New lands: Difference between revisions

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'''New lands''' and new seas were created by [[Ilúvatar]] when [[Arda|the world]] was remade after the [[Downfall of Númenor]] and [[Aman]] was removed. They were formed after Eru cast back the [[Great Seas]] west, and the [[Empty Lands]] east of [[Middle-earth]].
'''New lands''' and new seas were created by [[Ilúvatar]] when [[Arda|the world]] was remade after the [[Downfall of Númenor]] and [[Aman]] was removed. They were formed after Eru cast back the [[Great Seas]] west, and the [[Empty Lands]] east of [[Middle-earth]].


Long after that [[Changing of the World|cataclysm]], [[Men]] from [[Middle-earth]] sailed west to the [[Great Sea]], seeking the summit of the [[Meneltarma]], which they believed had risen above the waves and from which a person could still descry the Undying Lands.  However, the Isle of Meneltarma was never found.  Instead mariners only discovered new lands which were like the old lands in that they were subject to death.  These new lands did not form a barrier to travel; sailors found that they could circumnavigate the world and thus could report: "All roads are now bent".<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>
Long after that [[Changing of the World|cataclysm]], [[Men]] from [[Middle-earth]] sailed west to the [[Great Sea]], seeking the summit of the [[Meneltarma]], which they believed had risen above the waves and from which a person could still descry the Undying Lands.  However, the Isle of Meneltarma was never found.  Instead mariners only discovered new lands which were like the old lands in that they were subject to death.  These new lands did not form a barrier to travel; sailors found that they could circumnavigate the world and thus could report: ''îdô kâtha batîna lôkhî'' ("All roads are now bent").<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
Considering that Middle-earth "corresponds" to Europe<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "Middle-earth"</ref> and [[Belegaer]] to Atlantic<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', p. 194</ref> it can be suggested that the "new lands" correspond to the Americas.<ref>{{webcite||articleurl=https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/New_Lands?oldid=255768|articlename=New Lands|website=[https://lotr.fandom.com One Wiki to rule them all]|accessed=13 September 2020}}</ref>
Considering that Middle-earth "corresponds" to Europe<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "Middle-earth"</ref> and [[Belegaer]] to Atlantic<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', p. 194</ref> it can be suggested that the "new lands" correspond to the Americas.<ref>{{webcite||articleurl=https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/New_Lands?oldid=255768|articlename=New Lands|website=[https://lotr.fandom.com One Wiki to rule them all]|accessed=13 September 2020}}</ref>


[[David Day]] in ''[[Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia]]'' displays some chronological evolution of [[Arda]], and a continent resembling the Americas forming east of Middle-earth after the [[Fourth Age]].
[[David Day]] in ''[[Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia]]'' displays some chronological evolution of [[Arda]], and a continent resembling the Americas forming east of Middle-earth after the [[Fourth Age]].
Later in his life, Tolkien wrote about the possibility that the [[Valar]] and the [[Calaquendi]] left the world spiritually, while the landmass of Aman remained, and became the Americas.<ref name=Nature>{{NM|P3xv}}</ref>
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Regions]]

Latest revision as of 12:47, 21 October 2021

New lands and new seas were created by Ilúvatar when the world was remade after the Downfall of Númenor and Aman was removed. They were formed after Eru cast back the Great Seas west, and the Empty Lands east of Middle-earth.

Long after that cataclysm, Men from Middle-earth sailed west to the Great Sea, seeking the summit of the Meneltarma, which they believed had risen above the waves and from which a person could still descry the Undying Lands. However, the Isle of Meneltarma was never found. Instead mariners only discovered new lands which were like the old lands in that they were subject to death. These new lands did not form a barrier to travel; sailors found that they could circumnavigate the world and thus could report: îdô kâtha batîna lôkhî ("All roads are now bent").[1]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Considering that Middle-earth "corresponds" to Europe[2] and Belegaer to Atlantic[3] it can be suggested that the "new lands" correspond to the Americas.[4]

David Day in Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia displays some chronological evolution of Arda, and a continent resembling the Americas forming east of Middle-earth after the Fourth Age.

Later in his life, Tolkien wrote about the possibility that the Valar and the Calaquendi left the world spiritually, while the landmass of Aman remained, and became the Americas.[5]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  2. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Middle-earth"
  3. Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth, p. 194
  4. "New Lands", One Wiki to rule them all (accessed 13 September 2020)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XV. The Númenórean Catastrophe & End of "Physical" Aman"