the continent of Middle-earth
the_mendicant
of Middle-earth (where all the action of
TLotR takes place, of course) seem to be
in agreement, being based on Tolkien's
notes and drawings. But maps that show
the *entire* continent are sometimes
widely disparate. The map found in
TOLKIEN: THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA
depicts a relatively small landmass,
comprised almost entirely by the familiar
lands of the north-west. Then take a look
at MERP's version, approximately the size
of Europe, Africa and Asia.
My question is: Which map is most accurate?
Do we know for sure? Personally, I like
the MERP map -- it might be the pre-Ice Age
landmass of the Eastern Hemisphere. The
T:TIE map is less realistic -- I don't get
the idea that Middle-earth is or was part of
the real world, and isn't that what JRRT
intended?
--
the_mendicant
[gregbe...@hotmail.com]
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http://www.deja.com/
Hallaril
> All the maps of the north-western corner
> of Middle-earth (where all the action of
> TLotR takes place, of course) seem to be
> in agreement, being based on Tolkien's
> notes and drawings. But maps that show
> the *entire* continent are sometimes
> widely disparate. The map found in
> TOLKIEN: THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA
> depicts a relatively small landmass,
> comprised almost entirely by the familiar
> lands of the north-west. Then take a look
> at MERP's version, approximately the size
> of Europe, Africa and Asia.
> My question is: Which map is most accurate?
> Do we know for sure?
No.
>Personally, I like
> the MERP map -- it might be the pre-Ice Age
> landmass of the Eastern Hemisphere.
I fully agree. But it still is just their own invention.
snip
Hallaril
Andrew Wells
<snips>
>My question is: Which map is most accurate?
I'm afraid we don't know. Tolkien never produced (other than for the odd,
rough, early sketch) any proper map of the rest of Middle-earth.
Andrew
--
Andrew Wells
Replace nospam with my first name to reach me
Androg
news:9290in$b3$1...@oravannahka.helsinki.fi...
> the_mendicant <gregbe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > My question is: Which map is most accurate?
> > Do we know for sure?
>
> No.
In _The Shaping of Middle-earth_ (HoMe IV) p. 251 there is reproduced a
sketched map of the world in the First Age. I can't say how canonical this
map is, but it shows a large northern landmass, with the northwestern corner
labelled "Beleriand" and a large inland sea to the south, separated to the
west from the sea by a narrow strip of land. To the south of this landmass
is another, attached to the first by the north-eastern corner -- this
continent is shaped very much like Africa. Then there are two more
landmasses, one labelled "Dark Land (South Land)", and Aman in the West.
--
Androg
"Fela bith on Westwegum werum uncuthra, wundra and wihta, wlitescene land,
eardgeard elfa, and esa bliss."