About the Breaking - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Amarie of the Vanyar · 05-31-2003, 10:15 AM

I have always thought of Arda having two meanings: the wider meaning as the Solar System and the more restricitive one as the Earth.

In the beginning, the Ainulindalë the Earth (also called Arda) and the rest of planets are created. I don't know the exact shape of the rest of planets but I suppose they were round from the beginning. At this moment the Earth was flat.
At the end of the Age of the Trees, the Sun and the Moon are created from the last fruits of the Trees. The Earth remains flat.

At the end of the Second age of the Sun, Eru changes the chape of the Earth, making it round, separating Aman and sending it to another dimension, where only elves can arrive.

Whether the Sun turns around the Earth or the Earth turns around the Sun is only a relative question: it depends on the reference system you are using. Of course, equations are easier if your origin of coordinates is set on the Sun. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Tolkien, in his later writings, tried to change all the previous mithology of the flat Earth to a round Earth mithology, but he didn't finish this second conception, and personlly, I prefer the flat Earth stories: I love the Trees! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

05-31-2003, 10:15 AM	#2
Amarie of the Vanyar Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: Valinor Posts: 215	I have always thought of Arda having two meanings: the wider meaning as the Solar System and the more restricitive one as the Earth. In the beginning, the Ainulindalë the Earth (also called Arda) and the rest of planets are created. I don't know the exact shape of the rest of planets but I suppose they were round from the beginning. At this moment the Earth was flat. At the end of the Age of the Trees, the Sun and the Moon are created from the last fruits of the Trees. The Earth remains flat. At the end of the Second age of the Sun, Eru changes the chape of the Earth, making it round, separating Aman and sending it to another dimension, where only elves can arrive. Whether the Sun turns around the Earth or the Earth turns around the Sun is only a relative question: it depends on the reference system you are using. Of course, equations are easier if your origin of coordinates is set on the Sun. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Tolkien, in his later writings, tried to change all the previous mithology of the flat Earth to a round Earth mithology, but he didn't finish this second conception, and personlly, I prefer the flat Earth stories: I love the Trees! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ But it is said that not until that hour had such cold thoughts ruled Finrod; for indeed she whom he had loved was Amarië of the Vanyar, and she went not with him into exile.