Minor places in Beleriand
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J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium contains a great amount of locations. Some of the minor places in the region of Beleriand during the First Age are described below. It is to be supposed that all of them were destroyed in the Drowning of Beleriand during the War of Wrath unless otherwise noted.
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[edit] A
- Aelin-uial
- (S. 'Meres of Twilight') A marshy confluence of Aros in Sirion, held to be a part of Doriath. It was protected by the Girdle of Melian and secret ferries were maintained on the east shore.
- Aglon
- See Pass of Aglon
- Amon Darthir
- A peak in the Ered Wethrin to the south-east of Dor-lómin, over which led the only pass over the mountains. The stream of Nen Lalaith sprang from its side, and after the coming of the Easterlings some outlaws of the House of Hador maintained a refuge in a cave here.
- Amon Ereb
- (S. 'lonely hill') The broad, shallow-sided hill between Ramdal and the river Gelion that dominated the southern plains of East Beleriand. As the highest point in that region and the easternmost hill of Andram, which was standing alone, it had tremendous strategic importance, because it guarded the eastern passage around the long wall of the Andram into the southern parts of Beleriand and the northern Taur-im-Duinath.
- It was here that Denethor Lord of the Nandor met his end in the First Battle against the Orcs in the Wars of Beleriand, and much later, Caranthir fortified it to guard his escape into the south after the Dagor Bragollach and the Fëanoreans withdrew there after Nírnaeth Arnoediad. The hill was also called "Ereb" for short.
- Amon Ethir
- (S. 'hill of spies') A hill raised artificially by the people of Finrod in the wide plain of Talath Dirnen, a league (approximately 5 kilometres) east of the Doors of Nargothrond above the river Narog. Over the years, trees grew on its flanks, but from its clear summit the watchers of Nargothrond could watch the lands about with the clear sight of the Elves, and so the hill got its name, Amon Ethir, meaning 'Hill of Spies'.
- Andram
- (S. 'long wall') A long line of hills that ran across Beleriand, from Nargothrond and the Gates of Sirion in the west to Ramdal (Wall's End) in the east. It marked a steep fall in the height of the land of Beleriand.
- At the easternmost edge stood Amon Ereb, which usually was not considered a part of the Andram.
- Androth
- A complex of caves in the Mountains of Mithrim. After Nírnaeth Arnoediad, some of the Sindar and Edain that survived the battle took refuge there. Tuor was fostered by the Elves of Androth.
- Annon-in-Gelydh
- (S. 'Gate of the Noldor') An subterranean passage below the Ered Lómin. Originally through it a river from the Mountains of Mithrim flowed towards Cirith Ninniach. The tunnel was enlarged and carved by the Noldor of Turgon when he dwelt in Nevrast to ease the communication with Fingon in Hithlum. Later Gelmir and Arminas led Tuor through this passage, apparently at the bidding of Ulmo.
- Ard-galen
- ("Green Region"), later Anfauglith, was the wide green plain that lay north of the highlands of Dorthonion and south of Morgoth's fortress of Angband in the Iron Mountains, in the First Age.
- In the first days after the rising of the Sun, Ard-galen was a green plain with rich grass, reaching from Hithlum and the Ered Wethrin in the west to the Ered Luin in the east, and rising into highlands of Dorthonion in the south. But the plain was laid waste by rivers of flame and poisonous gases that issued forth from Angband in the Dagor Bragollach and renamed Anfauglith ("Gasping Dust").
- The Fifth Battle of the Wars of Beleriand, called Nírnaeth Arnoediad (Unnumbered Tears), was fought upon the plain, and the dead bodies from that battle were piled up, forming a hill in the midst of the plain, named Haudh-en-Ndengin, the Hill of Slain, by the Elves, and Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of Tears; grass grew again upon the hill but nowhere else in Anfauglith.
- Like the other lands around it, Anfauglith sank beneath the waves after the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age.
[edit] B
- Barad Eithel
- The fortress of Fingolfin. It is located in the mountainous eastern foothills of the Ered Wethrin, at the source of the River Sirion.
- Barad Nimras
- A tower built by Finrod, on the Falas between the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest. It was built to keep watch, should Morgoth try to assail them from the sea.
- Bay of Balar
- An ocean inlet of the Belegaer south of Beleriand, fed by the River Sirion. It was presumably created in the cataclysms that accompanied the struggles of the Valar with Morgoth long before recorded history. The Isle of Balar was a large island in the bay.
- The name refers to the Valar (and Maiar), especially Ossë, who was associated with continental shelf areas.
- Brithiach
- The only ford over Sirion south of the Fens of Serech. The road from Nan Dungortheb and Dimbar crossed Sirion by this ford just to the north of the Forest of Brethil.
[edit] C
- Cirith Ninniach
- (S. 'Rainbow Cleft') A long and narrow channel in the Ered Lómin, cut by the river issuing from Annon-in-Gelydh and flowing into the Firth of Drengist. Tuor passed through this after escaping from Dor-lómin, and it was he who gave the name to the channel, for "where the water foamed among the boulders or rushed over sudden falls, at morning and evening rainbows were woven across the stream."[1]
- Crissaegrim
- (S. 'cleft mountain peaks') Part of the southern Echoriath, the Encircling Mountains of Gondolin. The area was home to the great Eagles of Thorondor. From here they watched for spies in the vale of the River Sirion.
- In Tolkien's stories it is usually referred to as the "Eagles' Cleft" or "Abode of Eagles".
[edit] D
- Dimrost
- See Nen Girith
- Dolmed
- See Mount Dolmed
- Dor Caranthir
- See Thargelion
- Dor Dínen
- (S. 'silent land') A relinquished part of east Beleriand, north of Doriath. Contained by one of the upper branches of the Esgalduin (bordering Nan Dungortheb) and the Aros (bordering Himlad), it was said that no one had lived there for ages. To the south lies Neldoreth, and Ered Gorgoroth to the north. The region is best known for the Arossiach, which connected Esgalduin and Aros.
[edit] E
- Echoriath
- A mountain range in the north of Beleriand, also called the Encircling Mountains.The Echoriath formed a natural circle of rock, enclosing the valley later called Tumladen, within which lay the Elven city of Gondolin. A hidden ravine provided the only access through the Echoriath — a way guarded by seven gates.
- Eithel Ivrin
- A series of small freshwater lakes, also called the Pools of Ivrin, under the shadow of the Ered Wethrin mountains. One of the most beautiful sights in all of Beleriand, the pools were beloved by Finduilas of Nargothrond, who was given the nickname Falivrin after the Sun on the Pools of Ivrin by Gwindor.
- The river Narog began here. Túrin Turambar was healed from his daze after killing Beleg at the site by Gwindor. Glaurung came by it on his way to Nargothrond, and defiled them. Túrin, passing north to his old home, found them ruined.
- Eithel Sirion
- The source of the River Sirion. Fingolfin built a great fortress in this location called Barad Eithel.
- Estolad
- (S. 'encampment') A wide plain in East Beleriand. After the first Men arrived from beyond the Ered Luin, they camped for a number of years on the plain before moving further west and north. It is located in between rivers Celon and Gelion just west of Thargelion. The Great Dwarf Road runs through it.
[edit] F
- Fens of Serech
- A series of marshes in the Pass of Sirion where many Battles of Beleriand were fought. Formed by the confluence of the rivers Sirion and Rivil, the Fens were trapped in a wedge formed by the Ered Wethrin and the highlands of Dorthonion.
- During the Dagor-nuin-Giliath the Orcs of Morgoth were caught in the Fens for ten days, where they were being destroyed by the enraged Sons of Fëanor. During the Dagor Bragollach, Finrod Felagund was caught in the Fens, and would have died but for the bravery of Barahir. During the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, Huor and Húrin with the remaining Men of Dor-lómin formed a living wall across the Fens of Serech to guard the withdrawal of King Turgon of Gondolin, who took most of the surviving Noldor with him.
- Fords of Aros
- See Arossiach
- Forest between Rivers
- See Taur-im-Duinath
[edit] G
- Gate of the Noldor
- See Annon-in-Gelydh
[edit] H
- Haudh-en-Ndengin, Haudh-en-Nírnaeth
- (S. 'mound of slain' and 'mound of tears' respectively) A great barrow hill raised by Morgoth's Orcs after the Nírnaeth Arnoediad to bury all those Elves and Edain fallen in the battle. It was also called the Hill of Tears and the Hill of the Slain. Legend had it that the hill was the only verdant spot in all the desert of Anfauglith.
- The hill figures in the Tale of the Children of Húrin as the place where Morgoth taunted Húrin. It was also the dying place of Rían, the wife of Huor, who was buried in the mound.
- Helevorn
- See Lake Helevorn
- High Faroth
- See Taur-en-Faroth
- Himlad
- (S. 'cool plain') A land in northeast Beleriand situated between the rivers Celon and Aros. On its northern border to Lothlann were the hills of Himring and the March of Maedhros. Along with the Pass of Aglon, Himlad was held by Celegorm and Curufin until the Dagor Bragollach, after which it remained uninhabited.
[edit] I
- Iant Iaur
- (S. 'old bridge') A bridge over the Esgalduin north of Doriath, by which a road from Himring to the West Beleriand crossed the river. It was built during the Siege of Angband and guarded by the Sindar of Doriath, but after the Dagor Bragollach the bridge was destroyed.
[edit] L
- Ladros
- Northeastern part of the highland of Dorthonion. It was briefly a fief of the House of Bëor, but lost to Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach.
- There have been three Lords of Ladros: Boromir, Bregor and Bregolas. Strictly speaking, Bregolas' brother Barahir has also been Lord of Ladros, but he never reigned his fief, as in Bregolas' time Morgoth overwhelmed Dorthonion and Ladros in the Dagor Bragollach, in which Bregolas himself was slain. His brother Barahir and twelve faithful men, including his son Beren, became outlaws in their own land, assaulting Morgoth's forces from their hidden lair at Tarn Aeluin on the southern borders of Ladros. They were betrayed by Gorlim the Unhappy, and all were slain but Beren, who escaped into the south.
- Lake Helevorn
- A shaded lake that was used as a capital by the Elven-lord Caranthir in the First Age. However, during the Siege of Angband the lake was defiled by Glaurung.
- Losgar
- The place of the burning of the ships of the Teleri by Fëanor, at the mouth of the Firth of Drengist.
- Lothlann
- A "wide and empty" plain to the northeast of Beleriand, beyond the March of Maedhros and Maglor's Gap.
[edit] M
- Meres of Twilight
- See Aelin-uial
- Mount Dolmed
- A mountain in the Ered Luin that loomed over the only known pass from Eriador into Beleriand. It was here that according to Dwarves two of their Fathers, the founders of the Broadbeams and the Firebeards, awoke. Their descendants later established the Dwarven cities of Nogrod and Belegost. Nogrod was established near and under Mount Dolmed itself, Belegost lay more to the south.
- After the War of Wrath the Ered Luin were broken at the location of Mount Dolmed and an arm of the sea, the Gulf of Lune, broke through it. Mount Dolmed was completely destroyed together with Nogrod.
- Mount Rerir
- A peak of the Ered Luin in Thargelion to the north of Lake Helevorn and the sources of Greater Gelion. The land around the mountain belonged to Caranthir, who built a fortress on its western slopes. The fortress was destroyed during Dagor Bragollach and the Elves retreated to Amon Ereb.
[edit] N
- Nan-tathren
- (S. 'valley of willows') The region, famed for its flowers, where the River Narog flowed into River Sirion in Southern Beleriand. The equivalent Quenya names Tasarinan and Nan-Tasirion are used by Treebeard. Following the sack of Gondolin its survivors, led by Tuor, temporarily rested in Nan-tathren on their way to the mouths of Sirion.
- Nan Dungortheb
- ('Valley of Dreadful Death') The wilderness south of Ered Gorgoroth and Dorthonion, east of Dimbar and the river Mindeb, west of Dor Dínen and the Esgalduin, and north of Neldoreth and Doriath. It is named after Ungoliant, who resided there after escaping the Balrogs of Morgoth and Lammoth. It is also named for its proximity to the Ered Gorgoroth, where Ungoliant's ancestors haunted the deep vales of the mountains and its closeness to the shadowy webs of the Girdle of Melian.
- Nen Girith
- (S. 'Shuddering Water') A cascading waterfall on the stream of Celebros, where it flowed down to meet the River Taeglin on the borders of Brethil. The falls raise a fine spray into the air, from which they took their original name, Dimrost 'Rainy Stair'. Above Dimrost, the Men of Brethil had constructed a wooden bridge to cross the Celebros.
- From the bridge, a wide view could be seen, showing the Ravines of Taeglin two miles (3.2 kilometres) distant. When Níniel was first brought to Brethil, when she saw that view from the bridge, she started shivering uncontrollably - so much so that the name of Dimrost was changed to Nen Girith. It was only later that the cause of her foresightful fear was discovered: the Ravines she had seen from the bridge would be the place of her tragic death.
- Nevrast
- A coastal region in the north of Beleriand. The name means Hither Shore in Sindarin, as opposed to the Distant Shore of Aman and was originally applied to all the shores of Beleriand (although Nevrast was usually not included in West Beleriand).
- Nevrast was the centre of an Elven kingdom of Turgon for about a century until ca. 125 F.A., when the people began their trek to Gondolin. Turgon's capital (and it seems the only city of Nevrast) was Vinyamar. The land was not permanently inhabited after that, and indeed was utterly abandoned until Tuor came there, guided by Ulmo.
[edit] P
- Pass of Aglon
- (S. 'high walls') A narrow mountain pass between Ered Gorgoroth to the west and Himring to the east. It was of strategic importance since it joined Himlad and Lothlann, being an eastern passage from Angband to the main Beleriand. It was guarded by Celegorm and Curufin but during the Dagor Bragollach of Y.S. 455 Aglon was breached and the brothers fled to Nargothrond. Some time later (around 469) Maedhros recovered it, but it was again left unguarded when he fled after the Nírnaeth Arnoediad.
[edit] R
- Rainbow Cleft
- See Cirith Ninniach
- Region
- A forest forming the southern part of Doriath, bounded by the rivers Aros and Esgalduin, and the Girdle of Melian. Its name is pronounced "reg-ion" because it is an Elvish name, not "region" as in "a region of land".
- Rerir
- See Mount Rerir
[edit] T
- Talath Dirnen
- (S. 'watched plain') The empty lands between Nargothrond and Doriath in West Beleriand, guarded by the followers of Finrod Felagund.
- Tarn Aeluin
- A clear blue mountain lake in the highlands of Dorthonion, said to have been hallowed by Melian. It was here that the outlaws of Barahir hid from Morgoth's forces after the Dagor Bragollach.
- Tasarinan
- See Nan-tathren
- Taur-en-Faroth
- (S. 'forest of hunting') A forest that lay upon the hills of High Faroth about and to the south of Nargothrond.
- Taur-im-Duinath
- (S. 'forest between two rivers') A dark and gloomy forest that extended over a vast area of land to the south of Beleriand. It was roughly bordered by Andram in the north, Sirion and Belegaer to the west and by Gelion to the east and south. On the map drawn by Christopher Tolkien for The Silmarillion the Forest between Rivers is shown as exceptionally swampy, and in the text is described as "a wild land of tangled forest in which no folk went, save here and there a few Dark Elves wandering".[2]
- Thargelion
- (S. 'beyond Gelion') The land east of the river Gelion and north of the river Ascar, and therefore not counted as part of Ossiriand. After the Exile of the Noldor this was the land of Caranthir, one of the Sons of Fëanor, and after him it was often called Dor Caranthir. The Second House of Men briefly dwelt here until they were nearly wiped out in an Orc-raid.
- The second month of spring in the Attic calendar is also called Thargelion.
[edit] V
[edit] W
- Woods of Núath
- A wooded area in the north-west of Beleriand. It was bordered in the west by the hills lying south of the Ered Wethrin, and in the east by Eithel Ivrin, the source of Narog. The river Ginglith began in it. Because the woods do not appear in the published Silmarillion, they were left off the map of Beleriand drawn by Christopher Tolkien.
[edit] References and notes
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (1980), Christopher Tolkien, ed., Unfinished Tales, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin", ISBN 0-395-29917-9
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (1977), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The Silmarillion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Ch. 14 "Of Beleriand and its Realms", p. 123, ISBN 0-395-25730-1
