Second Age confirmed! LOTR Amazon Series

Ladies and Gentleman, we have the island of Númenor!

LOTRonPrime tweeted earlier today an update to their interactive Middle-earth map … and a confirmation that the series will, in some way, reference the Second Age.

Tolkien’s Caves of the Forgotten

Hiya folks!

In a post title that feels somewhat appropriate given my recent absence from this blog, allow me to delve into yet another one of those Middle-earth topics we know very little about …

The Gates of Morning and the Door of Night, Eä and the Void

[Highly complex illustration follows below]

The Silmarillion contains two obscure references to places or “structures” that seem to be the opposite of each other. Both are fascinating concepts but difficult to grasp given how little information we have access to.

A Brief History of Himling

Reading The Silmarillion, you would be forgiven for thinking that Himring, where Maedhros sets up his fortress in the northeast of Beleriand, has nothing to do with the isle of Himling in The Lord of the Rings.

Before I knew much about Tolkien, looking at the map of Middle-earth, I was always intrigued by that lonely island just off the coast of Lindon. What was its meaning there? Why would the author give it a name and not mention it during the events of the War of the Ring?

TTRT: The Silmarillion – Akallabêth

The Downfall of Númenor

As already stated at the beginning of the TTRT series, although the Akallabêth is a separate account from the History of the Silmarils, it is nonetheless part of The Silmarillion as a book: presenting us with the continuation of events at the end of the First Age, with a perspective on the island of Númenor.

It is a fact that from all the works related to Middle-earth, the Second Age is perhaps the least accessible due to the lack of any substantial information.

Our primary sources as to what happens during this 3000-year period consist of a timeline in Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings, a brief account and story in Unfinished Tales, and the ‘Akallabêth’.

My view is that the ‘Akallabêth’ is our most comprehensive account we have available of the Second Age, and is the key to filling up the gap between the events at the end of the ‘Quenta Silmarillion’ and the earliest histories of the Third Age as recounted in The Lord of the Rings.

Middle-earth’s Best Mums

Celebrating Mother’s Day!

It’s Mother’s Day in this part of the world (and in many other parts), so it’s only natural to dedicate a nice post on the subject.

There are many strong female characters in the histories of Middle-earth who have given birth and raised equally important characters.

In honour of Mother’s Day, we will take a look at the finest examples of motherhood in Tolkien’s fantasy world (books only).

At the same time, I take this opportunity to wish all real-world mothers out there my best wishes and thumbs up for the awesome job you do 😉

Oh and now’s the time to put a -Spoiler Alert!- If you haven’t yet read The Silmarillion or Unfinished Tales (The Lord of the Rings seems to lack in mothers) proceed with extra caution…

Identity and Origins of the Nazgûl

Introduction

There have been many theories and speculations on the possibilities of who and where Sauron’s greatest servants came from.

Unfinished Tales: Deluxe Edition

Yes, it’s finally here!

Many fans have been waiting for the much expected release of ‘Unfinished Tales’ as a Deluxe Edition, to match with the rest of their collections.

The Dark Land … (not Mordor, the other one)

– Something else lies “dark” within Arda …

In the early part of the 20th century, Tolkien wrote a short treatise entitled ‘Ambarkanta’ (found in ‘The Shaping of Middle-earth’), relating the shape and layout of the world (Arda) –  sketching a map (amongst several) with all the continents within – namely: Aman, Middle-earth, Harad and the Great Sea.

The Men of the Sea: Part II

The second of an article in two parts I had written a while back …

The Númenórean fleet and the voyages throughout Arda