Barrows: Difference between revisions

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'''Barrows''' were earthworks and burial chambers made by [[Men]] in the [[Elder Days]].  
'''Barrows''' were earthworks and burial chambers made by [[Men]].


In the [[Third Age]], they lay within the bounds of [[Arnor]], and later of [[Cardolan]], and the [[Dúnedain of Arnor]] used them to bury their dead.  
==History==
The mounds of the [[Barrow-downs]] in [[Eriador]] were built in the [[First Age]] by the ancestors of the [[Edain]].
 
In the [[Third Age]], they lay within the bounds of [[Arnor]] and later of [[Cardolan]].  The [[Dúnedain of Arnor]] used them to bury their dead.  
 
The [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]], though, sent evil [[Barrow-wights|spirits]] to inhabit the [[Barrow-downs]], and they became a place of horror.<ref name="Eriador">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
 
On [[28 September]] {{TA|3018}}<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], and finally [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] were captured by a [[Barrow-wights|Barrow-wight]] when they had wandered the downs after visiting [[Tom Bombadil]].  Within the barrow Frodo awoke to see his friends lying on the floor looking deathly pale.  He heard a song or incantation and saw a long arm groping towards Sam.  Seizing a sword, Frodo hewed off the hand of the arm, then began speaking the rhyme that Tom had taught the hobbits.  Tom broke into the chamber and rescued the hobbits, and the sunlight destroyed the wight.<ref>{{FR|I8}}</ref>  Some believed that the barrow that the hobbits had been imprisoned in was that of the last prince of Cardolan, slain in the war of {{TA|1409|n}}.<ref name="Eriador"/>


The [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]], though, sent evil [[Barrow-wights|spirits]] to inhabit the [[Barrow-downs]], and they became a place of horror.
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 766</ref>
A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 766</ref>
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Graves and tombs]]
[[Category:Graves and tombs]]

Revision as of 20:54, 30 June 2012

Barrows
Ted Nasmith - Under the Spell of the Barrow-wight.jpg
LocationMost notably in Barrow-downs
AppearanceElongated mounds

Barrows were earthworks and burial chambers made by Men.

History

The mounds of the Barrow-downs in Eriador were built in the First Age by the ancestors of the Edain.

In the Third Age, they lay within the bounds of Arnor and later of Cardolan. The Dúnedain of Arnor used them to bury their dead.

The Witch-king of Angmar, though, sent evil spirits to inhabit the Barrow-downs, and they became a place of horror.[1]

On 28 September T.A. 3018[2] Merry, Pippin, Sam, and finally Frodo were captured by a Barrow-wight when they had wandered the downs after visiting Tom Bombadil. Within the barrow Frodo awoke to see his friends lying on the floor looking deathly pale. He heard a song or incantation and saw a long arm groping towards Sam. Seizing a sword, Frodo hewed off the hand of the arm, then began speaking the rhyme that Tom had taught the hobbits. Tom broke into the chamber and rescued the hobbits, and the sunlight destroyed the wight.[3] Some believed that the barrow that the hobbits had been imprisoned in was that of the last prince of Cardolan, slain in the war of 1409.[1]

Etymology

A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.[4]

References