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The '''Sea of Helcar''' (also spelled '''Helkar''') was a great inland sea which existed in the north of [[Middle-earth]] during the [[Years of the Trees]] and the [[First Age]].
{{expansion}}{{sources}}{{disambig-more|Inland Sea|[[Inland Sea (disambiguation)]]}}
The '''Sea of Helcar''' (also spelled '''Helkar''') was a great lake or inland sea which existed in the north of [[Middle-earth]] during the [[Years of the Trees]] and the [[First Age]].


In the beginning of [[Arda]], the [[Valar]] created the [[Two Lamps]] and two great towers on which to place them. Due to [[Melkor|Melkor's]] deceit these were destroyed, and where [[Helcar]], the northern tower, had stood a great inland sea was formed. This became the ''Sea of Helcar''.
==History==
In the beginning of [[Arda]], the [[Valar]] created the [[Two Lamps]] and two great towers on which to place them. Due to [[Morgoth|Melkor's]] deceit these were destroyed, and where [[Illuin]] (the northern tower) had stood, an inland sea was formed. This became known as the ''Sea of Helcar''. [[Cuiviénen]], where the [[Elves]] first [[Awakening of the Elves|awoke]], was a bay in the Sea of Helcar. Later, during the [[Great Journey]], the Elves travelled north of the Sea on their way to [[Beleriand]].


[[Cuiviénen]], where the [[Elves]] first [[Awakening of the Elves|awoke]], was a gulf in the Sea of Helcar. Later, during the [[Great Journey]], the Elves travelled to the north of the Sea through [[Wilderland]] on their way to [[Beleriand]].
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the ''[[Ambarkanta]]'', the Sea of Helcar was depicted as an enormous body of water that originally stretched from the [[Red Mountains]] in the east to the [[Blue Mountains]] in the west.<ref>{{PM|A4}}</ref> After Middle-earth's landscape changed in the [[War for Sake of the Elves]], the western end of the Sea was depicted as being separated from the [[Great Gulf]] only by a narrow strip of mountainous land called the [[Straits of the World]].<ref>{{PM|A5}}</ref> However, these depictions predate Tolkien's conception of the wide lands of Eriador, Gondor, and Mordor that lay east of the Great Gulf.


After the [[War of Wrath]] at the end of the [[First Age]], the Sea of Helcar was drained through the [[Great Gulf]] and disappeared.
==Theories==
Christopher Tolkien and others have speculated whether or not the [[Sea of Rhûn]] can "...be identified with the Sea of Helkar, vastly shrunken" <ref>{{WJ|Two}} p. 174</ref>. In ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] assumed that the lands of [[Mordor]], [[Khand]], and [[Rhûn]] in the Second and Third Ages lay where the Sea of Helcar had been in the First Age, and that the Sea of Rhûn and [[Sea of Núrnen]] were its remnants. However, in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', there are references to the Sea of Rhûn and its surrounding geographical landmarks existing as far back as the [[Years of the Trees]] at the time of the [[Great Journey]]<ref>{{PM|Last}} p. 391-392 (note 29).</ref> Additionally, it is told in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' that the migration of the [[Drúedain]] from [[Hildórien]] brought them westward through lands south of Mordor.<ref>{{UT|Druedain}}, pp. 339-340.</ref>


----
==References==
Christopher Tolkien and others have speculated that the [[Sea of Rhûn]] might "be identified with the Sea of Helkar, vastly shrunken" (''[[The War of the Jewels]]''). In ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] assumed that the lands of [[Mordor]], [[Khand]], and [[Rhûn]] lay where the Sea of Helcar had been, and that the Sea of Rhûn and [[Sea of Núrnen]] were its remnants. In ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'' there are references to the Sea of Rhûn existing in the First Age, but no indication as to whether it should be equated with the Sea of Helcar or not.
<references/>


[[Category:Lakes]]
[[Category:Lakes]]
[[Category:Eastern Lands]]
[[Category:Eastern lands]]
 
[[de:Helcar]]
[[fi:Helcar]]

Revision as of 06:36, 18 April 2017

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The name Inland Sea refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Inland Sea (disambiguation).

The Sea of Helcar (also spelled Helkar) was a great lake or inland sea which existed in the north of Middle-earth during the Years of the Trees and the First Age.

History

In the beginning of Arda, the Valar created the Two Lamps and two great towers on which to place them. Due to Melkor's deceit these were destroyed, and where Illuin (the northern tower) had stood, an inland sea was formed. This became known as the Sea of Helcar. Cuiviénen, where the Elves first awoke, was a bay in the Sea of Helcar. Later, during the Great Journey, the Elves travelled north of the Sea on their way to Beleriand.

Other versions of the legendarium

In the Ambarkanta, the Sea of Helcar was depicted as an enormous body of water that originally stretched from the Red Mountains in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west.[1] After Middle-earth's landscape changed in the War for Sake of the Elves, the western end of the Sea was depicted as being separated from the Great Gulf only by a narrow strip of mountainous land called the Straits of the World.[2] However, these depictions predate Tolkien's conception of the wide lands of Eriador, Gondor, and Mordor that lay east of the Great Gulf.

Theories

Christopher Tolkien and others have speculated whether or not the Sea of Rhûn can "...be identified with the Sea of Helkar, vastly shrunken" [3]. In The Atlas of Middle-earth, Karen Wynn Fonstad assumed that the lands of Mordor, Khand, and Rhûn in the Second and Third Ages lay where the Sea of Helcar had been in the First Age, and that the Sea of Rhûn and Sea of Núrnen were its remnants. However, in The Peoples of Middle-earth, there are references to the Sea of Rhûn and its surrounding geographical landmarks existing as far back as the Years of the Trees at the time of the Great Journey[4] Additionally, it is told in Unfinished Tales that the migration of the Drúedain from Hildórien brought them westward through lands south of Mordor.[5]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion" p. 174
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XIII. Last Writings" p. 391-392 (note 29).
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain", pp. 339-340.
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