Ekkaia: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Anya Valle - Beyond The Uttermost West.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''Beyond The Uttermost West'' by [[Anya Valle]].]]
{{location infobox
'''Ekkaia''' (pron. {{IPA|[ekˈkaɪ.a]}}) was the [[Quenya]] name for the [[Encircling Sea]] that surrounded [[Arda]].
| name=Ekkaia
| image=
| caption=
| pronun=
| othernames=The Encircling Sea, The Outer Sea
| location=Surrounding [[Arda]]
| type=Ocean
| description=
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Ulmo]]
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
'''Ekkaia''' (also called the '''Encircling Sea''', the '''Outer Sea''', or the '''Outer Ocean''') was the mighty sea that surrounded all the lands of [[Arda]], [[Middle-earth]] and [[Aman]] alike. [[Ulmo]]'s halls were within the Outer Sea.
 
At its distant unknown edge stood the [[Walls of Night]].<ref name=days>{{S|Days}}</ref> Beyond its edge was also a chasm, into which [[Tilion]] plunged and carried the [[Moon]] beneath the roots of [[Arda]].<ref>{{S|11}}</ref>
 
Its dark waters lapped the western shores of [[Valinor]],<ref name=days/> and during their time in Valinor [[Fëanor]] and [[Sons of Fëanor|his sons]] visited the shores of these waters.<ref>{{S|Princes}}</ref>
 
In the North, the [[Helcaraxë]] was the narrow strait between the Outer Sea and [[Belegaer]], where in the chilled waters clashed hills of ice amidst vast fogs of deathly cold.<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref>
 
==Etymology==
The name ''Ekkaia'', commonly understood to be [[Quenya]],<ref name=Helge/><ref name=quick/> was not explained by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]].
 
[[Helge Fauskanger]] has tried to explain ''Ekkaia'' by deriving it from the unattested form ''et-gaya'' ("out-sea"; cf. ''[[et]]'' "out").<ref name=Helge>[[Helge Fauskanger]], "[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/quen-eng.htm Quettaparma Quenyallo]" at [http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/ Ardalambion] (accessed 27 October 2011)</ref>
 
Robert Ireland links ''Ekkaia'' to the [[Sundocarme|root]] KHAYA ("far, distant"), which appears to include among its derivatives an adverb similar in form: ''ekkaira'' ("far off, far away").<ref name=quick>Robert Ireland, [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/SILM/SILM_CE.html The Silmarillion Dictionary (C-E)] at [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/Tolkien_Dictionary.html A Tolkien Dictionary] (accessed 27 October 2011)</ref><ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 364 (entry KHAYA-)</ref>
==Other versions of the legendarium==
Ekkaia appears first time in [[The Later Quenta Silmarillion]], replacing the earlier concept of [[Vaiya]]. In earlier works such as the ''[[Ambarkanta]]'', Vaiya is not a sea, but an exotic material that encloses the flat [[Ambar]], becoming air above it, and water below it. In the published ''[[Silmarillion]]'' Ekkaia is clearly mentioned only to be a sea. However in the cosmological models of ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' (and fan-made maps), Ekkaia is conflated with the earlire concept of Vaiya, shown as an atmospheric layer that encloses the world.
 
==See also==
*[[Vaiya]]
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Oceans]]
[[Category:Quenya locations]]
[[Category:Quenya Locations]]
[[Category:Seas and oceans]]

Revision as of 20:50, 15 June 2020

Ekkaia
Ocean
General Information
Other namesThe Encircling Sea, The Outer Sea
LocationSurrounding Arda
TypeOcean
InhabitantsUlmo

Ekkaia (also called the Encircling Sea, the Outer Sea, or the Outer Ocean) was the mighty sea that surrounded all the lands of Arda, Middle-earth and Aman alike. Ulmo's halls were within the Outer Sea.

At its distant unknown edge stood the Walls of Night.[1] Beyond its edge was also a chasm, into which Tilion plunged and carried the Moon beneath the roots of Arda.[2]

Its dark waters lapped the western shores of Valinor,[1] and during their time in Valinor Fëanor and his sons visited the shores of these waters.[3]

In the North, the Helcaraxë was the narrow strait between the Outer Sea and Belegaer, where in the chilled waters clashed hills of ice amidst vast fogs of deathly cold.[4]

Etymology

The name Ekkaia, commonly understood to be Quenya,[5][6] was not explained by Tolkien.

Helge Fauskanger has tried to explain Ekkaia by deriving it from the unattested form et-gaya ("out-sea"; cf. et "out").[5]

Robert Ireland links Ekkaia to the root KHAYA ("far, distant"), which appears to include among its derivatives an adverb similar in form: ekkaira ("far off, far away").[6][7]

Other versions of the legendarium

Ekkaia appears first time in The Later Quenta Silmarillion, replacing the earlier concept of Vaiya. In earlier works such as the Ambarkanta, Vaiya is not a sea, but an exotic material that encloses the flat Ambar, becoming air above it, and water below it. In the published Silmarillion Ekkaia is clearly mentioned only to be a sea. However in the cosmological models of The Atlas of Middle-earth (and fan-made maps), Ekkaia is conflated with the earlire concept of Vaiya, shown as an atmospheric layer that encloses the world.

See also

References