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Welcome to The Encyclopedia of ArdaThe Encyclopedia of Arda is a personal project - a tribute to and a celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The site is evolving into an illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples. It already contains about four thousand entries, and we're constantly adding new entries and expanding existing ones. Inside the encyclopediaThe Encyclopedia of Arda contains thousands of articles covering topics from J.R.R. Tolkien's world, some brief, some lengthy and some containing detailed essays and discussions. You'll also find a selection of interactive tools, including a chronicle to help you explore Tolkien's fictional history, and calendar to translate dates and events, a lexicon of names, a glossary of old and rare words, and much more. Context and approachThe content of the Encyclopedia is written in the same context as Tolkien himself used; he presented himself simply as a translator, rather than originator of the tales. Hence, we try to describe his world from a 'historical' rather than a literary perspective, though sometimes it's useful to explore ideas in their wider context. Where relevant, therefore, you'll also find a few references to Tolkien's life or opinions, or to real historical or mythological parallels to events in his universe. About the name ArdaArda was the name given by the Elves to their world and all it contained, and so 'Encyclopedia of Arda' seemed a peculiarly apt title for this project. Special thanksThanks to all those who've e-mailed us over the years with their suggestions, corrections, ideas and just general support. But the real Special Thanks, though, belong to the memory of J.R.R. Tolkien for his extraordinary and unparalleled creation. For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2024. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Discus is a powerful, flexible DISC profile solution - find out much more in our free guide. |
Latest entries and updates
Featured EntryGasping DustThe desert created in the Dagor BragollachIn the winter of the year I 455, Morgoth launched a devastating and unforeseen assault on his besiegers. Rivers of fire ran out across the plain of Ard-galen, breaking the defences of Elves and Men, and bringing the long Siege of Angband to an end. There followed a relentless months-long assault from the North that turned the Wars of Beleriand decisively to the favour of Morgoth. The wide grassland of Ard-galen was reduced to a parched wasteland in that Battle of Sudden Flame, so that it was no longer green Ard-galen, but Anfauglith, the desert plain of Gasping Dust. The new desert land, also called Dor-nu-Fauglith ('land of choking dust'), saw the green earth of Ard-galen turned to lifeless dunes of ash and shifting, steaming sand. Though it was now empty of life, it could be crossed, and often was. Among the first to do so was High King Fingolfin immediately after the assault of the Dagor Bragollach, who rode across the new desert to challenge Morgoth to single combat, and was slain. |
