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[[Image:Jef Murray - Mearas.jpg|thumb|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Mearas'']] | |||
The '''Mearas''' was the name given by the [[Rohirrim]] in [[Rohirric|their language]] for a race of exceptional [[horses]].<ref name="Riders">{{TT|III2}}</ref> The Mearas were strong, wild, and intelligent. They would bear no man but the kings or princes of the Mark. Their lifespan was as long as men<ref group="note">The average lifespan of those [[Kings of Rohan]] who did not die young was 82.4 years; thus the Mearas lived for eight decades.</ref> | The '''Mearas''' was the name given by the [[Rohirrim]] in [[Rohirric|their language]] for a race of exceptional [[horses]].<ref name="Riders">{{TT|III2}}</ref> | ||
==Description== | |||
The Mearas were strong, wild, and intelligent. They would bear no man but the kings or princes of the Mark (with [[Gandalf]] as a notable exception). Their lifespan was as long as men.<ref group="note">The average lifespan of those [[Kings of Rohan]] who did not die young was 82.4 years; thus the Mearas lived for eight decades.</ref><ref name="Eorl">{{App|Eorl}}</ref> | |||
[[Felaróf]] and [[Snowmane]] were white, whereas [[Shadowfax]] was grey. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
According to tradition, the ancestors of the Mearas were brought from the [[Uttermost West|West]] by [[Béma]].<ref name="Eorl"/> The horses of the [[Vales of Anduin]] were special. During the [[Angmar War]], the [[Host of the West]] included noble [[Northmen]] riders, and when they landed at [[Lindon]] their horses were especially praised.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> | |||
In {{TA|2501}}<ref group="note">Eorl was 16 when his father died. Since Eorl was born in {{TA|2485|n}} Léod died in 2501.</ref> [[Léod]] of the [[Éothéod]] captured and tried to tame the first of the Mearas, only to be killed when he tried to mount it. His son, [[Eorl]], however managed to ride it and named it [[Felaróf]]. Eorl came with this horse south to [[Rohan]] and the Mearas were his descendants. Felaróf was said to be able to understand men's speech.<ref name="Eorl"/> | In {{TA|2501}}<ref group="note">Eorl was 16 when his father died. Since Eorl was born in {{TA|2485|n}} Léod died in 2501.</ref> [[Léod]] of the [[Éothéod]] captured and tried to tame the first of the Mearas, only to be killed when he tried to mount it. His son, [[Eorl]], however managed to ride it and named it [[Felaróf]]. Eorl came with this horse south to [[Rohan]] and the Mearas were his descendants. Felaróf was said to be able to understand men's speech.<ref name="Eorl"/> | ||
In {{TA|3018|n}}<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> the greatest of the Mearas, [[Shadowfax]], consented to be ridden by [[Gandalf]].<ref name="Riders"/> | In {{TA|3018|n}},<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> the greatest of the Mearas, [[Shadowfax]], consented to be ridden by [[Gandalf]].<ref name="Riders"/> Gandalf rode Shadowfax throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{TT|III5}}</ref> | ||
== Etymology == | == Etymology == | ||
The word Mearas comes from | The word Mearas comes from [[Old English]] ''mēaras'', simply meaning "horses". Its singular form would be ''[[Wiktionary:mearh#Old_English|mearh]]'' or ''marh''. [[Robert Foster]] in his ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' incorrectly displays the singular as ''Meara''. | ||
The root ''marh'' can be seen in the names of the [[Northmen]] ''[[Marhwini]]'' and ''[[Marhari]]'' (which are actually [[Gothic]])<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}, note 6</ref> as well as ''[[Marcho]]''. | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2013/09/20/what-was-tolkiens-inspiration-for-the-mearas/ What Was Tolkien's Inspiration for the Mearas?] by [[Michael Martinez]] | *[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2013/09/20/what-was-tolkiens-inspiration-for-the-mearas/ What Was Tolkien's Inspiration for the Mearas?] by [[Michael Martinez]] | ||
Revision as of 09:39, 19 January 2020
The Mearas was the name given by the Rohirrim in their language for a race of exceptional horses.[1]
Description
The Mearas were strong, wild, and intelligent. They would bear no man but the kings or princes of the Mark (with Gandalf as a notable exception). Their lifespan was as long as men.[note 1][2]
Felaróf and Snowmane were white, whereas Shadowfax was grey.
History
According to tradition, the ancestors of the Mearas were brought from the West by Béma.[2] The horses of the Vales of Anduin were special. During the Angmar War, the Host of the West included noble Northmen riders, and when they landed at Lindon their horses were especially praised.[3]
In T.A. 2501[note 2] Léod of the Éothéod captured and tried to tame the first of the Mearas, only to be killed when he tried to mount it. His son, Eorl, however managed to ride it and named it Felaróf. Eorl came with this horse south to Rohan and the Mearas were his descendants. Felaróf was said to be able to understand men's speech.[2]
In 3018,[4] the greatest of the Mearas, Shadowfax, consented to be ridden by Gandalf.[1] Gandalf rode Shadowfax throughout the War of the Ring.[5]
Etymology
The word Mearas comes from Old English mēaras, simply meaning "horses". Its singular form would be mearh or marh. Robert Foster in his The Complete Guide to Middle-earth incorrectly displays the singular as Meara.
The root marh can be seen in the names of the Northmen Marhwini and Marhari (which are actually Gothic)[6] as well as Marcho.
External links
Notes
- ↑ The average lifespan of those Kings of Rohan who did not die young was 82.4 years; thus the Mearas lived for eight decades.
- ↑ Eorl was 16 when his father died. Since Eorl was born in 2485 Léod died in 2501.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", note 6
