Morthond: Difference between revisions

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The '''Morthond''', also called '''''Blackroot''''', was counted as second of the [[Rivers of Gondor|Seven Rivers of Gondor]], named so because its source was in the dark caverns of the [[Dead Men]].
{{location infobox
| name=Morthond
| image=
| caption=
| pronun=
| othernames=Blackroot
| location=In [[Anfalas]] in [[Gondor]], south of the [[White Mountains]]
| type=River
| description=
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Elves]], [[Gondorians]]
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=[[Aragorn]]'s ride to [[Erech]]
}}
The '''Morthond''' ([[Sindarin|S.]] "Black root") was one of the seven rivers of [[Gondor]]. It arose in the [[White Mountains]] in a narrow valley that led to the southern entrance of the [[Paths of the Dead]].<ref name="Passing">{{RK|V2}}</ref> The river flowed south-west for half its length and then turned south-east before joining the [[Ringló]]<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref> near [[Cobas Haven]].<ref name="West">{{WR|3|XIV}}, West, p. 434</ref>


It began on the southern edges of the [[Dwimorberg]] at the end of the [[Paths of the Dead]] in the [[White Mountains]], then flowing past the ancient fortress of [[Erech]], it went on its long journey south, avoiding the Green Hills of the [[Pinnath Gelin]] while picking up its tributary [[Calenhir]], and entering the sea at [[Edhellond]].
==History==
Near the confluence of the Morthond and the Ringló was the ancient Elf-haven of [[Edhellond]]. This refuge had been founded at the beginning of the [[Second Age]] by a remnant of [[Elves]] from [[Doriath]].<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}, ''Amroth and Nimrodel''</ref>


[[Aragorn]] and the [[Grey Company]] emerged from the [[Paths of the Dead]] in Morthond's vale and followed the river briefly to Erech on their way to southern [[Gondor]].
At the time of the [[War of the Ring]] the lord of the [[Blackroot Vale]] was [[Duinhir]]. He and his two sons, [[Duilin (son of Duinhir)|Duilin]] and [[Derufin]], marched to [[Minas Tirith]] with five hundred bowmen to aid in the city's defence.<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> On [[8 March]] {{TA|3019}} [[Aragorn]], [[Gimli]], [[Legolas]], the [[Grey Company]], and the [[Oathbreakers|Army of the Dead]] exited from the Paths of the Dead alongside the Morthond.<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> They followed the young river before crossing a bridge on their way to the [[Stone of Erech]].<ref name="Passing"/>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Morthond'' is a [[Sindarin]] name meaning "black-root".<ref>{{UT|Index}}, ''Morthond''</ref> The first element ''mor'' means "dark" or "black".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, ''mor''</ref> The second element ''thond'' means "root".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 96</ref>


''Morthond'' is a [[Sindarin]] name meaning "black-root".<ref>{{VT|42a}}, p. 14</ref> The latter element is ''thond'' ("root"),<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 96</ref> and the first is surely ''[[morn]]'' ("dark").
==Other versions of the legendarium==
 
The course and placement of the Morthond changed greatly during the writing of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. In the [[The First Map of The Lord of the Rings|First Map of The Lord of the Rings]] the Morthond was separate from and far west of the Ringló (with [[Dol Amroth]] far to the west of the Morthond).<ref>{{TI|MIII}}</ref> When [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] developed Outline VI for Book V in ''[[The Return of the King]]'' he drew a map with the Morthond east of the Ringló and the Morthond joined the [[Anduin]] near its mouth.<ref>{{WR|3|II}}</ref> When Tolkien made the detailed [[The Second Map of The Lord of the Rings|Second Map of The Lord of the Rings]] there were four rivers – [[Calenhir]], Morthond, Kiril, and Ringló – that flowed independently until they all combined just before exiting into Cobas Haven.<ref name="West"/>
==See also==
 
*[[Blackroot Vale]]


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[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Sindarin Locations]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Morthond]]
[[de:Morthond]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/gondor/morthond]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/gondor/morthond]]
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[[fi:Morthond]]

Revision as of 14:17, 3 May 2021

Morthond
River
General Information
Other namesBlackroot
LocationIn Anfalas in Gondor, south of the White Mountains
TypeRiver
People and History
InhabitantsElves, Gondorians
EventsAragorn's ride to Erech

The Morthond (S. "Black root") was one of the seven rivers of Gondor. It arose in the White Mountains in a narrow valley that led to the southern entrance of the Paths of the Dead.[1] The river flowed south-west for half its length and then turned south-east before joining the Ringló[2] near Cobas Haven.[3]

History

Near the confluence of the Morthond and the Ringló was the ancient Elf-haven of Edhellond. This refuge had been founded at the beginning of the Second Age by a remnant of Elves from Doriath.[4]

At the time of the War of the Ring the lord of the Blackroot Vale was Duinhir. He and his two sons, Duilin and Derufin, marched to Minas Tirith with five hundred bowmen to aid in the city's defence.[5] On 8 March T.A. 3019 Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, the Grey Company, and the Army of the Dead exited from the Paths of the Dead alongside the Morthond.[6] They followed the young river before crossing a bridge on their way to the Stone of Erech.[1]

Etymology

Morthond is a Sindarin name meaning "black-root".[7] The first element mor means "dark" or "black".[8] The second element thond means "root".[9]

Other versions of the legendarium

The course and placement of the Morthond changed greatly during the writing of The Lord of the Rings. In the First Map of The Lord of the Rings the Morthond was separate from and far west of the Ringló (with Dol Amroth far to the west of the Morthond).[10] When J.R.R. Tolkien developed Outline VI for Book V in The Return of the King he drew a map with the Morthond east of the Ringló and the Morthond joined the Anduin near its mouth.[11] When Tolkien made the detailed Second Map of The Lord of the Rings there were four rivers – Calenhir, Morthond, Kiril, and Ringló – that flowed independently until they all combined just before exiting into Cobas Haven.[3]

References