Straits of the World: Difference between revisions

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The '''Straits of the World''' was a strait of mountainous land linking the [[Great Gulf]] with the [[Sea of Helcar|Inland Sea of Helcar]] in the [[First Age]] of the world.<ref>{{SM|Ambar}} p. 259</ref>  
The '''Straits of the World''' was a strait of mountainous land linking the [[Great Gulf]] with the [[Sea of Helcar|Inland Sea of Helcar]] in the [[First Age]] of the world.<ref name=Ambar>{{SM|Ambar}} p. 259</ref> The Straits of the World appear only in early writings<ref name=Ambar>{{SM|Ambar}} p. 259</ref> before Tolkien envisioned the wide lands of [[Eriador]], [[Gondor]], and [[Mordor]] that lay east of the Great Gulf.


==Fate==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
It is unknown what became of the Straits after the Sea of Helcar drained into the Great Gulf. [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] has speculated in ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' that the Straits of the World survived after the draining of Helcar, becoming the river [[Poros]].<ref>{{HM|AME}}</ref>
[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] speculated in ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' that the Sea of Helcar drained into the Great Gulf at the end of the First Age and that the Straits of the World became the river [[Poros]]. Fonstand's interpretation was predicated on the idea that [[Mordor]] was created in the Second Age where the Sea of Helcar once lay.<ref>{{HM|AME}}</ref> However, in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'' (which was published after Fontstad's ''Atlas''), [[Melkor]] was said to have created [[Mount Doom]] in Mordor during the "long [[First Age]]".<ref>{{PM|Last}} p. 390 (note 14)</ref> Additionally, it is told in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' that the migration of the [[Drúedain]] from [[Hildórien]] brought them westward through lands south of Mordor before they turned northward, entering [[Ithilien]] and becoming the first Men to cross the [[Anduin]].<ref>{{UT|Druedain}}, pp. 339-340</ref>


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Latest revision as of 21:35, 16 March 2021

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.

The Straits of the World was a strait of mountainous land linking the Great Gulf with the Inland Sea of Helcar in the First Age of the world.[1] The Straits of the World appear only in early writings[1] before Tolkien envisioned the wide lands of Eriador, Gondor, and Mordor that lay east of the Great Gulf.

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Karen Wynn Fonstad speculated in The Atlas of Middle-earth that the Sea of Helcar drained into the Great Gulf at the end of the First Age and that the Straits of the World became the river Poros. Fonstand's interpretation was predicated on the idea that Mordor was created in the Second Age where the Sea of Helcar once lay.[2] However, in The Peoples of Middle-earth (which was published after Fontstad's Atlas), Melkor was said to have created Mount Doom in Mordor during the "long First Age".[3] Additionally, it is told in Unfinished Tales that the migration of the Drúedain from Hildórien brought them westward through lands south of Mordor before they turned northward, entering Ithilien and becoming the first Men to cross the Anduin.[4]

References