Tumladen: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-two|the valley of [[Gondolin]]|valley in [[Gondor]]|[[Tumladen (Gondor)]]}}
{{disambig-two|the valley of [[Gondolin]]|valley in [[Gondor]]|[[Tumladen (Gondor)]]}}
[[File:Sara M. Morello - Fields of Gondolin.jpg|250px|thumb|''Fields of Gondolin'' by [[:Category:Images by Sara M. Morello|Sara M. Morello]]]]
[[File:Sara M. Morello - Fields of Gondolin.jpg|250px|thumb|''Fields of Gondolin'' by [[:Category:Images by Sara M. Morello|Sara M. Morello]]]]
'''Tumladen''', the "Valley of Smoothness", was the name for the hidden valley within the [[Echoriad|Encircling Mountains]] where the [[Elves|Elven]] city of [[Gondolin]] was built during the [[First Age]].<ref name=Tale>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|163}}
'''Tumladen''' was the hidden valley within the [[Echoriad|Encircling Mountains]] where the [[Elves|Elven]] city of [[Gondolin]] was built during the [[First Age]].


==Description==
==Description==
{{quote|...Then [[Tuor]] and his companion fared over the plain that was of a marvellous level, broken but here and there by boulders round and smooth which lay amid a sward, or by pools in rocky beds. Many fair pathways lay across that plain...|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}
The valley was hidden between the mountain range of the [[Echoriad]], with the [[Crissaegrim]] in the south. The only entry to the valley was [[Orfalch Echor]], the pass formed by the [[Dry River]].<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> In the middle of the green plain there was the rocky height of [[Amon Gwareth]], and upon it the city of Gondolin.<ref name=Fall>{{S|23}}</ref>
The valley was hidden between the mountain range of the [[Echoriad]], with the [[Crissaegrim]] in the south. The only entry to the valley was [[Orfalch Echor]], the pass formed by the [[Dry River]].<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> In the middle of the green plain there was the rocky height of [[Amon Gwareth]], and upon it the city of Gondolin.<ref name=Fall>{{S|23}}</ref>
It is not clear the size of the perimeter formed by the mountains, but in the earliest text it is said that [[Tuor]] and [[Voronwë]] had to walk a day's light march to reach Amon Gwareth.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|158}}


==History==
==History==
In ancient days, the valley was a great lake between the mountains, but was emptied through the [[Dry River]].<ref name=Noldor></ref> In {{FA|53}} [[Turgon]], a lord of the exiled [[Noldor]], discovered Tumladen under the divine guidance of the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Ulmo]], Lord of Waters.<ref>{{S|13}}</ref> There he began to build the city of Gondolin in the top of [[Amon Gwareth]], and after fifty years of work he moved there from [[Nevrast]] with all his people.<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref>  
In ancient days, the valley was a great lake between the mountains, but was emptied through the [[Dry River]].<ref name=Noldor></ref> In {{FA|53}}, [[Turgon]], a lord of the exiled [[Noldor]], discovered Tumladen under the divine guidance of the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Ulmo]], Lord of Waters.<ref>{{S|13}}</ref> There he began to build the city of Gondolin in the top of [[Amon Gwareth]], and after fifty years of work he moved there from [[Nevrast]] with all his people.<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref>  


During the [[Quest of the Silmaril]], [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] could see the valley while being carried by [[Eagles]]. Tears fell from Lúthien's eyes into the plain, and from them a fountain sprang to life: the Fountain of Tinúviel, or [[Eithel Nínui]].<ref>{{LR|P2VI}}, p. 301</ref>
During the [[Quest of the Silmaril]], [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] could see the valley while being carried by [[Eagles]]. Tears fell from Lúthien's eyes into the plain, and from them a fountain sprang to life: the Fountain of Tinúviel, or [[Eithel Nínui]].<ref>{{LR|P2VI}}, p. 301</ref>


During the [[Fall of Gondolin]] in {{FA|510}}, the valley was covered with mists due the fume of the burning and the steam of the fountains in the flame of the [[dragons]]. This allowed the [[Exiles of Gondolin|survivors]] to escape from the slaughter through the plain without being noticed and reach the mountains.<ref name=Fall></ref>
During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], the valley was covered with mists due the fume of the burning and the steam of the fountains in the flame of the [[dragons]]. This allowed the [[Exiles of Gondolin|survivors]] to escape from the slaughter through the plain without being noticed and reach the mountains.<ref name=Fall></ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The name comes from the [[Sindarin]] elements ''[[tum]]'' ("deep valley")<ref name="S">{{S|Elements}}, entry ''tum''</ref> and ''laden'' ("open, cleared").<ref name="Etym">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 368, entry "LAT-"</ref>
''Tumladen'' is [[Sindarin]] for "Wide Valley"<ref>{{S|Index}}, entry "Tumladen"</ref> or "a flat valley with steep sides",<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 251</ref> from ''[[tum]]'' ("valley, vale")<ref name="S">{{S|Elements}}, entry ''[[tum]]''</ref> + ''laden'' ("flat, wide"). An alternate Sindarin spelling is ''Tumladhen''.<ref name=Galadriel>{{NM|P3xvi}}, p. 351</ref>
 
In the early ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'', ''Tumladen'' was given as [[Noldorin]] for "Level Vale".<ref name=Etymologies>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "LAT-"</ref>


==Other names==
==Other names==
'''''I Tumbo Tarmacorto''''', "the Vale of the High Mountain Circle," or ''i Tumbo'', "the Vale," for short, is the Quenya name for this vale, and ''Tum Orchorod'' another name in Sindarin, having the same meaning as the Quenya name. The Quenya name ''Tarmacorto'' most likely consists of ''tarma'' ("pillar") and ''corto'' ("circle"), and the Sindarin ''Orchorod'' of ''or-'' (from ''orod'', "mountain") and ''corod'' ("circle").<ref>{{NM|P3xvi}}, p. 351</ref>
The [[Quenya]] name for the vale was ''i Tumbo'', short form of '''''i Tumbo Tarmacorto''''' ("the Vale of the High Mountain Circle"). Its Sindarin cognate was '''''Tum Orchorod'''''.<ref name=Galadriel/>
 
An early [[Qenya|Q(u)enya]] name was '''''Tumbolatsin'''''.<ref name=Etymologies/>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the vale was called '''''Tumladin''''' ("Valley of Smoothness") in [[Gnomish]]. The vale had been leveled by the [[Gnomes]] with great toil, so everything there could be watched from Amon Gwareth.<ref name=Tale>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|163}} [[Tuor]] and [[Voronwë]] had to walk a day's light march to reach Amon Gwareth from the entrance of the [[Way of Escape]]. The plain "was of a marvellous level, broken but here and there by boulders round and smooth which lay amid a sward, or by pools in rocky beds. Many fair pathways lay across that plain."<ref name=Tale/>{{rp|158}}
 
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[[Category:Gondolin]]
[[Category:Gondolin]]

Revision as of 14:55, 20 October 2021

This article is about the valley of Gondolin. For the valley in Gondor, see Tumladen (Gondor).
Fields of Gondolin by Sara M. Morello

Tumladen was the hidden valley within the Encircling Mountains where the Elven city of Gondolin was built during the First Age.

Description

The valley was hidden between the mountain range of the Echoriad, with the Crissaegrim in the south. The only entry to the valley was Orfalch Echor, the pass formed by the Dry River.[1] In the middle of the green plain there was the rocky height of Amon Gwareth, and upon it the city of Gondolin.[2]

History

In ancient days, the valley was a great lake between the mountains, but was emptied through the Dry River.[1] In F.A. 53, Turgon, a lord of the exiled Noldor, discovered Tumladen under the divine guidance of the Vala Ulmo, Lord of Waters.[3] There he began to build the city of Gondolin in the top of Amon Gwareth, and after fifty years of work he moved there from Nevrast with all his people.[1]

During the Quest of the Silmaril, Beren and Lúthien could see the valley while being carried by Eagles. Tears fell from Lúthien's eyes into the plain, and from them a fountain sprang to life: the Fountain of Tinúviel, or Eithel Nínui.[4]

During the Fall of Gondolin, the valley was covered with mists due the fume of the burning and the steam of the fountains in the flame of the dragons. This allowed the survivors to escape from the slaughter through the plain without being noticed and reach the mountains.[2]

Etymology

Tumladen is Sindarin for "Wide Valley"[5] or "a flat valley with steep sides",[6] from tum ("valley, vale")[7] + laden ("flat, wide"). An alternate Sindarin spelling is Tumladhen.[8]

In the early Etymologies, Tumladen was given as Noldorin for "Level Vale".[9]

Other names

The Quenya name for the vale was i Tumbo, short form of i Tumbo Tarmacorto ("the Vale of the High Mountain Circle"). Its Sindarin cognate was Tum Orchorod.[8]

An early Q(u)enya name was Tumbolatsin.[9]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the earliest version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales, the vale was called Tumladin ("Valley of Smoothness") in Gnomish. The vale had been leveled by the Gnomes with great toil, so everything there could be watched from Amon Gwareth.[10]:163 Tuor and Voronwë had to walk a day's light march to reach Amon Gwareth from the entrance of the Way of Escape. The plain "was of a marvellous level, broken but here and there by boulders round and smooth which lay amid a sward, or by pools in rocky beds. Many fair pathways lay across that plain."[10]:158

References