The Green Book of the White Downs

Saturday, 8 July 2023

Migrations and monuments: Part 6 - Men

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 6] “A Darkness lies behind us”: the westward migrations of Men

“At the first rising of the Sun the Younger Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the land of Hildórien in the eastward regions of Middle-earth; but the first Sun arose in the West, and the opening eyes of Men were turned towards it, and their feet as they wandered over the Earth for the most part strayed that way. The Atani they were named by the Eldar, the Second People; but they called them also Hildor, the Followers, and many other names: Apanónar, the After-born, Engwar, the Sickly, and Fírimar, the Mortals; and they named them the Usurpers, the Strangers, and the Inscrutable, the Self-cursed, the Heavy-handed, the Night-fearers, the Children of the Sun.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 12: Of Men)

Migrations and monuments: Part 5 - Dwarves

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 5] Dwarf-roads to the fortress delvings: the Dwarves in Eriador

Dwarves were not part of the Children of Ilúvatar having been created in secret by the Vala Aulë. When it was discovered what he had done, in repentance Aulë almost destroyed them but his hand was stayed by Eru Ilúvatar. The Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were put to sleep and hidden under mountains, to be awakened after the Elves.

Migrations and monuments: Part 4 - Ents

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 4] Awakening the Shepherds of the Forests

When the Maia Yavanna saw that the Dwarves of Aulë would walk the land, she was fearful for the trees that she loved. Through Manwë she appealed to Eru Ilúvatar to give the trees life (or be inhabited by spirits): thus awoke the Shepherds of the Forests:

‘Nay,’ he said, ‘only the trees of Aulë will be tall enough. In the mountains the Eagles shall house, and hear the voices of those who call upon us. But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees.’
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 2: Of Aulë and Yavanna)

Migrations and monuments: Part 3 - Elves

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 3] Of starlight and the wide spaces of Middle-earth: The Unwilling Elves and those lost or turned aside on the long road

The first sundering of the Elves

“Thus it was that the Valar found at last, as it were by chance, those whom they had so long awaited. And Oromë looking upon the Elves was filled with wonder, as though they were beings sudden and marvellous and unforeseen; for so it shall ever be with the Valar.”
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 3: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor)

Migrations and monuments: Part 2 - Tom Bombadil

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 2] Middle-earth’s first dweller: Tom Bombadil

Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.’

-- J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book One Chapter 7: In the House of Tom Bombadil)

Migrations and monuments: Part 1 - Awakenings

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 1] The Years of the Trees and Years of the Sun: Awakenings

“The First Age begins with the Awaking and ends with the Downfall of Angband.”
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Nature of Middle-earth (Part One: Time and Ageing)

Migrations and monuments: Introduction

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

Tim Bolton
(First edition: 08/07/23)

[Note 1: I use Tolkien Gateway as points of reference due to it being the best online J.R.R. Tolkien encyclopaedia and is accessible to all readers. Other online options include the Encyclopaedia of Arda.]

[Note 2: Tolkien uses specific names for races (Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, etc) and “Men” for humanity. I recognise that it is not ideal nor gender-neutral, but to avoid confusion when quoting/discussing, I’ll follow Tolkien’s usage.]

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📗 Introduction