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The '''Straight Road''' is the route that leaves the earth's curvature through sky and space to the ethereal land of [[Aman]].
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[[File:John Howe - The Grey Havens.jpg|250px|thumb|''The Grey Havens'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{quote|...beyond the Door of Days,<br />where the round world plunges steeply down,<br />but the old road goes,<br />as an unseen bridge that on arches runs<br />to coasts no man knows.|''[[Imram]]'', vv. 105-108}}


The Straight Road, so called because it follows the old path across [[Belegaer]] from before the [[Akallabêth]] when the Flat World was [[Changing of the World|made Round]], is only kept open to [[Elves]], who are allowed to sail to it on their ships by a special grace of the [[Valar]].
The '''Straight Road''' was the route that left the [[Middle-earth]]'s curvature through sky and space to the ethereal land of [[Aman]].


A ship departing on the Straight Road, when observed from the shore, would slowly become smaller to sight until it disappeared in a point, and not drop behind the horizon{{fact}}.
==History==
The Straight Road, so called because it followed the old path across [[Belegaer]] from before the [[Downfall of Númenor]] when the Flat World was [[Changing of the World|made Round]], was only kept open to [[Elves]], who were allowed to sail to it on their ships by a special grace of the [[Valar]].<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>


Like [[Tuor]] and [[Amandil (Lord of Andúnië)|Amandil]] attempted to reach [[Aman]], also some mortals traveled the Straight Road. [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Frodo Baggins]] sailed into the West on the [[White Ship]], and followed by [[Samwise Gamgee]] who sailed alone, but presumably found his way.
By the [[Third Age]] the Elves would take ships to follow the Straight Road and return to Aman from the [[Grey Havens]] or [[Edhellond]].<ref>{{UT|Amroth}}</ref>


In most recent history there has been an [[Ælfwine]].  
Some mortals were allowed to take the Straight Road to Aman. [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Frodo Baggins]] sailed into the West on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|VI9}}</ref> Later [[Samwise Gamgee]] and [[Gimli]] were also permitted to depart for Aman.<ref>{{App|Later}}</ref>


Possibly also ''[[Smith]]'' from ''[[Smith of Wootton Major]]'' found this road to "[[Faery]]".
In earlier versions of the legendarium, [[Ælfwine]] of England found the Straight Road and visited [[Tol Eressëa]] Ages later.<ref>{{LT2|VI}}</ref>


[[Category:Roads]]
==Other writings==
[[Smith Smithson|Smith]] appears to have found a conceptually similar road, leading him to the land of "[[Faery]]".<ref>{{HM|SWM}}</ref>
 
==See also==
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Ambarkanta Diagram III.jpg|thumb|[[Ambarkanta]] Diagram III]]
*[[Ælfwine]]
*[[Letter 325]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Aman]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
[[Category:Aman]]
[[Category:Roads and streets]]
 
[[de:Gerader Weg]]
[[de:Gerader Weg]]
[[fi:Suora Tie]]
[[fi:Suora Tie]]

Latest revision as of 15:16, 30 October 2022

The Grey Havens by John Howe
"...beyond the Door of Days,
where the round world plunges steeply down,
but the old road goes,
as an unseen bridge that on arches runs
to coasts no man knows.
"
Imram, vv. 105-108

The Straight Road was the route that left the Middle-earth's curvature through sky and space to the ethereal land of Aman.

History[edit | edit source]

The Straight Road, so called because it followed the old path across Belegaer from before the Downfall of Númenor when the Flat World was made Round, was only kept open to Elves, who were allowed to sail to it on their ships by a special grace of the Valar.[1]

By the Third Age the Elves would take ships to follow the Straight Road and return to Aman from the Grey Havens or Edhellond.[2]

Some mortals were allowed to take the Straight Road to Aman. Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins sailed into the West on the White Ship.[3] Later Samwise Gamgee and Gimli were also permitted to depart for Aman.[4]

In earlier versions of the legendarium, Ælfwine of England found the Straight Road and visited Tol Eressëa Ages later.[5]

Other writings[edit | edit source]

Smith appears to have found a conceptually similar road, leading him to the land of "Faery".[6]

See also[edit | edit source]

Ambarkanta Diagram III

References