, Sarqindi
| 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=
Line 14: Line 14:
|}}
|}}


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]].<ref name=AmbarV>{{HM|SM}}, "The Ambarkanta: Map V", pp. 250-1</ref>
The '''Dark Land''', also referred to as the '''South Land''', was a continent that lay in south-east [[Arda]].<ref name=AmbarV>{{SM|A5}}</ref>  
 
==History==
==History==
No inhabitants or history of the Dark Land were ever ''officially'' recorded. However, it was probably created during the Siege of [[Utumno]], when Middle-earth was broken up, the Dark Land probably being the last remnants of the Southland<ref>The Ambarkanta, J.R.R. Tolkien</ref>. Ungoliant is said to have gone there soon after she was deprived of eating [[Morgoth]], where one of two things could have happened to her: either Ungoliant finally succumbed to lack of prey and ate herself<ref>The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien</ref>, or she was killed by Eärendil on one of his many voyages <ref>The Book of Lost Tales Part 2, J.R.R. Tolkien</ref>. Either way, it would definitely have been Ungoliant's presence that gave the Dark Land its name, as anyone who has read ''The Silmarillion'' will know that Ungoliant ate light and excreted darkness; imagine her there for nearly a whole age.
The Dark Land was created as a by-product of the [[War for the Sake of the Elves]], in which the [[Valar]] overthrew [[Melkor]] in his original fortress of [[Utumno]].<ref name="SM293">{{SM|5b}}, pp. 293-294</ref><ref name="SM305">{{SM|5e}}, p. 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; the inland [[Sea of Ringil]], 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"/> This event split Middle-earth into two landmasses, and landmass to the south and east of the former of Sea of Ringil<ref group=note>Confusingly, the former Sea of Ringil was also called the "East Sea" by Tolkien. See {{SM|A5}}.</ref> was known as the Dark Land.<ref name="SM305"/><ref name=AmbarV />
 
No inhabitants of the Dark Land were ever recorded.


==Canonicity and Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
The Dark Land has no role in the [[legendarium]] and appears only in an early map by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]],<ref name=AmbarV/> likely dating from the mid-1930s.<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 9, 108</ref><ref>{{CG|RG}}, p. 42</ref>
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:
[[Tolkien fandom|Fans]] have suggested and discussed different theories of inspiration behind this notion:
Line 33: Line 36:


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Nether Darkness]]
*[[Uttermost East]]
*[[Uttermost East]]



Revision as of 13:47, 14 April 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 in south-east Arda.[1]

History

The Dark Land was created as a by-product 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; the inland Sea of Ringil, 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 landmass to the south and east of the former of Sea of Ringil[note 1] was known as the Dark Land.[3][1]

No inhabitants of the Dark Land were ever 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. Confusingly, the former Sea of Ringil was also called the "East Sea" by Tolkien. See J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map V".
  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