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{{Pronounce|Arda.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{disambig-two|the mythological world created by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]|annual published by [[Forodrim|Arda-sällskapet/Forodrim]]|[[Arda (annual)]]}}
'''Arda''', derived from [[Valarin]] '''Aþâraphelûn''', is the world in which all of the events occur, including the continents of [[Middle-earth]] and [[Aman]].  It is a part of [[Eä]], the World and all that is in it. [[Arda]] was created, together with the rest of [[Eä]];, through the [[Music of the Ainur]] for the Children of [[Ilúvatar]] (that is, [[Elves]] and [[Men]]).  
{{location
| image=[[File:Steven White Jr. - Arda001.gif|250px]]
| name=Arda
| othernames=
| etymology=
| type=World
| location=[[Eä]]
| inhabitants=[[Valar]], [[Maiar]], [[Elves]], [[Men]], [[Dwarves]], etc.
| realms=
| description=The World
| events=
| references=
}}{{Pronounce|Arda.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Arda''' ([[Quenya|Q]]: "Realm", pronounced {{IPA|[ˈarda]}}) was the [[Quenya]] name for the world as a whole, containing the continental masses of [[Middle-earth]] and [[Aman]] in particular.  It lay within [[Eä]] as a creation of [[Ilúvatar|Eru Ilúvatar]].


Originally a flat world, the continents were surrounded by a mighty ocean, [[Ekkaia]] or the [[Encircling Sea]], and separated by [[Belegaer]], called the [[Great Sea]].  In the [[First Age]], the area north and west of [[Middle-earth]] was occupied by the country of [[Beleriand]], but this was destroyed during the [[War of Wrath]].  
==Beginnings==
:''Main article: [[Years of the Lamps]]''
[[File:Jacek Kopalski - Creation of Arda.jpg|thumb|''Creation of Arda'' by Jacek Kopalski|left]]
Arda was first brought into existence with the [[Music of the Ainur]], for the purpose of creating a home for the [[Children of Ilúvatar]].  Ilúvatar appointed the [[Valar]] as its masters, and they invented its geography, for at the time it was largely without feature.  They gave it symmetry and form.


In the [[Second Age]], [[Númenor]] was raised in the Great Sea for the [[Edain]].  This island existed through most of the Second Age, but was destroyed as a result of the pride of the [[Númenoreans|Númenorean]] people in defying the Ban of the [[Valar]] and sailing to [[Aman]] in the west.  
As for light source, the Valar decided upon [[two lamps]].  One, a blue light, was placed at the north, and it was called [[Illuin]].  The other, a golden light, was placed at the very southernmost point, and was called [[Ormal]].  [[Aulë]], craftsman of the Valar, forged two towers: [[Helcar]] and [[Ringil (tower)|Ringil]], placed at the north and south  respectively.  The Valar chose as their own home the green isle [[Almaren]].


After the destruction of [[Númenor]], Arda was made round.  [[Aman]] (The Undying Lands) was taken out of the world, and could only be reached by the [[Elves]], following the ''straight road'' that was granted to them. As [[Aman]] was taken away from Arda, new lands and continents were created.
It was at that time that [[Morgoth|Melkor]] made his first attempt, spreading chaos across Arda.  He destroyed the Lamps and the Towers, ruining the symmetry of the world.  Continents formed: especially [[Aman]], [[Endor]], the [[Dark Land]], the [[Hither Lands]], and the [[Land of the Sun]].  So Arda was created.


South of [[Middle-earth]] was the [[Dark Land]] and east of it was the [[Land of the Sun]].
==Geography==


[[Tolkien]] stated many times that Arda was our world in a fictional time, so we can interpret the known regions of Middle-earth as Europe. [[Tolkien]] stated that [[The Shire]]'s geographic location rouhgly corresponded to the Midlands of England, while [[Minas Tirith]] in [[Gondor]] corresponded roughly to Vienna, putting [[Mount Doom]] and [[Mordor]] in the general region of Asia Minor. However, the entire continent of [[Middle-earth]] extends beyond the regions known to [[Gondor]], far into the uncharted East and South, and [[Middle-earth]] probably encompassed all of what later became Eurasia.  Information regarding both was very vague.  To the south were the [[Hither Lands]] including [[Harad]], though "Harad" means "South" and while properly used for the region immediately south of [[Gondor]] and [[Mordor]] was often loosely used to refer to the every land to the south.  [[Near Harad]] and [[Far Harad]] probably corresponded to North Africa and sub-Saharran Africa, respectively. The there were many stretches of sun-scorched desert in [[Near Harad]], but like Africa there was supposedly a jungle beyond it which few had ever ventured to, from which the great [[Oliphaunts]] were found.  Tolkien also said that the Haradrim loosely corresponded to the Berbers (though "[[Haradrim]]" refers to a group of many races, not just the one).  Men of Far Harad are also described as being black skinned.  The vast lands East were collectively referred to as [[Rhun]], though this may have only referred to those immediately east of the [[Sea of Rhun]] and River Running.  The [[Easterlings]], like the Haradrim, were a diverse collection of many races, ranging from Saracen-like peoples to numerous barbarian hordes form open grasslands that would later become the Russian steppe.  There was even less knowledge of the extreme eastern end of [[Middle-earth]], where the land was supposed to stop at another sea.  It is known that in ancient times the great chain of the Red Mountains ran north to south near here, and was roughly analogous to the [[Blue Mountains]] of the west (all of the world was once symmetrical at the dawn of time).  The race of [[Elves]] first originated near here, though their original home of [[Cuiviénen]]  doubtlessly no longer existed by the [[Third Age]].  It is not known if the [[Red Mountains]] themselves survived into the [[Third Age]], either intact or in some reduced form (like the [[Blue Mountains]]).  The lands of the east between the coast and the Red Mountains probably corresponded to east Asia and the Orient, specifically China and Japan.  It is said that the [[Blue Wizards]] went far into the east of Rhun and beyond to stir up rebellions against [[Sauron]] in the lands he held sway over, though the tales of these struggles never reached the west in detail.  It is also said that the [[Blue Wizards]] somehow failed in their mission; this is interpreted several ways, either that like [[Saruman]] they set themselves up as lords of men, or that like [[Radagast]] they started to care more for the local people they were charged with protecting than [[Middle-earth]] as a whole and then refused to return.  [[Tolkien]] did state that many of the "magic cults" and orders that exist today can trace their origins back to the [[Blue Wizards]] teaching local peoples of the east the magical arts.
===Before the Shifting===
[[File:Almaren.png|thumb|Original symmetric shape of Arda with [[Almaren]] in the middle. The [[Iron Mountains]] can be seen on the North, created by [[Morgoth|Melkor]] to protect himself from the Valar.]]
Arda was originally flat, like a plate.  Encircling the continents was [[Ekkaia]], the Encircling Sea.  Farthest to the West was the great continent of [[Aman]], composed primarily of two geographical features: the [[Plain of Valinor]], and the [[Pelóri]] Mountains.  [[Taniquetil]] was the highest mountain in this range, and in the world.  To the east was the great sea of [[Belegaer]].


There was also a separate continent south and east of [[Middle-earth]] called the [[Dark Land]], which could correspond to Australia.  Another separate continent to the east of [[Middle-earth]] was the [[Land of the Sun]], so called because when the world was flat the Gates of the Sun were near there, and it would be scorched.  After the fall of [[Númenor]], [[Arda]] is made round and new lands are created east of [[Middle-earth]] (and west too, now that the world is round and can be circumnavigated), out of these Sun Lands that are apparently meant to be North and South America, though none of [[Tolkien]]'s mythology deals with what happens there.
Across Belegaer, to the north, was [[Endor]], or [[Middle-earth]].  The west side of this land mass was called [[Beleriand]], the north [[Dor Daidelos]], and the east [[Palisor]].  According to [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s earlier maps, it was in Palisor that there was the great inland [[Sea of Helcar]], and the shores of [[Cuiviénen]].  Middle-earth was dominated by many mountain ranges and forests.


==Arda Unmarred==
To the south of Endor, connected by the [[Straits of the World]], was the [[Hither Lands]] according to Tolkien's earlier maps.


The original world as built by the [[Valar]] is called '''Arda Unmarred''', Valarin '''Aþâraphelûn Amanaišal'''. This world was effectively destroyed by the wars of the [[Valar]] and [[Melkor]], and only [[Valinor]] still resembled it in part. Arda Unmarred was a symmetrical world with everlasting light.
Across the great [[East Sea]] was the [[Dark Land]], also known as the South Land.


==Arda Marred==
To the farthest east possible was the [[Uttermost East]], with a great curved mountain range called the [[Wall of the Sun]].  In the ''[[Ambarkanta]]'' it is called the “''Dark Land of the Sun''”.  Corresponding to Taniquetil was the mountain [[Kalormë]].


'''Arda Marred''', Valarin '''Aþâraphelûn Dušamanûðân''', is the name given to the world as it is: the world after the wars of the [[Valar]] and [[Melkor]], and the dispersing of [[Melkor]]'s [[Fëa and hröa|fëa]] in the entire world. It is this world from which are formed the [[Fëa and hröa|hröa]] of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]], and therefore it is at times a cruel and evil world with plagues, extreme colds, heat, and other concepts which do not exist in Arda Unmarred.
===Second Age and Beyond===
Arda Marred also broke the design of [[Elvish]] immortality: in Arda Marred [[Elves]] slowly fade, until at last they are naught but wraiths. Only in [[Valinor]] was this fading delayed, which is one reason all [[Elves]] had no choice but to go to [[Valinor]] in the end. One of the special abilities of the [[Rings of Power]] was that they could delay time, and as such were used by [[Elrond]] and [[Galadriel]] to preserve their realms. After the loss of the [[One Ring]] the [[Elves]] had no choice left and therefore in the [[Fourth Age]] the last [[Eldar]] left for [[Valinor]].
During the tumultuous [[War of Wrath]], the Valar broke and reshaped much of the world. The most prominent change was the drowning of Beleriand.  Also [[Ossë]] raised [[Andor]] – a large, star-shaped isle – out of Belegaer.  The world was stretched and made into the shape of a sphere. The continents shifted.


==Arda Healed==
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Fall of Numenor.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''The Fall of Númenor'' by [[Darrell Sweet]]]]The second great change was the [[Akallabêth|Drowning of Númenor]].  The most significant changes were that Andor sank and Aman was removed from the [[Circles of the World]] – Arda, inaccessible save by the [[Straight Way]].


'''Arda Healed''' is Arda Marred restored: it will be like Arda Unmarred but better, since it will also incorporate all the good things of Arda Marred. Arda Healed will be created after the [[Dagor Dagorath]], when [[Morgoth]] will be slain, and the world broken. A new world will be created then, which will be Arda Healed.
==Eschatology==
The [[Elves]] held to the concept of [[Arda Marred]].  In the beginning, at the time of the Music of the Ainur, was [[Arda Unmarred]].  According to the idea of Arda Unmarred, the world was originally “unstained” by evil. It became Arda Marred after Melkor entered and introduced chaos.  They also clung to the idea that one day the world would become [[Arda Healed]].  According to this belief, Arda Healed will not come about until the [[Dagor Dagorath]], the Last Battle.


''See also:'' [[Timeline]], [[Realms of Arda]].
==Other names==
''Arda'' is the [[Quenya]] name of the World, with its atmosphere and the celestial objects. The term [[Ambar]] is roughly equivalent and it probably refers to Earth without the celestial objects. It was also called Kingdom of Earth/Arda/Manwë and Little Kingdom.  


==Round World version==
In [[Adûnaic]] the world was called ''kamât''<!--sd311-->, ''dāira''<!--sd247--> or ''aban'' (as in [[Ar-Abattârik]]).{{fact}}


In the late Round World version of [[The Silmarillion]] (see: ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''), '''Arda''' was the name of the entire Star system, while the name for Earth was '''[[Ambar]]''' or '''[[Imbar]]'''.
The [[Valarin]] name, from which Quenya ''Arda'' derived, was '''''Aþāraphelūn''''' ("appointed dwelling").<ref>{{WJ|AD1}}, p. 401</ref>


==External links==
==Tengwa==
* [http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/ Encyclopedia of Arda]
[[File:Arda (tengwa).gif|left]]''Arda'' is also the name in Quenya of the twenty-sixth letter of the [[Tengwar]] alphabet.<ref>{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The names of the letters''</ref>  It is a modification of ''[[Rómen]]'' (letter 25).  In written Quenya ''Arda'' is used for '''RD'''.  In other modes this letter represents voiceless '''R''' (or '''RH''').<ref>{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The additional letters''</ref>  The Westron name for this letter is '''''Rhó'''''.<ref>See [[Westron Tengwar]]</ref>


[[Category:Locations]]
 
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
<!-- The extra blank line is needed to prevent the Etymology from being indented. -->
==Etymology==
''Arda'' derives from the [[Primitive Quendian]] word ''gardā'' meaning "bounded or defined place, region".<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}, pp. 402, 413</ref>
 
==Theories==
According to the measurements of [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], flat Arda's diameter was probably about 6,800 miles.<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]''</ref>
 
==See Also==
* [[Timeline]]
* [[:Category:Arda]]
* [[:Category:Images of Arda]]
{{References}}
{{cosmology}}
 
[[Category:Arda| Arda]]
[[Category:Quenya locations]]
[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Tengwar letters]]
[[de:Arda]]
[[fa:آردا]]
[[fi:Arda]]
[[fr:/encyclo/geographie/astronomie/arda]]

Revision as of 03:55, 26 March 2014

This article is about the mythological world created by Tolkien. For the annual published by Arda-sällskapet/Forodrim, see Arda (annual).
Arda
World
File:Steven White Jr. - Arda001.gif
General Information
LocationEä
TypeWorld
DescriptionThe World
InhabitantsValar, Maiar, Elves, Men, Dwarves, etc.
GalleryImages of Arda

Arda (Q: "Realm", pronounced [ˈarda]) was the Quenya name for the world as a whole, containing the continental masses of Middle-earth and Aman in particular. It lay within Eä as a creation of Eru Ilúvatar.

Beginnings

Main article: Years of the Lamps
Creation of Arda by Jacek Kopalski

Arda was first brought into existence with the Music of the Ainur, for the purpose of creating a home for the Children of Ilúvatar. Ilúvatar appointed the Valar as its masters, and they invented its geography, for at the time it was largely without feature. They gave it symmetry and form.

As for light source, the Valar decided upon two lamps. One, a blue light, was placed at the north, and it was called Illuin. The other, a golden light, was placed at the very southernmost point, and was called Ormal. Aulë, craftsman of the Valar, forged two towers: Helcar and Ringil, placed at the north and south respectively. The Valar chose as their own home the green isle Almaren.

It was at that time that Melkor made his first attempt, spreading chaos across Arda. He destroyed the Lamps and the Towers, ruining the symmetry of the world. Continents formed: especially Aman, Endor, the Dark Land, the Hither Lands, and the Land of the Sun. So Arda was created.

Geography

Before the Shifting

File:Almaren.png
Original symmetric shape of Arda with Almaren in the middle. The Iron Mountains can be seen on the North, created by Melkor to protect himself from the Valar.

Arda was originally flat, like a plate. Encircling the continents was Ekkaia, the Encircling Sea. Farthest to the West was the great continent of Aman, composed primarily of two geographical features: the Plain of Valinor, and the Pelóri Mountains. Taniquetil was the highest mountain in this range, and in the world. To the east was the great sea of Belegaer.

Across Belegaer, to the north, was Endor, or Middle-earth. The west side of this land mass was called Beleriand, the north Dor Daidelos, and the east Palisor. According to Tolkien's earlier maps, it was in Palisor that there was the great inland Sea of Helcar, and the shores of Cuiviénen. Middle-earth was dominated by many mountain ranges and forests.

To the south of Endor, connected by the Straits of the World, was the Hither Lands according to Tolkien's earlier maps.

Across the great East Sea was the Dark Land, also known as the South Land.

To the farthest east possible was the Uttermost East, with a great curved mountain range called the Wall of the Sun. In the Ambarkanta it is called the “Dark Land of the Sun”. Corresponding to Taniquetil was the mountain Kalormë.

Second Age and Beyond

During the tumultuous War of Wrath, the Valar broke and reshaped much of the world. The most prominent change was the drowning of Beleriand. Also Ossë raised Andor – a large, star-shaped isle – out of Belegaer. The world was stretched and made into the shape of a sphere. The continents shifted.

The Fall of Númenor by Darrell Sweet

The second great change was the Drowning of Númenor. The most significant changes were that Andor sank and Aman was removed from the Circles of the World – Arda, inaccessible save by the Straight Way.

Eschatology

The Elves held to the concept of Arda Marred. In the beginning, at the time of the Music of the Ainur, was Arda Unmarred. According to the idea of Arda Unmarred, the world was originally “unstained” by evil. It became Arda Marred after Melkor entered and introduced chaos. They also clung to the idea that one day the world would become Arda Healed. According to this belief, Arda Healed will not come about until the Dagor Dagorath, the Last Battle.

Other names

Arda is the Quenya name of the World, with its atmosphere and the celestial objects. The term Ambar is roughly equivalent and it probably refers to Earth without the celestial objects. It was also called Kingdom of Earth/Arda/Manwë and Little Kingdom.

In Adûnaic the world was called kamât, dāira or aban (as in Ar-Abattârik).[source?]

The Valarin name, from which Quenya Arda derived, was Aþāraphelūn ("appointed dwelling").[1]

Tengwa

Arda (tengwa).gif

Arda is also the name in Quenya of the twenty-sixth letter of the Tengwar alphabet.[2] It is a modification of Rómen (letter 25). In written Quenya Arda is used for RD. In other modes this letter represents voiceless R (or RH).[3] The Westron name for this letter is Rhó.[4]


Etymology

Arda derives from the Primitive Quendian word gardā meaning "bounded or defined place, region".[5]

Theories

According to the measurements of Karen Wynn Fonstad, flat Arda's diameter was probably about 6,800 miles.[6]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'", p. 401
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The additional letters
  4. ↑ See Westron Tengwar
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar", pp. 402, 413
  6. ↑ Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth
Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
Stars  Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til 
The Airs  Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista
Narsilion  Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion
See also  Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · Eä · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void

fa:آردا

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