The Empty Lands were regions in the East of Arda beyond the eastern boundaries of Middle-earth. Along with Belegaer, they were "cast back" at the Changing of the World, "and new lands and seas were made".[1]
Location
As the Empty Lands were east of Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien inferred that they corresponded to the Land of the Sun and possibly also the Dark Land.[2]
Other versions of the legendarium
In their earliest appearance in Tolkien's drafts, the Empty Lands were called the Barren Land. When Eru "cast back" Belegaer and the Barren Land, "new lands and seas" were said to appear in areas where previously "nought had been but the paths of the Sun and Moon". In a later draft, the Barren Land was replaced with Empty Land before Tolkien eventually made the term plural.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One: II. The Fall of Númenor, (iv) The further development of The Fall of Númenor", pp. 31-32