The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Location
The wide lands east of the Great Sea
Origins
Made by Aulë
Meaning
Presumably simply an allusion to the fact that Middle-earth covered a much wider area than Aman in the West
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 26 August 2024
  • This entry is complete

Great Lands

An old name for Middle-earth

Map of the Great Lands

General map of the Great Lands1

General map of the Great Lands1

A name dating back to the earliest times, referring to Middle-earth, or the major part of it. In the sense of Middle-earth in its entirety, the name was commonly used by the Númenóreans and their descendants, and perhaps for them the 'great' in that case referred to the immensity of Middle-earth compared with the island of Númenor. The term predates the foundation of Númenor, though, and at times seems to refer just to the larger eastern part of Middle-earth, separated from Beleriand by the Blue Mountains.


Notes

1

The specific meaning of the name 'Great Lands' seems to differ in detail depending on context, but in general the name referred to the lands eastward of the Great Sea, and can be taken as essentially synonymous with 'Middle-earth'.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 26 August 2024
  • This entry is complete

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