Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion): Difference between revisions

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| othernames=[[Dorthonion]]*
| othernames=[[Dorthonion]]*
| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[taur]]'' "great forest" + ''[[nu]]'' "under" + ''[[fuin]]'' "night, gloom" (translated "nightshade")
| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[taur]]'' "great forest" + ''[[nu]]'' "under" + ''[[fuin]]'' "night, gloom" (translated "nightshade")
| type=Forest
| type=Pine-forest<ref>History of Middle-earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-earth (Ch. 3)</ref>
| location=Northern [[Dorthonion]]
| location=Northern [[Dorthonion]]
| inhabitants=[[Orcs]]
| inhabitants=[[Orcs]]

Revision as of 10:19, 30 June 2013

This article is about the forest in Dorthonion. For the alternative name for Mirkwood, see Taur-nu-Fuin (Mirkwood).
Taur-nu-Fuin
Pine-forest[1]
General Information
Other namesDorthonion*
LocationNorthern Dorthonion
TypePine-forest[1]
DescriptionEvil, darkened forest
RegionsAngband
People and History
InhabitantsOrcs
EventsDagor Bragollach, Massacre at Tarn Aeluin
"To North there lay the Land of Dread
whence only evil pathways led
o’er hills of shadow bleak and cold
or Taur-na-Fuin’s haunted hold
where Deadly Nightshade lurked and lay
and never came or moon or day.
"
Lay of Leithian, Canto I

Taur-nu-Fuin was a name for the northern parts of Dorthonion, and sometimes for the forest as a whole after it was corrupted by Morgoth after the Dagor Bragollach. The kingdoms of Dorthonion were destroyed at that point, including Ladros and the realm Angrod and Aegnor. Barahir remained as an outlaw in Taur-nu-Fuin, and after his death Beren his son dwelt in this forest for several years, before crossing the Ered Gorgoroth and forsaking Dorthonion to its captors. Then it was truly wholly "under nightshade".[2]

After Sauron was defeated by Huan in their battle upon Tol-in-Gaurhoth he took the form of a vampire and fled to Taur-nu-Fuin, filling the forest with horror.[3]

After Túrin was captured upon Amon Rûdh he was taken by the orcs through Taur-nu-Fuin northwards. In those woods the pursuing Beleg came upon Gwindor, who told him of seeing Túrin being whipped and driven towards Angband. Together the two Elves followed the orcs out onto the baren dunes of Anfauglith.[4]

In early texts it was spelled Taur-na-Fuin, as seen in the excerpt from the Lay above.

References