Morthond

From Tolkien Gateway
Morthond
River
General Information
Other namesBlackroot
LocationIn Anfalas in Gondor, south of the White Mountains
TypeRiver
RegionsGondor
People and History
InhabitantsElves, Gondorians
EventsAragorn's ride toErech

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 southwest for half its length and then turned southeast 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 defense.[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 Middle-earth 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 there were four rivers – Calenhir, Morthond, Kiril, and Ringló – that flowed independently until they all combined just before exiting into Cobas Haven.[3]

References