Support our Nation today - please donate here
Culture

People can’t get enough of beautiful Welsh Lord of the Rings map

15 Feb 2023 3 minute read
Map of Wales in style of Tolkien’s Middle Earth

A map of Wales in the style of Tolkien’s Middle Earth illustrations has proved to be a best seller online.

So popular have they become that Joshua Tabti – the artist who created the beautifully drawn Lord of the Rings inspired maps, has had to restock his online shop three times as the maps keep selling out due to huge demand.

Sold through global online marketplace platform Etsy, the maps are flying out.

Lord of the Rings and Hobbit author J.R.R. Tolkien stated that he began with maps and developed his plots from them, but that he also wanted his maps to be picturesque.

Tolkien’s maps, depicting his fictional Middle Earth, helped him with plot development, guided the reader through his often complex stories, and contributed to the impression of depth in his writings.

Now illustrator Joshua has taken up the idea by illustrating Wales and various other locations in the style of those original Tolkien maps.

Tolkien had close ties to Wales and loved the Welsh language which inspired the Elvish language in his books. He said of Welsh: “Welsh is of this soil, this island, the senior language of the men of Britain; and Welsh is beautiful.’

The Tolkien Cymru map.

The map of Wales is illustrated in Welsh and took the artist around 30 hours to complete.

“It was just as fun to research the land cover and different historical towns as it was to draw,” he said. “I think it took about 30 hours although I lost track!”

Since publishing the maps welsh speakers have been helping Joshua update his maps with place names.

One site user pointed out that there was a problem with one of the town names.

They wrote: ‘As someone from there, Crucywel is incorrect. Crickhowell in Welsh is Crughywel. Crucywel was used on a road signs recently and incorrect, locals hate it.’

‘That’s great help thank you,’ replied Joshua. ‘I had used Wikipedia pages for Welsh spelling of towns so that’s a good thing to know! I’ll edit it in’

The artist describes his maps as: ‘Hand drawn cartography inspired by Tolkien’s map of Middle Earth featured in the books The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

‘Maps are illustrated and annotated with calligraphy using traditional dip pen and ink, following meticulous research into land cover, terrain and landmarks to create a geographically accurate survey.’

Purchase the Tolkien Wales/Cymru maps HERE


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Riki
Riki
1 year ago

I wonder how many people truly don’t realise that he heavily plagiarised The Mabinogi in order to create his stories? The majority of it is based on British (Cymro) mythology and even some real people and events. It was done on purpose to create a mythology for England. I fine example of how Cymro subjects are often turned into English when presented to the rest of the world. Tolkien, in fairness also described his hatred for the Co-opting of British from the actual British. The people his people called, and continue to call Welsh. The Cymro should not be denying… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Riki
Riki
Riki
1 year ago
Reply to  Riki

That may be the case, however. The official narrative in education standards still claim there are differences. So until that changes, I’m fine with calling England, Scotland and Wales countries and their inhabitants Cymro, Scots and Anglos.

Benjiman Angwin
Benjiman Angwin
1 year ago

The potential to grow wealthy by selling Welsh national identity and language to the world is limitless. You just need to see entrepreneurial business and property as good.

Riki
Riki
1 year ago

But it’s not Welsh, it’s British. However, Post 1800, Britishness has never been presented to the world as being from Wales. It’s always sold as being based on Englishness. While Wales are a part of the Uk, this will continue.

Iago Prydderch
Iago Prydderch
1 year ago

“Welsh is beautiful” and yet Wales is letting it die. People should be sad with tears in their eyes for this shameful act. And all because they want to live by the teachings of other people and not of their forefathers. Viva Patagonia!

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

If it were not for Welsh mythology there would be no Lord of The Rings,. No Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. No Discworld. No Harry Potter. Our myths & legends have influenced so many writers to pen their stories.

When you think of a wizard Merlin comes to mind When you want a swashbuckling hero all roads lead to King Arthur.Those mentioned all appeared first in Welsh mythology in the writings of 9th century Welsh monk Nennius & 12th century Geoffrey of Monmouth..

Riki
Riki
1 year ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

The Witcher series too! They even had the audacity to call their card game “Gwent”. The actual Kingdom of Arthwys Ap Meurig, the man who was supposedly the real King Arthur. They also gave Geralt, the main character, two swords…just like Arthur. A lot of “Fantasy” in Entertainment contains real World Cymro history and events. People are often unaware of this fact thanks to everyone world over thinking, or being taught Wales is in England. Something that won’t change until Wales are out of the UK!

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.