Weathertop: Difference between revisions

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==History==
==History==
Weathertop overlooked the [[Great East Road]] east of [[Bree]], about midway between [[The Shire]] and [[Rivendell]]. The hill rose a thousand feet above the level lands round about, and was the site of a watchtower in the days of [[Arnor]]. The watchtower and fortifications were burned and destroyed in [[Third Age 1409|T.A. 1409]], but the top was still flat and surrounded by a ring of stones. A path led from the top northward, connecting to the other fortresses of the Weather Hills. The tower originally held one of the seven [[Palantíri]].
===Early History===
The Weather Hills were not the only hills in Eriador, and were originally of little importance. The hills lied at the center of [[Arnor]], near the [[Great East Road]] that split [[Eriador]].<ref>{{RK|Maps}}</ref> The southernmost and highest hill was called Amon Sûl by the [[Dúnedain of the North]], and Weathertop in [[Westron]]. It stood a little away from the others, and its conical top was flattened.<ref name="Knife">{{FR|Knife}}</ref>


In early October [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], it was the scene of two fights involving [[Nazgûl]]; one with [[Gandalf]] and one with the Ring-bearer. After fleeing from Bree, [[Aragorn|Strider]] and the [[Travelers|Hobbits]] avoided the main road and approached Weathertop from the north. At the top they discovered a cairn with a message from Gandalf, and spotted the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] approaching in the distance along the road. That night, the Ringwraiths attacked their camp in a dell below the summit, stabbing [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] with a [[Morgul blade]], but were driven off by the others.
A tower had stood on the hill since the days of [[Elendil]], and he had stored on of the [[Palantíri]] in its chambers. After King [[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]] passed and the kingdom was split in three, all of his sons coveted the hill, or rather the [[Amon Sûl-stone|Stone]] inside. It lied on the exact tri-state point, but eventually passed to [[Arthedain]], the realm of [[Amlaith]], the eldest son of Eärendur.<ref name="Eriador">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
 
===Destruction===
In the days of [[Argeleb I|Argeleb]], the royal lines of [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]] had failed. Argeleb therefore claimed both realms as his own, hoping to reunite [[Arnor]], but the claim was resisted by Rhudaur, where the Dúnedain had dwindled and the land was now largely ruled by hillmen. These hillmen were driven by the [[Witch-king]], who had set up his realm [[Angmar]] to Arthedain's north.
 
With tensions rising, Argeleb fortified his border. A great bastion arose on Weathertop, and the Great East Road and lower Hoarwell were fortified also. For nigh half a century, the line held, though Argeleb lost his life in battle with the Hillmen. The Witch-king did not trouble the Men, and had sent his troops further East, to [[Rivendell]]. But in {{TA|1409}}, he came forth with such a force from Angmar that no army could stop him. He razed Amon Sûl and brought its  mighty walls down.<ref name="Eriador"/> [[Arveleg I|Arveleg]], son of Argeleb, was slain,<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> but the Lord of the Nazgûl failed to retrieve the ''palantir''. It was secured and brought back to [[Fornost]].<ref name="Eriador"/>
 
===In ruins===
For many centuries, the once great fortress stood in ruins on the hill. The locals paid little heed to it. It faded back into obscurity, and it was not until {{TA|3019}} the hill reappeared in the chronicles and annals. In early October, it was the scene of two fights involving the [[Nazgûl]]; one with [[Gandalf]] on [[October 3]] and one with [[Frodo Baggins|the Ring-bearer]] [[October 6|three days later]].<ref name="Chief">{{App|Chief}}</ref> After fleeing from Bree, [[Aragorn|Strider]] and the [[Travelers|Hobbits]] avoided the main road and approached Weathertop from the north. At the top they discovered a cairn with a message from Gandalf, and spotted the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] approaching in the distance along the road. That night, the Ringwraiths attacked their camp in a dell below the summit, stabbing [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] with a [[Morgul blade]], but were driven off by the others.<ref name="Knife"/>


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
Line 25: Line 34:
{{quote|The boys [ [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Ronald]] and [[Hilary Tolkien|Hilary]] ] had the freedom of these grounds [Rednal, Worcestershire], and further afield they could roam the steep paths that led through the trees to the high Lickey Hill|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}
{{quote|The boys [ [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Ronald]] and [[Hilary Tolkien|Hilary]] ] had the freedom of these grounds [Rednal, Worcestershire], and further afield they could roam the steep paths that led through the trees to the high Lickey Hill|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}


== References ==
{{references}}
* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', "[[Appendix A]]"
* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Knife in the Dark]]"
* [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]''


[[Category:Hills]]
[[Category:Hills]]

Revision as of 17:40, 23 November 2010

"I oughtn't to interrupt you, I know. [...] You are very busy, I'm sure." — Mr. Parish
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Weathertop
Hill
File:Map of Weathertop.jpg
General Information
Other namesAmon Sûl
LocationEriador
TypeHill
DescriptionHill with tower/ruins of tower
RegionsArnor
Arthedain
Reunited Kingdom
GalleryImages of Weathertop

Weathertop, known in Sindarin as Amon Sûl, was the southernmost top of the Weather Hills. Of old, it formed the boundary between Arthedain and Rhudaur.

History

Early History

The Weather Hills were not the only hills in Eriador, and were originally of little importance. The hills lied at the center of Arnor, near the Great East Road that split Eriador.[1] The southernmost and highest hill was called Amon Sûl by the Dúnedain of the North, and Weathertop in Westron. It stood a little away from the others, and its conical top was flattened.[2]

A tower had stood on the hill since the days of Elendil, and he had stored on of the Palantíri in its chambers. After King Eärendur passed and the kingdom was split in three, all of his sons coveted the hill, or rather the Stone inside. It lied on the exact tri-state point, but eventually passed to Arthedain, the realm of Amlaith, the eldest son of Eärendur.[3]

Destruction

In the days of Argeleb, the royal lines of Cardolan and Rhudaur had failed. Argeleb therefore claimed both realms as his own, hoping to reunite Arnor, but the claim was resisted by Rhudaur, where the Dúnedain had dwindled and the land was now largely ruled by hillmen. These hillmen were driven by the Witch-king, who had set up his realm Angmar to Arthedain's north.

With tensions rising, Argeleb fortified his border. A great bastion arose on Weathertop, and the Great East Road and lower Hoarwell were fortified also. For nigh half a century, the line held, though Argeleb lost his life in battle with the Hillmen. The Witch-king did not trouble the Men, and had sent his troops further East, to Rivendell. But in T.A. 1409, he came forth with such a force from Angmar that no army could stop him. He razed Amon Sûl and brought its mighty walls down.[3] Arveleg, son of Argeleb, was slain,[4] but the Lord of the Nazgûl failed to retrieve the palantir. It was secured and brought back to Fornost.[3]

In ruins

For many centuries, the once great fortress stood in ruins on the hill. The locals paid little heed to it. It faded back into obscurity, and it was not until T.A. 3019 the hill reappeared in the chronicles and annals. In early October, it was the scene of two fights involving the Nazgûl; one with Gandalf on October 3 and one with the Ring-bearer three days later.[5] After fleeing from Bree, Strider and the Hobbits avoided the main road and approached Weathertop from the north. At the top they discovered a cairn with a message from Gandalf, and spotted the Ringwraiths approaching in the distance along the road. That night, the Ringwraiths attacked their camp in a dell below the summit, stabbing Frodo with a Morgul blade, but were driven off by the others.[2]

Inspiration

  • Possibly the Rednal Hill of the Lickey Hills, Worcestershire, England.
"The boys [ Ronald and Hilary ] had the freedom of these grounds [Rednal, Worcestershire], and further afield they could roam the steep paths that led through the trees to the high Lickey Hill"
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Note on the Maps"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"