Pines

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 22:14, 21 May 2014 by Sage (talk | contribs)

Pines were common evergreen trees, found throughout the lands of Middle-earth, but especially in the highlands of Dorthonion, a land which took its name from the pine trees that grew there.[1]

Names

The Sindarin name for a "pine-tree" is thôn.[2][3]

In the Etymologies, Ilkorin thōn and Noldorin thaun (pl. thuin), deriving from root THON, are said to mean "pine-tree".[4][5]

In Tolkien's very early conception of the Elvish languages (dating from ca. 1917), the Gnomish name for a "pinetree" is aigos and the Qenya name is aikasse.[6]

Inspiration

Tolkien next to a Black Pine in 1973

One of Tolkien's favourite trees was a certain pine tree (a Black Pine, lat. Pinus nigra) found in the Botanic Garden, Oxford. On the last known photograph of Tolkien (taken 9 August 1973), he appears standing next to the tree.[7]

External links

References