Arda

is the name of the world where exists. In the language of the Elder Days, Arda signified the world and all that is in it. Arda was created through the Music of the Ainur to be a dwelling place ( or ) for the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men).

Originally a flat disc-like world, the continents were surrounded by a mighty ocean, Ekkaia or the Encircling Sea, and separated by Belegaer, called the Great Sea. In the First Age, the regions to the north and west of Middle-earth was occupied by the country of Beleriand, but this was destroyed during the tumults of the War of Wrath.

This world was, at first, not lit by a sun. Instead, the Valar created two lamps to illuminate it: Illuin (“Sky-blue”) and Ormal (“High-gold”). To support the lamps, the Vala Aulë forged two enormous pillars of rock: Helcar in the north of the continent Middle-earth, and Ringil in the south. Illuin was set upon Helcar and Ormal upon Ringil. Between the columns, where the light of the lamps mingled, the Valar dwelt on the island of Almaren in the midst of a Great Lake.

In the Second Age, after Melkor destroyed the Lamps during the War of Wrath, two major seas (Belegaer and the Eastern Sea) were created, but Almaren and its lake were destroyed. The isle of Númenor was raised in the Great Sea for the Edain to dwell on. This island existed through most of the Second Age, but was destroyed in the Downfall of Númenor as a result of the pride of the Númenórean people in defying the ban of the Valar and sailing to Aman in the West.

After the Downfall, the shape of Arda was changed, and it was made “bent” (or “spherical” in more precise terms). The Valar left Middle-earth, and went to the newly formed continent of Aman in the west, where they created their home called Valinor. To discourage Melkor from assailing Aman, it was taken out of the world, and could only be reached by the Elves, following the straight road that was granted to them.

As Aman was taken away from Arda, new lands and continents were created. The continent of Middle-earth was thrust to the east, thereby widening Belegaer at its middle, and raising five major mountain ranges in Middle-earth: the Blue, Red, Grey, and Yellow Mountains, plus the Mountains of the Wind. This act disrupted the symmetrical shapes of the continents and seas. From the late Second Age onwards, the world began to take the shape that we know today.

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