Changing of the World: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(Changed main image (proposal))
(Added quote)
Line 11: Line 11:
| references=
| references=
|}}
|}}
{{quote|...malle téna lende númenna<br />ilya sí maller raikar...|[[Lament of Atalantë]]}}
The '''Changing of the World''' was the event in which [[Arda]] was transformed from a flat world into a [[Bent World|round planet]]. It occurred in {{SA|3319}}<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref> when [[Ilúvatar|Eru]] destroyed the island of [[Númenor]] due to the deeds of its people.
The '''Changing of the World''' was the event in which [[Arda]] was transformed from a flat world into a [[Bent World|round planet]]. It occurred in {{SA|3319}}<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref> when [[Ilúvatar|Eru]] destroyed the island of [[Númenor]] due to the deeds of its people.


==History==
When the [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] [[King of Númenor|King]] [[Ar-Pharazôn]] attacked [[Valinor]], the [[Valar]] relinquished their dominion over [[Arda]] and called upon Eru for help. Eru responded by creating an enormous rift between Númenor and the [[Aman|Blessed Realm]], into which Ar-Pharazôn's [[Great Armament|fleet]] and, ultimately, his land were swept. Meanwhile, the flat world bent back upon itself and met at this rift. The final result was a round planet of which [[Aman]] and [[Tol Eressëa]] were no longer a physical part. After the Changing of the World, only the [[Elves]] could find the [[Straight Road|Straight Way]] and reach the ancient [[Aman|West]] by ship.<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>
When the [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] [[King of Númenor|King]] [[Ar-Pharazôn]] attacked [[Valinor]], the [[Valar]] relinquished their dominion over [[Arda]] and called upon Eru for help. Eru responded by creating an enormous rift between Númenor and the [[Aman|Blessed Realm]], into which Ar-Pharazôn's [[Great Armament|fleet]] and, ultimately, his land were swept. Meanwhile, the flat world bent back upon itself and met at this rift. The final result was a round planet of which [[Aman]] and [[Tol Eressëa]] were no longer a physical part. After the Changing of the World, only the [[Elves]] could find the [[Straight Road|Straight Way]] and reach the ancient [[Aman|West]] by ship.<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>



Revision as of 11:56, 21 October 2021

John Howe - The Drowning of Numenor (sketch).jpg
Changing of the World
Event
Other namesBreaking of the World
LocationBetween Númenor and the West, though all of Arda was affected
DateS.A. 3319
ResultArda turned into a round world
Part ofEru's aid to the Valar
ParticipantsEru, Valar, Númenóreans
DescriptionEru's intervention in history that changed Arda from flat to round, making the West inaccessible to Men
"...malle téna lende númenna
ilya sí maller raikar...
"
Lament of Atalantë

The Changing of the World was the event in which Arda was transformed from a flat world into a round planet. It occurred in S.A. 3319[1] when Eru destroyed the island of Númenor due to the deeds of its people.

History

When the Númenórean King Ar-Pharazôn attacked Valinor, the Valar relinquished their dominion over Arda and called upon Eru for help. Eru responded by creating an enormous rift between Númenor and the Blessed Realm, into which Ar-Pharazôn's fleet and, ultimately, his land were swept. Meanwhile, the flat world bent back upon itself and met at this rift. The final result was a round planet of which Aman and Tol Eressëa were no longer a physical part. After the Changing of the World, only the Elves could find the Straight Way and reach the ancient West by ship.[2]

Other versions of the legendarium

See also: Round World version of the Silmarillion.

In Tolkien's latest writings published in the later volumes of The History of Middle-earth, Arda was a round world from its beginning, and the idea of a flat world was instead an invention of the Númenóreans. Thus, in this alternate account, the world would not need to be bent at the time of Númenor's downfall and Aman's removal from the physical world.[3]

References