Mouths of Sirion: Difference between revisions

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| othernames=Havens of Sirion, [[Lisgardh]]
| othernames=Havens of Sirion, [[Lisgardh]], Havens of the Ships<ref>{{CH|8}}, p. 142</ref>
| etymology=
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| type=River delta and haven
| type=River delta and haven

Revision as of 06:54, 30 November 2012

Mouths of Sirion
River delta and haven
General Information
Other namesHavens of Sirion, Lisgardh, Havens of the Ships[1]
LocationNortheast corner of the Bay of Balar
TypeRiver delta and haven
DescriptionMarshy region with a forest of reeds
RegionsEärendil
People and History
InhabitantsSindarin, refugees from Elven realms
EventsThird Kinslaying

The Mouths of Sirion was the great delta where the Sirion, the main river of Beleriand, emptied into the sea, in the northeast corner of the Bay of Balar.[2] The land about the mouths was named Lisgardh;[3] it was a region of reeds dense as a forest.[4]

History

Between Y.T. 1090 and 1092 the Valar assailed Morgoth in Middle-earth.[5] In the upheavals of that time the Sirion was created and its waters first flowed into the Bay of Balar, creating the Mouths of Sirion.[6]

During the years of Morgoth's captivity the Sindar spread across Beleriand and Círdan with his mariners explored the coasts.[7] Doubtless they knew of the place where Sirion met the Great Sea, but no secret refuge was hidden in the reeds until much later, in F.A. 473,[8] the year after the Dagor Bragollach. That was when Brithombar and Eglarest were destroyed by Morgoth's forces and Círdan with the remnants of his people fled to the Isle of Balar or to the Mouths of Sirion where they established the secret havens.[4]

In F.A. 506[9] the Second Kinslaying occurred. Doriath was destroyed and those few who escaped, including Elwing, fled to the Havens of Sirion.[10] In F.A. 510 Gondolin fell and by the next year[9] refugees from that kingdom, including Idril and Tuor, came to the Havens.[11]

Eärendil wedded Elwing in F.A. 525[9] and he was accounted the lord of those living in the Havens of Sirion. Eärendil became a friend of Círdan and with his aid built his ship Vingilot, in which he sailed west but was unable to reach Valinor.[12] While he was away in F.A. 538[9] the sons of Fëanor attacked and slaughtered most of the people of the Havens (but not Elwing); those few who escaped this Third Kinslaying went to the Isle of Balar in the ships of Círdan and Gil-galad. From that time on the Havens were in ruins and deserted.[12]

In one version of the Silmarillion mythology, the chief army of the Valar landed at the Mouths of Sirion during the War of Wrath. By the end of the War, most of the survivors of Beleriand gathered at the Mouths and the Isle of Balar, and many of them went to Lindon until the Elves were summoned to Valinor, and the Edain to the new isle of Númenor.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Land of Bow and Helm", p. 142
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin"
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Second section of the Annals of Aman", §48
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §257
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: V. The Tale of Years"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  12. 12.0 12.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"