South Road

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Map of part of Gondor by J.R.R. Tolkien

The South Road was a major road of Gondor.

The South Road ran from Minas Tirith to the south, through the Rammas Echor, crossed the river Erui at the Crossings of Erui and reached Pelargir.[1][2][note 1] It was the chief highway of Minas Tirith and was well-paved and wide enough for three lines of wagons. A broad green riding-track ran along its eastern edge.[3]

During the War of the Ring, before the Siege of Gondor, the captains of the Outlands were expected to arrive at Minas Tirith on the South Road.[4]

Notes

  1. The name "South Road" is used only by Bergil in the narrative; the road that could be "the South Road" is unnamed on the Map of Rohan, Gondor and Mordor, the General Map of Middle-earth and the map of The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age. However, it is named on a Map of part of Gondor that was drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien during the writing of The Lord of the Rings. In addition, the context of the narrative makes this identification obvious. Cf. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 363

References

  1. Catherine McIlwaine, Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth, "Map of part of Gondor", p. 389
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", view seen by Pippin from the citadel, the seventh and highest circle of Minas Tirith, p. 763
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", conversation between Bergil and Pippin, p. 769