Birmingham’s history runs deep. It’s the birthplace of well-known scientists and inventors like James Watt and Michael Murdoch, which made the city the leading manufacturing town in the world in the 17th century and would be where the first steam engine for the Titanic was made. Beyond the city’s manufacturing heritage, modern-day Birmingham has been the setting of the popular TV series, Peaky Blinders.
But for all its wonder, Birmingham would once accommodate one of the most prolific writers of all time in the early 1900s. It would be used as inspiration as part of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit, two fantasy stories written by J.R.R. Tolkien over 80 decades ago. In this article, we’ll be exploring Birmingham’s ties with the world of fantasy.
Middle Earth
Middle Earth would be the name of the setting J.R.R. Tolkien would introduce into his world of fantasy, something he imagined during his time in Birmingham. Look closely enough, and you’ll find that pieces of the city fit together in Tolkien’s world. History shows that, during his time in Birmingham, Tolkien would be a frequent visitor of Sarehole Mill. With its prominent chimney and water mill, Tolkien would often illustrate the mills of Hobbiton (an area of Middle Earth) bearing a strong resemblance to Sarehole Mill.
Tolkien’s Middle Earth would capture the hearts of different generations for years to come. The well-executed fantasy world would eventually come to the big screen, garnering unfathomable success and setting new heights for the fantasy genre. Its reach was far and wide, and it could be suggested that its influence on the fantasy genre has impacted unlikely mediums like online casino sites where it’s becoming increasingly common for players to engross themselves in fantasy slots alongside uk online roulette which are widely available.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was a vast kingdom that still intrigues worldwide historians thanks to its fascinating way of life, unwavering architectural prowess and culture that continues to bring mythology to life. What may surprise you are some of the connections between the ancient world and the city of Birmingham. In the Balti Triangle area on the outskirts of the city, you can find a sphinx-inspired statue, a style of statue likely inspired by the Great Sphinx of Giza. In another area of the city, you can also find the Burnaby Obelisk, a style of monument that originates from ancient Egypt and was used for honouring the deceased. Beyond Birmingham’s mythology-inspired statues is the West Midlands Egyptology Society, a space for like-minded ancient Egyptian mythology enthusiasts to come together and discuss all things ancient Egypt.
