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 [[Middle-earth]]
| location=[[Arda]], east of [[Belegaer]] and the innner East Sea
| inhabitants=Ungoliant (First Age), pygmies, evil Ents, 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, Morenórë
| othernames= South Land
| etymology=
| etymology=
| events=
| events=
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|}}
|}}


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> Little is known about it, as it is never mentioned in any of Tolkien's main works, but it is able to be inferred from certain posthumously published works (i.e. The Book of Lost Tales Parts 1 and 2) that Ungoliant went to the far south of the Dark Land after people became wise enough to give the [[Nan Dungortheb]] a wide berth and she ran out of prey. This may be what gave the Dark Land its name, as it is known that Ungoliant ate light and excreted darkness, so she probably made the land dark. It is also known that the far south of the land is as cold as the far north of Middle-earth and that it was in contact with the Chasm of [[Ilmen]] before the world was made round, as was Dor Daidalos in the First Age.
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 history of the Dark Land was ever officially recorded.
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 the 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 />


==Inhabitants==
No inhabitants of the Dark Land were ever recorded.
Eärendil is known to have journeyed to the Dark Land with [[Voronwë]] in the First Age and killed Ungoliant (but it was too late to make the continent any less dark) and discovered a certain amount about its inhabitants; as well as Ungoliant, the Dark Land was inhabited by a pygmies, evil [[Ents]] and a race of cannibalistic (it is not made clear wether this meant they ate each other or ate humans) ogres called the Sarqindi.


==Geography==
==Inspiration==
Karen Wynn Fonstad's ''The Atlas of Middle-earth'' showed the Dark Land to be covered mainly in forest, no doubt populated mainly by the evil Ents. Certain areas are also said to be volcanic in the account of Eärendil's journey there, and the southernmost regions are polar. It may also be inferred that the [[Yellow Mountains]] are in the eastern region of the land.
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>
 
==Canonicity and 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>


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


Revision as of 18:34, 11 May 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 the 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

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map V"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Of the Fashion of the World", pp. 293-294
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Commentary on the Ambarkanta", p. 305
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map IV"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, pp. 9, 108
  6. ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 42
  7. ↑ Message 35418 (dated 8 May 2009) at Elfling (accessed 20 October 2011)
  8. ↑ "Dark Land...a continent south of Middle Earth?" at The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza Forum (accessed 20 October 2011)
  9. ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr., Jessica M. Ney-Grimm, Terry K. Amthor (1993), Middle-earth Campaign Guide (#2003), pp. 7, 9
  10. ↑ Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012), p. 102
  11. ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1993), Valar and Maiar (#2006), p. 117
  12. ↑ Peter C. Fenlon, Coleman Charlton, Jessica Ney, John Croudis, Keith Robley, Anders Blixt (1990), Gorgoroth (#3112), p. 117
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