Great Gulf: Difference between revisions

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The '''Great Gulf''' was an immense gulf which divided [[Beleriand]] and the other northern parts of [[Middle-earth]] from the unknown south during the [[First Age]].<ref>{{S|Captivity}}</ref>
The '''Great Gulf''' was an immense gulf that divided [[Beleriand]] and [[Eriador]] from southern regions of [[Middle-earth]] during the [[First Age]].<ref>{{S|3}}, pp. 40-41</ref>


The Great Gulf was created after the destruction of the [[Two Lamps]] by [[Morgoth|Melkor]] and in the following war, when the [[Valar]] widened the great sea [[Belegaer]]. The Gulf started at the southern end of Beleriand, and from there flowed east all the way to where later was south [[Gondor]], where a narrow strip of land separated it from the [[Sea of Helcar]], linked together only by the [[Straits of the World]].<ref>{{SM|A5}}</ref>


North of the Great Gulf lay the lands of [[Beleriand]] and [[Eriador]], south of it lay those lands which later would be known as Far [[Harad]].
==History==
The Great Gulf was created in the [[War for Sake of the Elves]], when the [[Valar]] waged war against [[Melkor]] after they discovered the first [[Elves]]. As a result of the war, [[Belegaer]] broke into Middle-earth forming the Great Gulf and several lesser bays to its north, including the [[Bay of Balar]].<ref>{{S|3}}, pp. 40-41</ref><ref>{{SM|A5}}</ref>


After the [[War of Wrath]] at the end of the First Age, the Great Gulf drained the Sea of Helcar through the Straits of the World and effectively disappeared itself, because much of Middle-earth was drowned. Only its eastern end remained, and became known as the [[Bay of Belfalas]].
==Geography==
South of the river [[Gelion]], "the land narrowed suddenly" and gave way to the Great Gulf.<ref>{{SM|5}}, p. 306</ref> The Great Gulf almost touched the [[Blue Mountains]],<ref>{{SM|5}}, p. 306</ref> but the land around the southern end of the mountain chain was wide enough to allow travelers to pass between [[Beleriand]] and [[Eriador]].<ref>{{WJ|P1}}, p. 109</ref><ref>{{PM|X}}, p. 307</ref><ref group=note>The Great Gulf was originally depicted in the [[Ambarkanta]] as being separated from the Inland [[Sea of Helcar]] to its east by a narrow strip of mountainous land called the [[Straits of the World]]. See {{SM|A5}} and p. 306. However, this depiction predates Tolkien's conception of the wide lands of Eriador, Gondor, and Mordor that lay east of the Blue Mountains, as well as the non-mountainous passageway connecting Eriador and Beleriand that lay between the Great Gulf and the Blue Mountains.</ref>


{{references}}
After the [[War of Wrath]], most of Beleriand was drowned, and much of the Great Gulf would have vanished with it. Although not explicitly stated, the eastern end of the Great Gulf in Eriador likely became the [[Bay of Belfalas]].
 
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Revision as of 08:15, 9 April 2017

Great Gulf
Gulf
General Information
LocationSouth of Endor, north of Hither Lands, coming from Belegaer toward the Straits of the World
TypeGulf
DescriptionLarge eastward extension of Belegaer into Middle-earth
History
EventsDestruction of the Two Lamps
War of Wrath

The Great Gulf was an immense gulf that divided Beleriand and Eriador from southern regions of Middle-earth during the First Age.[1]


History

The Great Gulf was created in the War for Sake of the Elves, when the Valar waged war against Melkor after they discovered the first Elves. As a result of the war, Belegaer broke into Middle-earth forming the Great Gulf and several lesser bays to its north, including the Bay of Balar.[2][3]

Geography

South of the river Gelion, "the land narrowed suddenly" and gave way to the Great Gulf.[4] The Great Gulf almost touched the Blue Mountains,[5] but the land around the southern end of the mountain chain was wide enough to allow travelers to pass between Beleriand and Eriador.[6][7][note 1]

After the War of Wrath, most of Beleriand was drowned, and much of the Great Gulf would have vanished with it. Although not explicitly stated, the eastern end of the Great Gulf in Eriador likely became the Bay of Belfalas.

Notes

  1. ↑ The Great Gulf was originally depicted in the Ambarkanta as being separated from the Inland Sea of Helcar to its east by a narrow strip of mountainous land called the Straits of the World. See J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map V" and p. 306. However, this depiction predates Tolkien's conception of the wide lands of Eriador, Gondor, and Mordor that lay east of the Blue Mountains, as well as the non-mountainous passageway connecting Eriador and Beleriand that lay between the Great Gulf and the Blue Mountains.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor", pp. 40-41
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor", pp. 40-41
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Map V"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta", p. 306
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta", p. 306
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals", p. 109
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", p. 307
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