Tolkien Gateway

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(pronounced [ˈe.a]) is the Quenya name for the universe, as a realization of the vision of the Ainur. Thus, Eä is the World that Is, as distinguished from the World that Is Not. It may thus be assumed that everything outside Eä, including the Timeless Halls of Ilúvatar, has no material form.

The Ainur, angelic beings from the Timeless Halls beyond Eä, refer to Eä as "the Little Kingdom".

[edit] Etymology

was the word spoken by Eru Ilúvatar by which he brought the universe into actuality.

[edit] Inspiration

This act of creation recalls the Biblical creation narrative, in which God began creating the world with the verbal command, "Let there be light." It also invokes Egyptian myths of creation, in which Ptah, god of creation (Amun, or Amun-Re was the god of creation in earlier Egyptian mythology), creates the world by speaking his own name.[source?]

Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations:  Anarríma | Durin's Crown | Menelmacar | Remmirath | Soronúmë | Telumendil | Valacirca | Wilwarin
Stars:  Alcarinquë | Borgil | Carnil | Elemmírë | Helluin | Luinil | Lumbar | Morwinyon | Nénar | Star of Eärendil | Til 
The Airs:  Aiwenórë | Fanyamar | Ilmen | Menel | Vaiya | Veil of Arda | Vista
Narsilion:  Arien | Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) | Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) | Tilion
See Also:  Abyss | Arda | Circles of the World | | Timeless Halls | Two Lamps | Two Trees | Void