Talk:Barrow-downs

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Latest comment: 4 August 2011 by Mith in topic Inspiration

From Book I of Lord of the Rings, Fog on the Barrow Downs pp. 185:

"He turned, and there in the cold glow he saw lying beside him Sam, Pippin and Merry. They were on their backs, and their faces looked deathly pale; and they were clad in white. About them lay many treasures, of gold maybe, though in that light they looked cold and unlovely. On their heads were circlets, gold chains were about their wasist, and on their finders were many rings. Swords lay by their sides, and shield were at their feet. but across their three necks lay one long naked sword."

From Book VII of Lord of the Rings, Appendix A pp. 16-17:

"it is said that the mounds of Tyrn Gorthad, as the Barrow-downs were called of old, are very ancient, and that many were built in the days on the old world of the First Age by the forefathers of the Edain, before they crossed the Blue Mountains into Beleriand, of which Lindon is all that now remains. Those hills were therefore revered by the Dunedain after their return; and there many of their lords and kings were buried. [Some say that the mound in which the Ring-bearer was imprisoned had been the grave of the last prince of Cardolan, who fell in the war or 1409.]"

It could be, that Barrow-wights are protectors of the fallen, much like traps in pyramids are to prevent thievery in the treasure-laden chambers of the pharaohs. The manner in which the Hobbits were explained somehow resembled the manner of the funeral of Boromir into Rauros. Either that is a implicit connection between the fallen in Tyrn Gorthad and mens of Gondor (which turned out to be related, since both races are kinsmen to the Dunedain one way or another) or it is just a custom of the races of Men to honour their dead.Unsigned comment by 118.208.126.168 (talk • contribs).

That's an interesting theory, although, I don't personally agree with it because I think the circumstances surrounding the death of Boromir and the deaths of Arnorian kings are incredibly different. Indeed, wasn't Aragorn's motivation for Boromir's funeral in that manner to prevent Boromir's body and personal artefacts being despoiled and befouled by orcs?
On the issue of Barrow-wights I am similarly not in agreement. In "The Hunt for the Ring" it says, "The Witch-king had now a clearer understanding of the matter. He had known something of the country long ago, in his wars with the Dúnedain, and especially of the Tyrn Gorthad of Cardolan, now the Barrow-downs, whose evil wights had been sent there himself." There are many mentions of their "evil" nature and how they cast spells on people.--Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 16:37, 22 November 2010 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Inspiration[edit source]

It's been my impression that we are in the process of removing unreferenced theories from TG (correct me if I'm wrong). Since the current inspiration is without any reference, I challenged it with a Template:Fact. --Morgan 18:41, 4 August 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Sorry, Morgan! I didn't mean to revert, I must have done it by accident!--Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 19:25, 4 August 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]