Summary[]
The cosmology of J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium combines aspects of Christian theology and metaphysics with pre-modern cosmological concepts in the flat Earth paradigm, along with the modern spherical Earth view of the Solar System.
The created world, Eä, includes the planet Arda, corresponding to the Earth. It is created flat, with the dwelling of the godlike Valar at its centre. When this is marred by the evil Vala Melkor, the world is reshaped, losing its perfect symmetry, and the Valar move to Valinor, but the Elves can still sail there from Middle-earth. When Men try to go there, hoping for immortality, Valinor and its continent of Aman are removed from Arda, which is reshaped as a round world. Scholars have compared the implied cosmology with that of Tolkien's religion, Catholicism, and of medieval poetry such as Pearl or Dante's Paradiso, where there are three parts, Earth, Purgatory or the Earthly Paradise, and Heaven or the Celestial Paradise. Scholars have debated the nature of evil in Middle-earth, arguing whether it is the absence of good (the Boethian position) or equally as powerful as good (the Manichaean view).
Arda (The Earth)[]
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Arda (Quenya: "Realm"), also known as Earth, was a planet in Eä where all the peoples of Middle-earth and Aman lived. In late writings, J.R.R. Tolkien referred to the solar system encompassing the world as the "Kingdom of Arda".
When Arda (the Earth) was created, "innumerable stars" were already in existence. To provide greater light, the Valar later created the Two Lamps in Middle-earth, and when these were destroyed they created the Two Trees of Valinor. These gave rise to the Ages of the Lamps and the Years of the Trees, however the Ages of the Stars did not conclude until the creation of the Sun. During the Years of the Trees, shortly before the Awakening of the Elves, Varda created the Great Stars: "new stars and brighter" and constellations.
Ilúvatar created Arda according to a flat Earth cosmology. This disc-like Arda has continents and the seas, and the moon and the stars revolve around it. Arda was created to be the "Habitation" (Ambar) for Elves and Men. This world was lit by two lamps created by the Valar: Illuin ('Sky-blue') and Ormal ('High-gold'). To support the lamps, 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. When Melkor destroyed the lamps, two vast inland seas (Helcar and Ringil) and two major seas (Belegaer and the Eastern Sea) were formed, but Almaren and its lake were destroyed. 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, they thrust the continent of Middle-earth to the east, thus 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.
Ekkaia, also called the Enfolding Ocean and the Encircling Sea, is a dark sea that surrounds the world before the cataclysm at the end of the Second Age. During this flat-Earth period, Ekkaia flows completely around Arda, which floats on it like a ship on a sea. Above Ekkaia is a layer of atmosphere. Ulmo the Lord of Waters dwells in Ekkaia, underneath Arda. Ekkaia is extremely cold; where its waters meet the waters of the ocean Belegaer on the northwest of Middle-earth, a chasm of ice is formed: the Helcaraxë. Ekkaia cannot support any ships except the boats of Ulmo. The ships of the Númenóreans that tried to sail on it sank, drowning the sailors. The Sun passes through Ekkaia on its way around the world, warming it as it passes.
Planets and Constellations[]
Ilmen, (the Solar system) - A region of clean air pervaded by light before the cataclysm at the end of the Second Age. The stars and other celestial bodies are found in this region. Tolkien likely derived its name from ilma, the Finnish word for air. The Moon passes through Ilmen on its way around the world, plunging down the Chasm of Ilmen on its way back.
The Sun was called Anor or Ur. The Moon was called Ithil or Silmo. Eärendil's Star denotes the light of a Silmaril, set on Eärendil's ship Vingilot as it flew across the sky, identified as the planet Venus. The English use of the word "earendel" in the Old English poem Christ I was found by 19th century philologists to be some sort of bright star, and from 1914 Tolkien took this to mean the morning-star; he still thought so late in his life, in 1967. The line éala éarendel engla beorhtast "Hail, Earendel, brightest of angels" was Tolkien's inspiration. Tolkien created Sindarin names for the other planets in the solar system, as recorded in Morgoth's Ring, but these were not used elsewhere.
Tolkien created Sindarin names for the other planets in the solar system, as recorded in Morgoth's Ring, but these were not used elsewhere. The names were Silindo for Jupiter, Carnil for Mars, Elemmire for Mercury, Luinil for Uranus, Lumbar for Saturn, and Nenar for Neptune. The Book of Lost Tales lists Morwen as a name for Jupiter.
A few major constellations are named in the Legendarium, and can be equated with real constellations seen in the Northern hemisphere.
- Eksiqilta (also Ekta) is Orion's Belt.
- Menelvagor (also Daimord, Menelmacar, Mordo, Swordsman of the Sky, Taimavar, Taimondo, Telimbektar, Telimektar, Telumehtar) is Orion the hunter and was meant to represent Túrin Turambar.
- Remmirath (also Itselokte or Sithaloth), "the Netted Stars", is the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Valacirca, "the Sickle of the Valar".
- Ursa Major (the Plough or Big Dipper) which Varda set in the Northern sky as a warning to Melkor. Wilwarin, meaning "Butterfly", is taken to be Cassiopeia.
Eä (The Universe)[]
Eä (Quenya; IPA: [ˈe.a]) is what would become the term for the whole universe of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, as a realization of the Vision of Iluvatar. The name literally means "be" or "exist". Middle-earth was a continent on a planet in a star system which the Elves named Arda (i.e. Earth) and the Kingdom of Arda respectively, while Eä refers to the entire universe containing Arda. Eä, "that which is", is the material universe as a realisation of the vision of the Ainur. The Quenya word is from the existential to be in its aorist form. ''Eä'' was the word spoken by Eru Ilúvatar to bring the universe into existence.
The Ainur (godlike beings) from the Timeless Halls beyond Eä, referred to it as "the Little Kingdom". This refers to the fact that within the mind of Eru Ilúvatar (God, in Tolkien's legendarium), all of Tolkien’s star system is really just a tiny thing in comparison.
Kùma (The Void)[]
The Void (Also called Timeless Void or Outer Void) was a conception of the state of Not-being, outside Creation or Eä. It should not, however, be confused with the conception of vast spaces within Eä, especially those conceived to lie all about the enisled Kingdom of Arda.
After Eä was created, the Timeless Void still existed beyond it. At the same time, Eä contained vast spaces within itself, which separated Arda from many other, unknown worlds, where the other Ainur laboured, but their numbers and names were unfathomable for the minds of the Children of Ilúvatar. Only the Valar could know them.
Later, after Morgoth's downfall in the War of Wrath, he was cast out through the Door of Night into the Timeless Void, i.e. outside Time and Space and outside Eä altogether; but legends predicted his return before the Dagor Dagorath, at the end of time.
Timeless Halls (Heaven)[]
The home of Eru (God) outside of Time. They are similar to Heaven in that they exist outside the boundaries of the universe and in that they do not have a physical form. It is unknown whether they are the final destination of the souls of Men. This is a distinct possibility, however. In fact, it is confirmed in the tale of Adanel that Men return to Eru, but it is questionable that this tale can be considered canon, although Christopher Tolkien once considered putting it in the appendices of the Silmarillion.
The Music of the Ainur was composed here, as described in the Ainulindalë, before the creation of the world. The Halls were also the home of the Ainur that chose not to descend into Eä, and instead chose to remain with Eru.
Eru Ilùvatar (God)[]
Eru is introduced in The Silmarillion as the supreme being of the universe, creator of all existence, including the world, Arda, and its central continent, Middle-earth. In Tolkien's invented Elvish language Quenya, Eru means "The One", or "He that is Alone" and Ilúvatar signifies "Allfather". Eru first created a group of godlike or angelic beings, the Ainur, consisting of the powerful Valar and their assistants, the Maiar. These assisted in the creation of the universe through a holy music and chanting called the Ainulindalë or "Music of the Ainur". Althrough, Eru isn't a fictional god but as a name in a fictional language for the actual monotheistic God, is the same God that is referred to in all of Tolkien's writings.
Conclusion[]
Arda (The Earth): 5-A
Planets and Constellations: 4-A
Eä: High 3-A
The Ainur: 1-A
The Void: 1-A
Timeless Halls (Heaven): 1-A
Eru Ilùvatar (God): 1-S