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{{disambig-more|Inland Sea|[[Inland Sea (disambiguation)]]}} | |||
The ''' | {{location infobox | ||
| name=Sea of Helcar | |||
| image=[[File:Mark Fisher - Cuivienen.png|250px]] | |||
| caption="Cuiviénen" by Mark Fisher | |||
| pronun= | |||
| othernames=Sea of Helkar | |||
| location=North-central [[Middle-earth]], north of the [[Sea of Ringil]] and close to the western side of the [[Orocarni]] | |||
| type=Inland Sea | |||
| description= | |||
| regions=[[Cuiviénen]], [[Wild Wood]] | |||
| towns= | |||
| inhabitants= | |||
| created=When [[Melkor]] cast down the [[Two Lamps|Lamp]] atop [[Illuin]] | |||
| destroyed= | |||
| events=[[Great Journey]] | |||
}} | |||
The '''Sea of Helcar''' (also spelled '''Helkar''') was a great lake or inland sea which existed in the central region of northern [[Middle-earth]] during the [[Years of the Trees]].<ref name=S>{{S|3}}</ref> | |||
In the beginning of [[Arda]], the [[Valar]] created the [[Two Lamps]] and two great towers on which to place them. | ==History== | ||
In the beginning of [[Arda]], the [[Valar]] created the [[Two Lamps]] and two great towers on which to place them. [[Melkor]] destroyed the Two Lamps, and where [[Illuin]] (the northern tower) had stood, the inland Sea of Helcar was formed. Many rivers flowed into the Sea of Helcar from the east. [[Cuiviénen]], where the first [[Elves]] [[Awakening of the Elves|awoke]], was a bay on the eastern side of the Sea of Helcar, and it lay under the shadows of the [[Orocarni]] (Red Mountains). During the [[Great Journey]], the Elves travelled north around the Sea of Helcar before turning westward.<ref name=S /> After this, the Sea of Helcar passed out of history. | |||
[[ | ==Other versions of the legendarium== | ||
In the ''[[Ambarkanta]]'', the Sea of Helcar was depicted as an enormous body of water that stretched from the Red Mountains in the east to the [[Blue Mountains]] in the west.<ref>{{SM|A4}}</ref> After Middle-earth's landscape changed in the [[War for Sake of the Elves]], the western end of the Sea was depicted as being separated from the [[Great Gulf]] only by a narrow strip of mountainous land called the [[Straits of the World]].<ref>{{SM|A5}}</ref> However, these early depictions predate Tolkien's conception of the wide lands of [[Eriador]], [[Gondor]], and [[Mordor]] that lay east of the Great Gulf. | |||
Christopher Tolkien questioned whether or not the [[Sea of Rhûn]] could "...be identified with the Sea of Helkar, vastly shrunken". <ref>{{WJ|Men}} p. 174</ref> In ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] assumed that Mordor, [[Khand]], and parts of [[Rhûn]] in the Second and Third Ages lay where the Sea of Helcar had been in the First Age, and that the Sea of Rhûn and [[Sea of Núrnen]] were its remnants. However, in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'' (which was published after Fontstad's ''Atlas''), there are references to the Sea of Rhûn and its surrounding geographical landmarks existing as far back as the [[Years of the Trees]] at the time of the [[Great Journey]],<ref>{{PM|Last}} p. 391-392 (note 29)</ref> and [[Melkor]] was said to have created [[Mount Doom]] in Mordor during the "long [[First Age]]".<ref>{{PM|Last}} p. 390 (note 14)</ref> Additionally, it is told in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' that the migration of the [[Drúedain]] from [[Hildórien]] brought them westward through lands south of Mordor.<ref>{{UT|Druedain}}, pp. 339-340</ref> | |||
== | == See also == | ||
* [[Sea of Ringil]] | |||
{{references}} | |||
[[Category:Lakes]] | [[Category:Lakes]] |
Revision as of 19:37, 15 September 2018
Sea of Helcar | |
---|---|
Inland Sea | |
"Cuiviénen" by Mark Fisher | |
General Information | |
Other names | Sea of Helkar |
Location | North-central Middle-earth, north of the Sea of Ringil and close to the western side of the Orocarni |
Type | Inland Sea |
Regions | Cuiviénen, Wild Wood |
History | |
Created | When Melkor cast down the Lamp atop Illuin |
Events | Great Journey |
The Sea of Helcar (also spelled Helkar) was a great lake or inland sea which existed in the central region of northern Middle-earth during the Years of the Trees.[1]
History
In the beginning of Arda, the Valar created the Two Lamps and two great towers on which to place them. Melkor destroyed the Two Lamps, and where Illuin (the northern tower) had stood, the inland Sea of Helcar was formed. Many rivers flowed into the Sea of Helcar from the east. Cuiviénen, where the first Elves awoke, was a bay on the eastern side of the Sea of Helcar, and it lay under the shadows of the Orocarni (Red Mountains). During the Great Journey, the Elves travelled north around the Sea of Helcar before turning westward.[1] After this, the Sea of Helcar passed out of history.
Other versions of the legendarium
In the Ambarkanta, the Sea of Helcar was depicted as an enormous body of water that stretched from the Red Mountains in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west.[2] After Middle-earth's landscape changed in the War for Sake of the Elves, the western end of the Sea was depicted as being separated from the Great Gulf only by a narrow strip of mountainous land called the Straits of the World.[3] However, these early depictions predate Tolkien's conception of the wide lands of Eriador, Gondor, and Mordor that lay east of the Great Gulf.
Christopher Tolkien questioned whether or not the Sea of Rhûn could "...be identified with the Sea of Helkar, vastly shrunken". [4] In The Atlas of Middle-earth, Karen Wynn Fonstad assumed that Mordor, Khand, and parts of Rhûn in the Second and Third Ages lay where the Sea of Helcar had been in the First Age, and that the Sea of Rhûn and Sea of Núrnen were its remnants. However, in The Peoples of Middle-earth (which was published after Fontstad's Atlas), there are references to the Sea of Rhûn and its surrounding geographical landmarks existing as far back as the Years of the Trees at the time of the Great Journey,[5] and Melkor was said to have created Mount Doom in Mordor during the "long First Age".[6] Additionally, it is told in Unfinished Tales that the migration of the Drúedain from Hildórien brought them westward through lands south of Mordor.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map IV"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map V"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of Men (Chapter 9)" p. 174
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XIII. Last Writings" p. 391-392 (note 29)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XIII. Last Writings" p. 390 (note 14)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain", pp. 339-340