On the Subject of Maps (Good and Bad)

Because I once again saw it posted (and because people assumed it was accurate) I want to point something out.

THE FOLLOWING MAP IS THE LEAST ACCURATE MAP OF ARDA EVER. Once you see it please remove it from your memory except to call out those who post it. It is an artists conception trying to put the Three Ages of Arda on one map and what we got isn't even accurate for that. Unfortunately it comes up pretty highly on any google search so it gets see and posted a lot.

The worst map ever.

Ok now never post it, never look at again, never even think about it unless you are the Hulk and need something to induce rage.

Here are good maps and I will include some explanation. I'm happy (or someone else will be) to answer questions but I'm not going to give a summary of the whole Silmarillion. Go read it =)

First Age:

The World is Flat.
The first layout (Top Left).

Now, Arda looks nothing like that now because this was when the Valar were still shaping the World and Melkor was hindering/fighting them at the height of his power. The Two Lamps (only source of light in Arda) were destroyed by Melkor. The world evolved to look like the bottom right map.

Still there is fighting and things and we get this. This is the Arda the Elves awoke at Cuivienen to (basically).

Second Age:

First Age stuff happens and Beleriand is sunk under the ocean and Numenor raised from the Sea as a gift for the Edain (a group of Men).

Here we go.
Another Map
And here is the sunken Beleriand.

Also the world is still flat.
See, Flat

At the end of the Second Age Numenor is corrupted (by Sauron) and tries to invade Valinor to take immortality by force (because living a few hundreds years still isn't enough for them). This would never have worked anyway since the Gift of Men (death) can't be taken away. But anyway, God is pretty pissed off. He sinks Numenor and "Bends" the World. Valinor remains on the Straight Path, but only those permitted by the Valar may sail that path. Everyone else sails around the world.

Spheres! And no more Numenor.
"Middle Earth"
Eastern Lands.

Many of these maps come from Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Middle Earth. You should buy it, it's easily the most accurate maps out there and is an awesome resource. It has many more detailed maps of just about everything, from Valinor to Hobbiton and Bree. I only used the maps the showed a broader view of the World.

There we go. Tons of maps that don't make me want to punch a certain artist.

I hate to say it but please upvote this so people see it. It's a self post so there no karma involved but I just want people to see it since self posts generally do poorly in this sub.

Edit: Haha nice, Front Page. Well, my front page at least. This is a great day in the fight against shitty maps.

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Here's my other post Dispelling Misconceptions about the Nazgûl: http://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/1p5hlf/dispelling_misinformation_about_the_nazg%C3%BBl/