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{{quote|Lost and forgotten be, darker than the darkness, <br>Where gates stand forever shut, till the World is mended|[[Tom Bombadil]], ''[[Fog on the Barrow-downs]]''}}
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[[File:Šárka Škorpíková - Melkor reaching Arda.jpg|thumb|250px|''Melkor reaching Arda'' by [[:Category:Images by Šárka Škorpíková|Šárka Škorpíková]]]]
{{quote|Lost and forgotten be, darker than the darkness,<br>Where gates stand forever shut, till [[Arda Healed|the World is mended]]|[[Tom Bombadil]], ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Fog on the Barrow-downs]]"}}


'''The Void''', or the '''Timeless Void''' was a term used in various ways.
The '''Outer Void''', or the '''Timeless Void''', was a term used in various ways.


Cosmologically, it describes the uninhabited regions of existence outside the World, the absence of the [[Flame Imperishable]].
==History==
Cosmologically, the Void is the uninhabited space outside [[Time]] and [[Eä|Creation]], the absence of the [[Flame Imperishable]]. It is told that [[Morgoth|Melkor]] used to wander in the Void to look in vain for the Flame Imperishable.<ref name=Ainu>{{S|Ainu}}</ref>


[[Morgoth|Melkor]] used to wander in the Void to look in vain for the Flame Imperishable.
The [[Timeless Halls]] of [[Ilúvatar]] are apart from the Void; [[Eä]] is created amidst the Void but is not a part of it.<ref name=Ainu></ref>


The [[Timeless Halls]] of [[Ilúvatar]] seem to be apart from the Void; [[Eä]] is created amidst the Void but is not a part of it.  
After his defeat in the [[War of Wrath]], [[Morgoth]] was banished into the Timeless Void through the [[Door of Night]]<ref>{{S|24}}</ref> and thus was put outside Time and Space, outside Eä altogether;<ref name=MT>{{MR|P5VII}}, p. 403</ref> however, legends predict that he will return to the World and cause its [[Dagor Dagorath|End]].<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}</ref> The 'Void' in that context refers to the state of Not-being, that existed before the creation of [[Eä]] and, after its creation, outside it. This conception was often confused by [[Men]] and even [[Elves]] with the conception of vast spaces within Eä, especially those conceived to lie all about the enisled [[Arda|Kingdom of Arda]].<ref name=MT/>
 
Following his apparent utter defeat in the [[War of the Ring]], [[Sauron]]'s weakened spirit was left bound to the confines of the world, having stepped on the same path to powerlessness as Morgoth had in his banishment to the Void .<ref>{{S|IId}}</ref>
 
It is also possible that [[Gandalf|Gandalf's]] spirit crossed the Void and entered the [[Timeless Halls]] after his death during [[Battle of the Peak|the battle]] with the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog of Moria]], as he "passed out of thought and time."<ref>{{TT|III5}}</ref>
 
==Other names==
The Void was also known as the '''Outer Dark''' (or the Outer Darkness), the '''Everlasting Dark''', the '''Ancient Darkness'''. [[Qenya]] names were ''Avakúma'', ''Oiakúma''<ref>{{VT|46a}}, p. 8</ref>, and ''[[Kúma]]''.<ref>{{HM|IX}}, p. 31</ref><ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 379</ref>


After his defeat in the [[War of Wrath]], [[Morgoth|Melkor]] was cast out into the Timeless Void, but legends predict that he will return to the World before its end.
==Names==
The Void was also known as the '''Outer Dark''' (or the Outer Darkness), the Everlasting Dark, the Ancient Darkness. [[Quenya]] names were ''Avakúma'', ''Oiakúma''<ref>{{VT|46a}}, p. 8</ref>, and ''[[Kúma]]''.<ref>{{HM|IX}}, p. 31</ref><ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 379</ref>
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Latest revision as of 08:26, 8 May 2023

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
 This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
Melkor reaching Arda by Šárka Škorpíková
"Lost and forgotten be, darker than the darkness,
Where gates stand forever shut, till the World is mended"
― Tom Bombadil, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Fog on the Barrow-downs"

The Outer Void, or the Timeless Void, was a term used in various ways.

History[edit | edit source]

Cosmologically, the Void is the uninhabited space outside Time and Creation, the absence of the Flame Imperishable. It is told that Melkor used to wander in the Void to look in vain for the Flame Imperishable.[1]

The Timeless Halls of Ilúvatar are apart from the Void; Eä is created amidst the Void but is not a part of it.[1]

After his defeat in the War of Wrath, Morgoth was banished into the Timeless Void through the Door of Night[2] and thus was put outside Time and Space, outside Eä altogether;[3] however, legends predict that he will return to the World and cause its End.[4] The 'Void' in that context refers to the state of Not-being, that existed before the creation of Eä and, after its creation, outside it. This conception was often confused by Men and even Elves with the conception of vast spaces within Eä, especially those conceived to lie all about the enisled Kingdom of Arda.[3]

Following his apparent utter defeat in the War of the Ring, Sauron's weakened spirit was left bound to the confines of the world, having stepped on the same path to powerlessness as Morgoth had in his banishment to the Void .[5]

It is also possible that Gandalf's spirit crossed the Void and entered the Timeless Halls after his death during the battle with the Balrog of Moria, as he "passed out of thought and time."[6]

Other names[edit | edit source]

The Void was also known as the Outer Dark (or the Outer Darkness), the Everlasting Dark, the Ancient Darkness. Qenya names were Avakúma, Oiakúma[7], and Kúma.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] VII", p. 403
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Enemies"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part Two" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 46, July 2004, p. 8
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The History of Middle-earth Index, p. 31
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 379
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
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