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'''Ossiriand''' was a region of eastern [[Beleriand]].
{{kingdom
| image = [[Image:Ossiriandmap.jpg|250px]]
| name = Ossiriand
| meaning =
| type =
| headofstate = [[Denethor of the Nandor]]
| executive =
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = none
| language = [[Nandorin]]
| location = Easternmost [[Beleriand]]
| populace= [[Nandor]]([[Laiquendi]])
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = [[Teleri]] who abandoned the [[Great Journey]]
| established = [[First Age]]
| reorganized =
| fragmented =
| dissolved = after the [[War of Wrath]]
| restored =
}}
'''Ossiriand''' was a region of eastern [[Beleriand]] bounded by the River [[Gelion]] on the west, the River [[Ascar]] on the north, the [[Ered Luin]] on the east, and the River [[Adurant]] on the south.<ref>{{S|Map}}</ref>  It was a wooded region with many elm trees.<ref>{{TT|III4}}</ref>


Ossiriand, or ''Land of Seven Rivers'', was the most eastern region of Beleriand during the [[First Age]], lying between the [[Ered Luin]] and the river [[Gelion]].
==History==
In the [[Elder Days]], a green, forested and little peopled region in easternmost [[Beleriand]]<ref group=note>While Tolkien stated that Ossiriand was a part of Beleriand, he wrote in a manuscript that it "''was regarded as a separate country''". ({{PE|18}}, p. 79)</ref> at the western feet of the Blue Mountains was named ''Ossiriand'' ("Land of Seven Rivers") by the [[Sindar]].<ref name=WJC>{{WJ|C}}, p. 385</ref><ref>{{WJ|Beleriand}}, p. 195</ref><ref name=GA1350>{{GA|1350}}, p. 13</ref>


The Seven Rivers were, from north to south:
In the early [[First Age]] before the rise of the [[Moon]],<ref>{{MR|P3I3}}, p. 164 (§29)</ref> a part of the [[Teleri]]n [[Elves|Elven]] people called [[Nandor]] entered Ossiriand under their leader [[Denethor (Nando)|Denethor]], and were given permission by [[Thingol]] to settle the lands.<ref name=GA1350/><ref>{{MR|P2j}}, p. 93 (§86)</ref> These Nandor became known as the [[Green-elves]].
 
After their leader Denethor was killed in an [[Orcs|Orc]]-raid, the Green-elves chose no more leaders, and many of them removed to [[Doriath]].<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, p. 263 (§114)</ref><ref>{{S|10}}</ref>
 
In the following centuries of the [[First Age]], Ossiriand suffered little from the [[Battles of Beleriand]]. After the return of [[Beren]] and [[Luthien]] from the dead, they stayed in [[Dor Firn-i-Guinar]] on [[Tol Galen]]. After the death of [[Thingol]], [[Dwarves of Nogrod]] tried to return home with the treasure of [[Menegroth]]; but they were waylaid by Beren, leading an army of [[Laiquendi]] and [[Ents]]. The Dwarves were all slain, and the treasure was cast into the River [[Ascar]].
 
Ossiriand was the only part of Beleriand that survived the [[War of Wrath]], although it was split in half by the [[Gulf of Lune]]. For its later history see [[Lindon]].
 
==Geography==
The Land of Seven Rivers lay between the River [[Gelion]] and the [[Blue Mountains]]. It was so named because Gelion and its tributaries watered the lands.<ref>{{WJ|Beleriand}}, p. 195</ref><ref name=GA1350>{{GA|1350}}, p. 13</ref> The Seven Rivers were, from north to south:<ref name=GA1350/>
#River ''[[Gelion]]''
#River ''[[Gelion]]''
#River ''Ascar'' or ''Rathlóriel''
#River ''[[Ascar]]'' or ''Rathlóriel''
#River ''[[Thalos]]''
#River ''[[Thalos]]''
#River ''Legolin''
#River ''[[Legolin]]''
#River ''Brilthor''
#River ''[[Brilthor]]''
#River ''Duilwen''
#River ''[[Duilwen]]''
#River ''[[Adurant]]''
#River ''[[Adurant]]'', with [[Tol Galen]]
 
North of Ossiriand lay the land of [[Thargelion]], and south of the river Adurant later lay [[Dor Firn-i-Guinar]]. Along the northern shore of the Ascar ran the Dwarf-Road to [[Nogrod]].
 
==Names and Etymology==
''Ossiriand'' is [[Sindarin]], meaning "the Land of Seven Rivers"<ref name=PE1781>{{PE|17}}, p. 81</ref> (alternatively "Land of Seven Streams"<ref>{{HM|SM}}, p. 116</ref>).
 
*Etymology: ''[[otso]]'' + ''[[sîr]]'' + ''[[-ian(d)]]''<ref name=PE1781/>


Along the northern shore of the Ascar ran the Dwarf-Road to [[Nogrod]].
==Other Versions of the Legendarium==
Early names used by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] for this region were ''Ossiriande''<ref name="Lay">{{LB|C1}}</ref>, ''Assariad''<ref>{{SM|Q14}}</ref> and ''Ossiriath''<ref>{{SM|4f}}</ref>.


Ossiriand was a green and forested land, and it was not populated by the [[Sindar]]. In the early First Age before the rise of the [[Moon]], a part of the [[Teleri]]n [[Elves|Elven]] people called [[Nandor]] entered Ossiriand under their leader [[Denethor (First Age)|Denethor]], and were given permission by Thingol to settle the lands.
'''Ossiriand''' is one of the rejected names for all of [[Beleriand]] which J.R.R. Tolkien jotted down "on a page of rough working for the opening of the [[The Lay of Leithian|Lay]]" (of Leithian) when he was probably searching for a replacement of Broseliand, used so far.  All in all there were eight of these names: [[Golodhinand]], [[Noldórinan]], [[Geleriand]], [[Bladorinand]], [[Belaurien]], [[Arsiriand]], [[Lassiriand]], and '''Ossiriand'''.<ref name="Lay"/>


After them the land was often renamed [[Lindon]], for ''The Singers'', after the old clan-name of the Telerin which the Nandor still used in their tongue. They became known as the [[Laiquendi]], or Green-Elves.
{{references|note}}


After their leader Denethor was killed in an [[Orc]]-raid they chose no more leaders, and many of them removed to [[Doriath]].
{{navigation
| title= Ossiriand
| north-west= [[Amon Ereb]]
| north= [[Thargelion]]
| north-east= [[Nogrod]]
| west= [[Taur-im-Duinath]]
| east= [[Ered Luin]]
| south-west=
| south=
| south-east=
|}}


North of Ossiriand lay the land of [[Thargelion (Middle-earth)|Thargelion]], and south of the river Adurant later lay the ''Land of the Dead that Live'', where [[Lúthien]] and [[Beren]] lived their second lives.
[[Category:Beleriand]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]


Ossiriand was the only part of Beleriand that survived the [[War of Wrath]], but [[Belegaer]] the Great Sea broke through the mountain chain at the former riverbed of Ascar, creating the [[Gulf of Lhûn]]. In the [[Second Age]] and [[Third Age]] the former lands of Ossiriand and Thargelion were known as '''Lindon''', where Rodnor [[Gil-galad]] and [[Círdan]] ruled.
[[de:Ossiriand]]
[[fi:Ossiriand]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/beleriand/ossiriand]]

Revision as of 04:56, 24 April 2013

Ossiriand
File:Ossiriandmap.jpg
General information
LocationEasternmost Beleriand
Capitalnone
People
LanguageNandorin
GalleryImages of Ossiriand

Ossiriand was a region of eastern Beleriand bounded by the River Gelion on the west, the River Ascar on the north, the Ered Luin on the east, and the River Adurant on the south.[1] It was a wooded region with many elm trees.[2]

History

In the Elder Days, a green, forested and little peopled region in easternmost Beleriand[note 1] at the western feet of the Blue Mountains was named Ossiriand ("Land of Seven Rivers") by the Sindar.[3][4][5]

In the early First Age before the rise of the Moon,[6] a part of the Telerin Elven people called Nandor entered Ossiriand under their leader Denethor, and were given permission by Thingol to settle the lands.[5][7] These Nandor became known as the Green-elves.

After their leader Denethor was killed in an Orc-raid, the Green-elves chose no more leaders, and many of them removed to Doriath.[8][9]

In the following centuries of the First Age, Ossiriand suffered little from the Battles of Beleriand. After the return of Beren and Luthien from the dead, they stayed in Dor Firn-i-Guinar on Tol Galen. After the death of Thingol, Dwarves of Nogrod tried to return home with the treasure of Menegroth; but they were waylaid by Beren, leading an army of Laiquendi and Ents. The Dwarves were all slain, and the treasure was cast into the River Ascar.

Ossiriand was the only part of Beleriand that survived the War of Wrath, although it was split in half by the Gulf of Lune. For its later history see Lindon.

Geography

The Land of Seven Rivers lay between the River Gelion and the Blue Mountains. It was so named because Gelion and its tributaries watered the lands.[10][5] The Seven Rivers were, from north to south:[5]

  1. River Gelion
  2. River Ascar or Rathlóriel
  3. River Thalos
  4. River Legolin
  5. River Brilthor
  6. River Duilwen
  7. River Adurant, with Tol Galen

North of Ossiriand lay the land of Thargelion, and south of the river Adurant later lay Dor Firn-i-Guinar. Along the northern shore of the Ascar ran the Dwarf-Road to Nogrod.

Names and Etymology

Ossiriand is Sindarin, meaning "the Land of Seven Rivers"[11] (alternatively "Land of Seven Streams"[12]).

Other Versions of the Legendarium

Early names used by J.R.R. Tolkien for this region were Ossiriande[13], Assariad[14] and Ossiriath[15].

Ossiriand is one of the rejected names for all of Beleriand which J.R.R. Tolkien jotted down "on a page of rough working for the opening of the Lay" (of Leithian) when he was probably searching for a replacement of Broseliand, used so far. All in all there were eight of these names: Golodhinand, Noldórinan, Geleriand, Bladorinand, Belaurien, Arsiriand, Lassiriand, and Ossiriand.[13]

Notes

  1. While Tolkien stated that Ossiriand was a part of Beleriand, he wrote in a manuscript that it "was regarded as a separate country". (J.R.R. Tolkien, "Tengwesta Qenderinwa and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets Part 2", in Parma Eldalamberon XVIII (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 79)

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Treebeard"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: C. The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", p. 385
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand its Realms (Chapter 11)", p. 195
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §1350, p. 13
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 3. Of the Coming of the Elves", p. 164 (§29)
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Fourth section of the Annals of Aman", p. 93 (§86)
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", p. 263 (§114)
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand its Realms (Chapter 11)", p. 195
  11. 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 81
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, p. 116
  13. 13.0 13.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto I (Of Thingol)"
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: [Section] 14"
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "IV. The First 'Silmarillion' Map: The Eastward Extension"
Ossiriand
Amon Ereb Thargelion Nogrod
Taur-im-Duinath WindRose3.pngEred Luin