Girdle of Melian: Difference between revisions
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The '''Girdle of Melian''' was the fence of enchantment set around [[Thingol]]'s kingdom of [[Doriath]] by [[Melian]] his Queen, preventing entry into his land without his will and consent. [[Beren]] was unique in being the only person to pass through the Girdle without the knowledge of Doriath's rulers. The protection of the Girdle encompassed the Forests of [[Neldoreth]] and [[Region]], the West March of [[Nivrim]], and part of [[Aelin-uial]], the Twilight Meres.<ref>{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> | | image=[[File:Steamey - Making the Girdle of Melian.jpg|250px]] | ||
| name=The Girdle of Melian | |||
| type=Fence of enchantment | |||
| location=Central [[Beleriand]] | |||
| inhabitants=[[Sindar]], [[Nandor]] | |||
| realms=[[Doriath]] | |||
| description=An enchanted fence surrounding the kingdom of [[Thingol]] and [[Melian]] | |||
| climate= | |||
| othernames= | |||
| etymology= | |||
| created={{YT|1497}} | |||
| destroyed={{FA|502}} | |||
| events=The [[Hunting of the Wolf]] | |||
}} | |||
The '''Girdle of Melian''' was the fence of enchantment set around [[Thingol]]'s kingdom of [[Doriath]] by [[Melian]] his Queen, preventing entry into his land without his will and consent. [[Beren]] was unique in being the only person to pass through the Girdle without the knowledge of Doriath's rulers. The protection of the Girdle encompassed the Forests of [[Neldoreth]] and [[Forest of Region|Region]], the West March of [[Nivrim]], and part of [[Aelin-uial]], the Twilight Meres.<ref>{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> | |||
The | The name of Doriath means "Land of the Fence"<ref name=silmindex>{{S|Index}}</ref><ref name=WJ>{{WJ|Quendi}}, pp. 370, 378</ref> or "Land of the Girdle"<ref name=SSindar>{{S|Sindar}}</ref>. Accordingly, the [[Sindar]] who dwelt inside Doriath were called Iathrim, the "People of the Fence"<ref>{{WJ|B}}, 3</ref> (''[[iâth]]'' meaning fence in [[Sindarin]]). | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Upon the return of [[Morgoth]] from [[Valinor]] he sent his [[Orcs]] in a great army to assail King Thingol. Although the [[Elves]] defeated the eastern host of Orcs it was a costly victory (his ally, [[Denethor (Nando)|Denethor]] of [[Ossiriand]], was killed with all his kin) and the western force of Orcs were successful in driving [[Círdan]] to the shores. Thingol therefore withdrew his people into Neldoreth and Region, and Melian used her power to encircle this dominion with an invisible wall of shadows and bewilderment. The land of Eglador was thereafter called Doriath, the guarded kingdom.<ref name=SSindar/> | Upon the return of [[Morgoth]] from [[Valinor]] he sent his [[Orcs]] in a great army to assail King Thingol. Although the [[Elves]] defeated the eastern host of Orcs it was a costly victory (his ally, [[Denethor (Nando)|Denethor]] of [[Ossiriand]], was killed with all his kin) and the western force of Orcs were successful in driving [[Círdan]] to the shores. Thingol therefore withdrew his people into Neldoreth and Region, and Melian used her power to encircle this dominion with an invisible wall of shadows and bewilderment. The land of Eglador was thereafter called Doriath, the guarded kingdom.<ref name=SSindar/> |
Revision as of 16:00, 6 July 2015
The Girdle of Melian | |
---|---|
Fence of enchantment | |
General Information | |
Location | Central Beleriand |
Type | Fence of enchantment |
Description | An enchanted fence surrounding the kingdom of Thingol and Melian |
Regions | Doriath |
People and History | |
Inhabitants | Sindar, Nandor |
Created | Y.T. 1497 |
Destroyed | F.A. 502 |
Events | The Hunting of the Wolf |
The Girdle of Melian was the fence of enchantment set around Thingol's kingdom of Doriath by Melian his Queen, preventing entry into his land without his will and consent. Beren was unique in being the only person to pass through the Girdle without the knowledge of Doriath's rulers. The protection of the Girdle encompassed the Forests of Neldoreth and Region, the West March of Nivrim, and part of Aelin-uial, the Twilight Meres.[1]
The name of Doriath means "Land of the Fence"[2][3] or "Land of the Girdle"[4]. Accordingly, the Sindar who dwelt inside Doriath were called Iathrim, the "People of the Fence"[5] (iâth meaning fence in Sindarin).
History
Upon the return of Morgoth from Valinor he sent his Orcs in a great army to assail King Thingol. Although the Elves defeated the eastern host of Orcs it was a costly victory (his ally, Denethor of Ossiriand, was killed with all his kin) and the western force of Orcs were successful in driving Círdan to the shores. Thingol therefore withdrew his people into Neldoreth and Region, and Melian used her power to encircle this dominion with an invisible wall of shadows and bewilderment. The land of Eglador was thereafter called Doriath, the guarded kingdom.[4]
After years of outlawry in Dorthonion, in F.A. 464[6] Beren passed through the Girdle of Melian, able to do so because (as Melian had foretold) his doom was greater than her power.[7] After the Quest for the Silmaril Beren was in Doriath when the Girdle was again breached, this time by Carcharoth the Wolf, who penetrated the Girdle due to his fate and the power of the Silmaril he had swallowed.[8]
Upon the death of King Thingol in F.A. 502 Melian departed from Middle-earth and with her departure the Girdle of Melian vanished.[9]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar", pp. 370, 378
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin", 3
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §174
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"