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{{disambig-two|the Dwarf-road through Mirkwood|Dwarf-road of the First Age|[[Dwarf-road of Beleriand]]}}
{{disambig-two|the Dwarf-road through Mirkwood|Dwarf-road of the First Age|[[Dwarf-road of Beleriand]]}}
The '''Old Forest Road''' was the main route through the great forest originally known as [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] and latterly as [[Mirkwood]].  
{{location infobox
| name=Old Forest Road
| image=
| caption=
| pronun=
| othernames=Road of the Dwarves (translation), Men-i-Naugrim
| location=Running from the [[Misty Mountains]] through central [[Mirkwood]] to the [[River Running|Celduin]]
| type=
| description=
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=Used by [[Dwarves]]
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
The '''Old Forest Road''' or '''Men-i-Naugrim''' ([[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[men (Elvish)|men]]'' "road, way" + ''[[in]]'' "the, who" + ''[[Naugrim]]'' "dwarves"; "Way of the Dwarves") or simply the '''Dwarf-road'''<ref name=index>{{UT|Index}}</ref> was the main route through the great forest originally known as [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] and latterly as [[Mirkwood]].


Of the origins of the Road we know little for certain. We can be sure that it existed before the end of the [[Second Age]], because a record exists of the stone bridge being specially strengthened to carry the armies of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]]. A strong clue to its origins is presented in its Sindarin name, ''[[Men-i-Naugrim]]'', meaning "Dwarf-road". The Dwarves had a tradition of road-building dating back to before the [[First Age]], and it seems that they must have built the Forest Road to carry traffic between their western and eastern clans. It's particularly notable that the old bridge over the [[Anduin]] at the Road's western end lay almost exactly halfway between the ancient [[Dwarvish]] meeting-place at [[Mount Gundabad]] to the north, and [[Durin]]'s mansions of [[Khazad-dûm]] to the south.
==History==
The name '''Dwarf-road''' suggests that the road was apparently built or at least used as a trade-route by the [[Dwarves]] (who had a tradition of road-building dating back to before the [[First Age]]). Indeed in the early [[Second Age]] the lands of the [[Longbeards]] controlled [[Erebor]], [[Ered Mithrin]], [[Ered Engrin]], and the eastern side of the [[Misty Mountains]] as south as [[Lorien]].<ref>{{PM|Relations}}</ref><ref name=note/>{{rp|n. 30}}</ref>
 
The location suggests that it carried traffic between the western and eastern clans. The latitude of the road is halfway between the ancient Dwarven meeting-place at [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] to the north, and [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] to the south.
 
Near the end of the [[Second Age]], a stone bridge crossed the [[Anduin]] over the only point that it could be crossed, as the waters were slower. This was specially enlarged and strengthened to carry the armies of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]]. By the latter [[Third Age]] no such bridge was mentioned and the river was crossed by the [[Old Ford]].<ref>{{UT|Disaster}}, Note 14</ref>
 
[[Beorn]] warned [[Thorin and Company]] that it was often used by [[Orcs|Goblins]] and inside the forest, the road was overgrown and disused.<ref name=lodg/>
 
==Route==
The road descended from the [[Pass of Imladris]], crossed [[Anduin]], and traversed Mirkwood.<ref name=index/>
 
Where the Road crossed the Great River, there was originally a stone bridge, but later it had been lost and the river was crossed by the [[Old Ford]]. From there, it crossed some miles of open country before plunging into the depths of the forest Mirkwood. The Road then ran directly east from one side of the forest to the other, covering more than two hundred miles beneath the canopy of trees before it emerged by the banks of the River [[River Running|Running]]. At the eastern end it led to impassable [[Long Marshes|marshes]] where the paths had long been lost.<ref name=lodg>{{H|Queer}}</ref>
 
Then it traversed Greenwood (the portion that remained known as "Old Forest Road") and then turned to the north-east towards the [[Iron Hills]].<ref name=note>{{PM|XNotes}}</ref>{{rp|n. 30}}
==Etymology==
[[Sindarin]] from ''[[men (Sindarin word)|men]]'' "road", ''[[i]]'' "the" and ''[[Naugrim]]'' "[[dwarves]]".{{fact}}
 
==External links==
* [http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2012/06/27/where-did-the-old-forest-road-in-mirkwood-lead-to/ Where Did the Old Forest Road in Mirkwood Lead To?] by [[Michael Martinez]]


Where the Road crossed the [[Anduin|Great River]], there was originally a stone bridge, but the later years of the [[Third Age]] the bridge had been lost and the river was crossed by the [[Old Ford]]. From there, a traveller following the Road east would cross some miles of open country before plunging into the depths of the forest. The Road then ran directly east from one side of the forest to the other, covering more than two hundred miles beneath the canopy of trees before it emerged by the banks of the River [[Running]]. [[Beorn]] warned [[Thorin and Company]] that it was often used by [[goblins]] and inside the forest, the road was overgrown and disused; at the eastern end it led to impassable marshes where the paths had long been lost.<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref>
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Rhovanion]]
[[Category:Rhovanion]]
[[Category:Roads and Streets]]
[[Category:Roads and streets]]


[[de:Alte Waldstraße]]
[[de:Alte Waldstraße]]
[[fi:Vanha Metsätie]]
[[fi:Vanha Metsätie]]

Revision as of 08:01, 24 January 2019

This article is about the Dwarf-road through Mirkwood. For the Dwarf-road of the First Age, see Dwarf-road of Beleriand.
Old Forest Road
General Information
Other namesRoad of the Dwarves (translation), Men-i-Naugrim
LocationRunning from the Misty Mountains through central Mirkwood to the Celduin
InhabitantsUsed by Dwarves

The Old Forest Road or Men-i-Naugrim (S. men "road, way" + in "the, who" + Naugrim "dwarves"; "Way of the Dwarves") or simply the Dwarf-road[1] was the main route through the great forest originally known as Greenwood the Great and latterly as Mirkwood.

History

The name Dwarf-road suggests that the road was apparently built or at least used as a trade-route by the Dwarves (who had a tradition of road-building dating back to before the First Age). Indeed in the early Second Age the lands of the Longbeards controlled Erebor, Ered Mithrin, Ered Engrin, and the eastern side of the Misty Mountains as south as Lorien.[2][3]:n. 30</ref>

The location suggests that it carried traffic between the western and eastern clans. The latitude of the road is halfway between the ancient Dwarven meeting-place at Mount Gundabad to the north, and Khazad-dûm to the south.

Near the end of the Second Age, a stone bridge crossed the Anduin over the only point that it could be crossed, as the waters were slower. This was specially enlarged and strengthened to carry the armies of the Last Alliance. By the latter Third Age no such bridge was mentioned and the river was crossed by the Old Ford.[4]

Beorn warned Thorin and Company that it was often used by Goblins and inside the forest, the road was overgrown and disused.[5]

Route

The road descended from the Pass of Imladris, crossed Anduin, and traversed Mirkwood.[1]

Where the Road crossed the Great River, there was originally a stone bridge, but later it had been lost and the river was crossed by the Old Ford. From there, it crossed some miles of open country before plunging into the depths of the forest Mirkwood. The Road then ran directly east from one side of the forest to the other, covering more than two hundred miles beneath the canopy of trees before it emerged by the banks of the River Running. At the eastern end it led to impassable marshes where the paths had long been lost.[5]

Then it traversed Greenwood (the portion that remained known as "Old Forest Road") and then turned to the north-east towards the Iron Hills.[3]:n. 30

Etymology

Sindarin from men "road", i "the" and Naugrim "dwarves".[source?]

External links

References