| Place from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium | |
| Other names | Hollin |
|---|---|
| Description | Pleasant land of holly, with many Elvish ruins |
| Location | West of the Misty Mountains near Moria |
| Lifespan | Second Age |
| Founder | Noldor |
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Eregion or Hollin was a kingdom of the Noldorin Elves in Eriador during the Second Age, located near the West Gate of Moria under the shadow of the Hithaeglir (Misty Mountains). Its capital was Ost-in-Edhil (literally fortress of the Elves). This city was established by the Noldor during the Second Age, located where the Sirannon met the Glanduin. The elves built a large road to connect Ost-in-Edhil to the West Gate of Moria.
Eregion was populated by Noldor, and for a while ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn, until they left for Lothlórien on the other side of the Misty Mountains. The Elves of Eregion lived in harmony with a Dwarven civilization, trading freely with the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm, or Hadhodrond in the Elven tongue.
After Galadriel and Celeborn had left, Eregion was ruled by Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor. Under his rule the Elves of Eregion became friends with Annatar, Lord of Gifts, and created the Rings of Power. When Annatar was revealed as the Dark Lord Sauron, the Elves of Eregion tried to keep the Rings from falling in Sauron's hands, but only managed to rescue Vilya, Narya, and Nenya (the Three Rings of the Elves). Eregion was utterly destroyed, and its survivors fled to Lindon, Lothlórien, and the refuge of Imladris (Rivendell).
In the Third Age, Eregion was a pleasant but unpopulated land, and contained many ruins of the Elven civilization that once thrived there. It was famous for its holly trees, hence the name in both (translated) Westron and Sindarin (ereg 'holly tree', from root ERÉK- 'thorn', also yielding Quenya erka, 'prickle, spine', according to the Etymologies in The Lost Road and Other Writings).
On their way to the Redhorn Gate the Company of the Ring travelled through Hollin. By day they had to hide from flocks of Crebain. After being turned back by Caradhras they were attacked that night by a host of Wargs. Their defeat by the mountain, the spying crows during the day and wild wolves by night sealed the Fellowship's decision to journey through Moria.
Eregion should not be pronounced as in the word region: the g sounds like the g in get.[1]
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