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{{Pronounce|Ea.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{disambig-two|the universe|word|[[Ea (verb)]]''', and for the games developer see '''[[EA]]}}{{Pronounce|Ea.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Eä''' is the [[Quenya]] name for the universe, as a realization of the vision of the [[Ainur]]. The word comes from the Quenya word for ''to be''.  Thus, Eä is ''the World that Is'', as distinguished from ''the World that Is Not''.  It may thus be assumed that everything outside Eä, including the [[Timeless Halls]] of [[Eru Ilúvatar|Ilúvatar]], has no material form.
{{quote|The kingdom of Arda, and that was but a small realm in the halls of Ea, whose life is [[Time]], which flows ever from the first note to the last chord of Eru.|[[Annals of Aman]]<ref>{{MR|P2j}}</ref>}}
'''Eä''' (pronounced {{IPA|[ˈe.a]}}), the '''Created World''',<ref>{{PE|21}}, p. 85</ref> is the [[Quenya]] name for the universe, as a realization of the vision of the [[Ainur]]. Thus, Eä is ''the World that Is'', as distinguished from the [[Timeless Halls]] of [[Ilúvatar]] and the [[Void]], that have no material form.


The Ainur, angelic beings from the Timeless Halls beyond Eä, refer to it as "the Little Kingdom". This refers to the fact that within the mind of Eru Il&uacute;vatar (God, in Tolkien's legendarium), all creation that human can see is really just a tiny thing in comparison.
Ea was conceived in the [[Music of the Ainur]] and then visualized in the beautiful [[Vision]] that Ilúvatar showed to the Ainur to see for themselves what they sang. The Vision showed a World sustained inside the Void, but without being part of it, and developing life on its own. The Ainur desired all this was real, and Ilúvatar brought this into actuality by saying ''[[ea (verb)|Eä]]'' and He sent His [[Flame Imperishable]] into the Void to burn at the heart of the World and thus Ea was set amid the Void.<ref name=ainu/>


''Eä'' was the word spoken by [[Eru Ilúvatar]] by which he brought the universe into actuality. This act of creation recalls the Biblical creation narrative, in which God began creating the world with the verbal command, "Let there be light." It also reminds of Egyptian myths of creation, in which Ptah, god of creation (Amun, or Amun-Re was the god of creation in ealier Egyptian mythology), creates the world by speaking his own name.
Ea is described as being of "vast halls and spaces" burning with "wheeling fires" and histories unfolding amidst the "Deeps of [[Time]]", such as the waking of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] and the [[Dominion of Men]].<ref name=ainu>{{S|Ainu}}</ref> However its shape, duration, extent and size are not described. Of all Ea, only [[Arda]], the world inhabited by the Children, is known.


[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
Ea has vast regions beyond the thought of Elves and Men. When the Valar entered Ea they become part of it and can not leave it willingly or not, until [[the End]].<ref name=ainu/><ref>{{MR|P2g}}</ref> At the beginning of Time Eä was dark and unshabed and the Ainur who entered it had to labor in the vast wastes for ages beyond knowledge or reckoning, to fulfill the Vision.<ref>{{S|Valaquenta}}</ref> [[Manwe]], [[Aule]] and [[Ulmo]] chiefly worked for the formation of [[Arda]] at the beginning of its existence.<ref name=ainu/><ref name=Annals>{{MR|P2a}}</ref><ref>{{MR|P3I1}}</ref> Other [[spirits]] wandered around Ea from which [[Melkor]] gathered some to his service.<ref name=Annals/>
 
Ea is separated from the Void by the [[Walls of the World]].<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "Walls of the World"</ref> At the end of the [[First Age]], the Valar threw Melkor to the Void through the [[Door of Night]].<ref>{{S|Earendil}}</ref>
 
==Etymology==
''[[ea (verb)|Eä]]'' is the [[Quenya]] verb "to be", and was the word spoken by Eru Ilúvatar by which he created the universe.
==Other versions of the Legendarium==
 
In earlier works, the [[Qenya]] word ''[[Ilu]]'' is translated as "world"<ref>{{SM|5d}}</ref> in the sense of the "universe", from the [[root]] ILU "all, the whole".<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry [[IL]]</ref>
 
In the 1930s [[Ambarkanta]], the World is described as a globe of air enclosed in [[Vaiya]] and the [[Ilurambar]], the Walls of the World that separate Vaiya from nothingness and the [[Void]].<ref>{{SM|5b}}</ref> The [[Ambarkanta maps]] schematics are labelled as "ILU".<ref>{{SM|A1}}</ref><ref>{{SM|A2}}</ref>
 
As the word Ilu doesn't make a distinction between the concepts of "Arda" and "Eä" of the later ''[[Silmarillion]]'', the two seem to be mostly equated; in that context, all universe consists only of [[Ambar]] and the airs around it.
 
Eä first appeared in a later version of the Ainulindale, which here introduced the new concept of Arda set within an indefinite vastness of the Creation.<ref>{{MR|P1e}}</ref> Around the same time, Tolkien changed the conception of Ilurambar to Earambar.<ref>{{MR|P2c}}</ref>
 
In the later [[Round World version of the Silmarillion]], the text mentions that Eä is vast beyond measure with the stars belonging to other and remoter parts of its Great Tale. In the Beginning, the innumerable Ainur shaped Eä and labored amid remote stars and worlds; but we could know only those who followed [[Manwe]] to Arda, which is of central importance in the Great Tale of Eä.<ref>{{MR|P5II}}</ref>
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Revision as of 23:34, 22 November 2014

This article is about the universe. For the word, see Ea (verb), and for the games developer see EA.
"The kingdom of Arda, and that was but a small realm in the halls of Ea, whose life is Time, which flows ever from the first note to the last chord of Eru."
Annals of Aman[1]

(pronounced [ˈe.a]), the Created World,[2] is the Quenya name for the universe, as a realization of the vision of the Ainur. Thus, Eä is the World that Is, as distinguished from the Timeless Halls of Ilúvatar and the Void, that have no material form.

Ea was conceived in the Music of the Ainur and then visualized in the beautiful Vision that Ilúvatar showed to the Ainur to see for themselves what they sang. The Vision showed a World sustained inside the Void, but without being part of it, and developing life on its own. The Ainur desired all this was real, and Ilúvatar brought this into actuality by saying and He sent His Flame Imperishable into the Void to burn at the heart of the World and thus Ea was set amid the Void.[3]

Ea is described as being of "vast halls and spaces" burning with "wheeling fires" and histories unfolding amidst the "Deeps of Time", such as the waking of the Children of Ilúvatar and the Dominion of Men.[3] However its shape, duration, extent and size are not described. Of all Ea, only Arda, the world inhabited by the Children, is known.

Ea has vast regions beyond the thought of Elves and Men. When the Valar entered Ea they become part of it and can not leave it willingly or not, until the End.[3][4] At the beginning of Time Eä was dark and unshabed and the Ainur who entered it had to labor in the vast wastes for ages beyond knowledge or reckoning, to fulfill the Vision.[5] Manwe, Aule and Ulmo chiefly worked for the formation of Arda at the beginning of its existence.[3][6][7] Other spirits wandered around Ea from which Melkor gathered some to his service.[6]

Ea is separated from the Void by the Walls of the World.[8] At the end of the First Age, the Valar threw Melkor to the Void through the Door of Night.[9]

Etymology

is the Quenya verb "to be", and was the word spoken by Eru Ilúvatar by which he created the universe.

Other versions of the Legendarium

In earlier works, the Qenya word Ilu is translated as "world"[10] in the sense of the "universe", from the root ILU "all, the whole".[11]

In the 1930s Ambarkanta, the World is described as a globe of air enclosed in Vaiya and the Ilurambar, the Walls of the World that separate Vaiya from nothingness and the Void.[12] The Ambarkanta maps schematics are labelled as "ILU".[13][14]

As the word Ilu doesn't make a distinction between the concepts of "Arda" and "Eä" of the later Silmarillion, the two seem to be mostly equated; in that context, all universe consists only of Ambar and the airs around it.

Eä first appeared in a later version of the Ainulindale, which here introduced the new concept of Arda set within an indefinite vastness of the Creation.[15] Around the same time, Tolkien changed the conception of Ilurambar to Earambar.[16]

In the later Round World version of the Silmarillion, the text mentions that Eä is vast beyond measure with the stars belonging to other and remoter parts of its Great Tale. In the Beginning, the innumerable Ainur shaped Eä and labored amid remote stars and worlds; but we could know only those who followed Manwe to Arda, which is of central importance in the Great Tale of Eä.[17]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Fourth section of the Annals of Aman"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Qenya Noun Structure", in Parma Eldalamberon XXI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Patrick H. Wynne and Arden R. Smith), p. 85
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Third section of the Annals of Aman"
  5. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: First section of the Annals of Aman"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 1. Of the Valar"
  7. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Walls of the World"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: [List of cosmological words]"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry IL
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Of the Fashion of the World"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Diagram I"
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta: Diagram II"
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part One. Ainulindalë: Commentary on the Ainulindalë text D"
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Commentary on the first section of the Annals of Aman"
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] II"
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 · · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void