Sarn Athrad

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about a ford in Beleriand. For the ford near the Shire, see Sarn Ford.

Sarn Athrad was the stony ford of the River Gelion across which the Dwarf-road from the Blue Mountains entered East Beleriand.[1]

It was here that the Battle of Sarn Athrad took place between the Elves and Dwarves of Nogrod.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Sarn Athrad is Sindarin for "Ford of Stones"[3] or "Stony-ford",[4][5] from sarn ("small stone, pebble") + athrad ("ford, crossing").[6]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In The Book of Lost Tales, this ford (Sarnathrod) is crossing the river Aros south of Artanor (Doriath).[7] This is in agreement with The First 'Silmarillion' Map, where it is marked as Athrasarn (Stony Ford), but later crossed out.

On the same map the ford is relocated up-river, east of Doriath.

Finally on The Second 'Silmarillion' Map it is located on the Gelion. But the Dwarf-road is crossing further north.

In a late text dated to 1971, Tolkien wrote that the name Sarn Athrad must be changed to Athrad i-Nogoth [> Negyth] ("Ford of the Dwarves"), or Athrad Dhaer ("Great Ford").[8] In The Nature of Middle-earth, a related text has Harathrad ("Southern Ford") in addition to Athrad Daer.[9]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Sarn Athrad (S. "Stony Ford") is an abandoned ford on what remains of the Gelion in Forlindon. It was replaced by Edenathrad (S. "New ford") a little north, and a small village has been constructed nearby.[10]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry "Sarn Athrad"
  4. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 163
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 775
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entries sarn, athrad
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.) 1984: The History of Middle-earth, vol. 2, The Book of Lost Tales, part two, p. 225 and 236.
  8. 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: III. Maeglin", Note 9
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: IX. Elvish Journeys on Horseback", Footnote 4, p. 311
  10. Jeff J. Erwin, Oliver Schick (1990s), Lindon (unpublished manuscripts), "Lindon Gazetteer: Geleidhien"