Athelas: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
No edit summary
(28 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{disambig-more|Athelas|[[Athelas (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Athelas|[[Athelas (disambiguation)]]}}
{{plants
{{plant infobox
| name=Athelas
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Athelas.jpg]]
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Athelas.jpg]]
| name=Athelas
| caption="[[:Image:John Howe - Athelas.jpg|Athelas]]" by [[John Howe]]
| othernames=Kingsfoil, Asëa Aranion
| pronun={{respell|ath|eh-las}}
| derivation=
| othernames=Kingsfoil (W), ''[[asëa aranion]]'' (Q)
| location=[[Númenor]] and the [[Westlands]], especially where [[Dúnedain]] had passed
| notablefor=Healing properties against the [[Black Breath]]
| family=
| family=
| location=[[Middle-earth]]
| appearance=
| appearance=
| references=
}}
|}}'''Athelas''' is also known as '''Kingsfoil''' or '''[[Asëa Aranion]]''' ('Leaf of Kings': [[asëa]] = "foil (plant)", [[lassë]] = "leaf", [[aran]] = "king").  
'''Athelas''', also known as '''Kingsfoil''' or '''''asëa aranion''''', was a sweet-smelling herb with healing powers, such as curing wounds, poison and counteracting evil influence such as the [[Black Breath]].  


==History==
==History==
Athelas was first brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Númenóreans]], but by the end of the [[Third Age]] the knowledge of its healing properties was lost among all but the [[Rangers of the North]]. It was a sweet-smelling herb which grew sparsely in the North and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived.  
During the [[First Age]] athelas was perhaps growing in [[Beleriand]]. [[Huan]] had found athelas to heal [[Beren]] of his wounds.<ref name="Canto10">{{LB|C10}}</ref>


In Gondor (where the name “kingsfoil” was used) its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent but it was especially powerful in the hands of the king, perhaps because of the [[Elvish]] heritage of the royal house.  
Athelas most notably grew on the island of [[Númenor]] and was brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Númenóreans]].<ref name="Flight">{{FR|I12}}</ref> It grew sparsely in [[Eriador|the North]] and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived, but by the end of the [[Third Age]] only the [[Rangers of the North]] retained the knowledge of its healing properties.  


It was used by [[Aragorn]], secretly entering [[Minas Tirith|Minas Tirith]] upon his return to [[Gondor]] to heal those touched by the [[Black Breath]], an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthed his claim to the crown.  
In Gondor (where it was known as '''Kingsfoil''') its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent, but it was especially powerful in the hands of the [[Kings of Gondor]], perhaps because of the [[Elves|Elvish]] heritage of the [[House of Anarion|royal house]].<ref name="Healing">{{RK|V8}}</ref>
 
It was used by [[Aragorn]] on several occasions: healing [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] from the Morgul wound,<ref name="Flight"/> tending the wounds of Frodo and Sam after the exit from [[Moria]],<ref name="Lorien">{{FR|II6}}</ref> and, secretly entering [[Minas Tirith]] upon his return to [[Gondor]], to heal those touched by the [[Black Breath]], an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthened his claim to the crown.<ref name="Healing"/>
 
==Properties and Effects==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Athelas.jpg|thumb|Athelas from ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'']]
Athelas, when dried and crushed in hot water, is refreshing. It clears and calms<ref name="Flight"/> the minds of those who smell it. Athelas also strengthens<ref name="Lorien"/> those smelling the scent. It has a particular scent that is either unique to the individual who smells the herb or influenced by the recipient of the herb's effects:
 
* [[Faramir]]'s scent is of "dewy mornings of unshadowed sun... [in which] Spring is itself but a fleeting memory"<ref name="Healing"/>
* [[Ioreth]] smells the "roses of Imloth Melui" from her childhood<ref name="Healing"/>
* [[Éowyn]] smells no scent as if the air was clean, fresh and had never "been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam."<ref name="Healing"/>
* [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]]'s smell is that of "orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees"<ref name="Healing"/>
 
==Etymology==
''Athelas'' is a [[Sindarin]] word, consisting of ''[[athae]]'' + ''[[lass]]''.<ref name=Eldarin>{{PE|Eldarin}}, pp. 49-100</ref>
 
The [[Quenya]] cognate is '''''asëa aranion''''' ("asëa of the Kings").<ref name=Eldarin></ref> It has been suggested that the whole name could mean "Beneficial (leaf) of Kings".<ref>[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/quen-eng.htm Quettaparma Quenyallo] at [http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/ Ardalambion] (accessed 14 May 2011)</ref><ref>[http://www.tuckborough.net/plants.html Plants & Trees] (cf. Athelas) at [http://www.tuckborough.net/index.htm The Thain's Book] (accessed 14 May 2011)</ref> The rejected form ''asea aranaite'' was used in a manuscript version of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.<ref>{{WR|3|XI}}, p. 394</ref>
 
''Kingsfoil'' has the Old French element ''foil'', "leaf" as seen in [[Wikipedia:cinquefoil|cinquefoil]].<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 781</ref>


[[Image:Athelas from Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.jpg|200px|left]]
==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
Athelas was also used by [[Huan]] and [[Lúthien Tinúviel|Lúthien]] to heal wounded [[Beren]] in the early ''[[Lay of Leithian]]''. It contradicts the information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' of it being brought to Middle-earth by [[Númenóreans]], so it was either changed by [[Tolkien]] in later versions of his legendarium, or athelas grew in [[Beleriand]] before it was destroyed, and then brought ''back'' to Middle-earth by Númenóreans in the [[Second Age]].
Athelas doesn't appear in the published ''[[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]'' or in the tales of the [[First Age]] in general; however in the early ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'' it was used by [[Huan]] and [[Lúthien]] to heal the wounded [[Beren]].<ref name="Canto10"/> It contradicts the information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' of it being brought to Middle-earth by [[Númenóreans]],<ref name="Flight"/> so its history was either revised by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], or athelas grew in [[Beleriand]] before it was destroyed, and then brought ''back'' to Middle-earth by Númenóreans in the [[Second Age]].


==Appearances outside the legendarium==
==Appearances outside the legendarium==
Kingsfoil is also mentioned in [[wikipedia:Ursula K. Le Guin|Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''[[wikipedia:A Wizard of Earthsea|A Wizard of Earthsea]]'', as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.
Kingsfoil is also mentioned in [[wikipedia:Ursula K. Le Guin|Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''[[wikipedia:A Wizard of Earthsea|A Wizard of Earthsea]]'', as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.<ref>"[http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5895 Athelas]", dated 21 January 2001, at [http://forum.barrowdowns.com/index.php? Forum.BarrowDowns.com] (accessed 13 November 2011)</ref>


Athelas is also mentioned in the game [[wikipedia:Quest for Glory I|Quest for Glory]].
Athelas is also mentioned in the game [[wikipedia:Quest for Glory I|Quest for Glory]].
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Athelas|Images of Athelas]]


{{references}}
{{references}}

Revision as of 13:34, 17 May 2021

The name Athelas refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Athelas (disambiguation).
Athelas
[[File:John Howe - Athelas.jpg|250px|"Athelas" by John Howe]]
"Athelas" by John Howe
Pronunciationath-eh-las
Other namesKingsfoil (W), asëa aranion (Q)
LocationNúmenor and the Westlands, especially where Dúnedain had passed
Notable forHealing properties against the Black Breath
GalleryImages of Athelas

Athelas, also known as Kingsfoil or asëa aranion, was a sweet-smelling herb with healing powers, such as curing wounds, poison and counteracting evil influence such as the Black Breath.

History

During the First Age athelas was perhaps growing in Beleriand. Huan had found athelas to heal Beren of his wounds.[1]

Athelas most notably grew on the island of Númenor and was brought to Middle-earth by Númenóreans.[2] It grew sparsely in the North and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived, but by the end of the Third Age only the Rangers of the North retained the knowledge of its healing properties.

In Gondor (where it was known as Kingsfoil) its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent, but it was especially powerful in the hands of the Kings of Gondor, perhaps because of the Elvish heritage of the royal house.[3]

It was used by Aragorn on several occasions: healing Frodo from the Morgul wound,[2] tending the wounds of Frodo and Sam after the exit from Moria,[4] and, secretly entering Minas Tirith upon his return to Gondor, to heal those touched by the Black Breath, an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthened his claim to the crown.[3]

Properties and Effects

Athelas, when dried and crushed in hot water, is refreshing. It clears and calms[2] the minds of those who smell it. Athelas also strengthens[4] those smelling the scent. It has a particular scent that is either unique to the individual who smells the herb or influenced by the recipient of the herb's effects:

  • Faramir's scent is of "dewy mornings of unshadowed sun... [in which] Spring is itself but a fleeting memory"[3]
  • Ioreth smells the "roses of Imloth Melui" from her childhood[3]
  • Éowyn smells no scent as if the air was clean, fresh and had never "been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam."[3]
  • Merry's smell is that of "orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees"[3]

Etymology

Athelas is a Sindarin word, consisting of athae + lass.[5]

The Quenya cognate is asëa aranion ("asëa of the Kings").[5] It has been suggested that the whole name could mean "Beneficial (leaf) of Kings".[6][7] The rejected form asea aranaite was used in a manuscript version of The Lord of the Rings.[8]

Kingsfoil has the Old French element foil, "leaf" as seen in cinquefoil.[9]

Other versions of the legendarium

Athelas doesn't appear in the published Silmarillion or in the tales of the First Age in general; however in the early Lay of Leithian it was used by Huan and Lúthien to heal the wounded Beren.[1] It contradicts the information from The Lord of the Rings of it being brought to Middle-earth by Númenóreans,[2] so its history was either revised by Tolkien, or athelas grew in Beleriand before it was destroyed, and then brought back to Middle-earth by Númenóreans in the Second Age.

Appearances outside the legendarium

Kingsfoil is also mentioned in Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.[10]

Athelas is also mentioned in the game Quest for Glory.

References