"Mesopotamia" in NoME

[Flammifer]

The class seemed somewhat baffled by the parenthesized comment (Mesopotamia) which is a parenthetical to the parenthesized (it originally included Minhiriath).

Confusion arises if 'Mesopotamia' is considered as a geographic reference. It is not.

It is a purely linguistic reference. "Minhiriath" means "between the rivers" in Sindarin. "Mesopotamia" means '"between the rivers" in Greek.

JRRT is just pointing out (or perhaps reminding himself) of the literal meaning of "Minhiriath".

 

[Haerangil]

As far as i remember Tokien mentioned mesopotamia a second time

"The Great Central Land, Europe and Asia, was first inhabited. Men awoke in Mesopotamia"

Unfortunately i couldn't find the exact reference... but it seems he was referring to Hildorien at that point.

 

[Haerangil]

It was in the lost road,,the drowning of Anadune,(v) the theory of the work note 2!

"2. Sketch I has here: 'The Great Central Land, Europe and Asia, was first inhabited. Men awoke in Mesopotamia. Their fates as they spread were very various. But the Enkeladim withdrew ever west.'"