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Also known as the '''Mithlond''' was a haven (seaport) on the [[Gulf of Lune]] in the northwest of [[Middle-earth]]
{{location infobox
| name=Grey Havens
| image=[[File:Jef Murray - At the Grey Havens.jpg|250px]]
| caption="At the Grey Havens" by [[Jef Murray]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Mithlond
| location=Western [[Eriador]] on the [[Gulf of Lune]]
| type=Port
| description=An important coastal port, at the mouth of the Lhûn river
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Elves of Lindon]]
| created={{SA|1}}<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref>
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
{{pronounce|Sindarin - Mithlond.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
The '''Grey Havens''', also known as '''Mithlond''', was a seaport on the [[Gulf of Lune]] at the mouth of the River [[Lhûn]] in western [[Eriador]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref>


Built by the [[Elves]] of [[Lindon]] at the beginning of the [[Second Age]], it was afterwards used by the Elves to leave Middle-earth for [[Valinor]]. [[Círdan]] the Shipwright and [[Galdor of the Havens]] lived there.
== History ==
Founded by the [[Elves of Lindon]] in {{SA|1}},<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> the Grey Havens were afterwards used by any of the Elves (whether [[Noldor]], [[Sindar]], or [[Silvan Elves|Silvan Elf]]) to leave Middle-earth for [[Valinor]]. [[Círdan]] was Lord of the Havens throughout the [[Second Age|Second]], [[Third Age|Third]], and early [[Fourth Age]].<ref name="SA"/>


[[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Frodo Baggins]] also went to Valinor from the Grey Havens, and a family tradition held that [[Sam Gamgee]] (having been himself a [[Ring-bearer]], albeit briefly) did likewise, in the year 1484 of the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]] Reckoning. (Fourth Age 61) It is unclear just what the [[Fate of the Elves of Middle-Earth]] was in the early Fourth Age and how long Círdan or his remaining folk dwelled at the Havens and continued to build the great ships that carried the Elves to the Blessed Realm.  
In {{SA|600}}, ''[[Entulessë]]'', a [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] ship headed by [[Captain of the King's Ships|Captain]] [[Vëantur]], arrived in Mithlond. It was the first time the Númenóreans landed in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="B1">{{App|B1}}, entry "600"</ref><ref name="Island">{{UT|Island}}</ref>


==External links==
About {{TA|1000}} the [[Istari]] or Wizards arrived in [[Middle-earth]] at the Grey Havens. Círdan, upon meeting [[Gandalf]], gave him [[Narya]], the Elven Ring of Fire.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>
* [http://www.lotrlibrary.com/agesofarda/beyondgreyhavens.asp Beyond the Grey Havens: Lord of the Rings Fanatics Library]
 
In {{TA|1975}}, Prince [[Eärnur]] of [[Gondor]] brought a Gondorian fleet to the Grey Havens to aid [[Arthedain]] [[Angmar War|against]] [[Angmar]]. The fleet was so massive that the ships of Gondor filled the Grey Havens, as well as [[Forlond]] and [[Harlond]].<ref name="AppA">{{App|Gondor}}</ref>
 
In {{TA|3018}},<ref name="TA"/> Círdan sent [[Galdor of the Havens]] "on an errand" to [[Rivendell]] and he became Círdan's representative at the [[Council of Elrond]].<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref>
 
Following the defeat of [[Sauron]] and the crowning of King [[Aragorn|Aragorn Elessar]] in the [[War of the Ring]], [[Gandalf]], [[Elrond]], and [[Galadriel]] left [[Middle-earth]] for [[Valinor]] from the Grey Havens. The [[Last Riding of the Keepers]] was accompanied by [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Frodo Baggins]], who were given the honor of taking the [[Straight Road]] because they had both been a [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]].<ref>{{RK|VI9}}</ref> Years later [[Fairbairn Family|Fairbairn]] family tradition held that [[Samwise Gamgee]] in {{FoA|61}} also sailed [[Aman|West]] from the Grey Havens because he too had been a Ring-bearer, even if just briefly.<ref>{{App|Later}}</ref>.
 
The [[Last Ship]], carrying [[Cirdan]] and [[Celeborn]],<ref>{{FR|Prologue}}</ref> apparently sailed before {{FoA|120}} based on [[Aragorn]]'s final words to [[Arwen]]. Aragorn suggests Arwen might still sail into the West, and one of the reasons she gives that this is impossible is that "There is now no ship that would bear me hence...".<ref name=AppTale>{{App|Tale}}</ref> This implies that the Last Ship had already sailed by {{FoA|120}}, the year in which this conversation took place.<ref name=AppTale/>
 
== Etymology ==
''Mithlond'' translates as "Grey Havens" in [[Sindarin]] (from ''[[mith]]'' "grey" and ''[[lond]]'' "harbour").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 28</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Grey Havens|Images of Grey Havens]]
 
== External Links ==
* [http://www.lotrlibrary.com/agesofarda/beyondgreyhavens.asp Beyond the Grey Havens], an essay on the end of ''[[The Return of the King]]''
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Harbours]]
[[Category:Lindon]]
[[de:Graue Anfurten]]
[[fi:Harmaat Satamat]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/lindon/havres_gris]]

Revision as of 22:09, 2 July 2019

Grey Havens
Port
Jef Murray - At the Grey Havens.jpg
"At the Grey Havens" by Jef Murray
General Information
Other namesMithlond
LocationWestern Eriador on the Gulf of Lune
TypePort
DescriptionAn important coastal port, at the mouth of the Lhûn river
People and History
InhabitantsElves of Lindon
CreatedS.A. 1[1]
GalleryImages of Grey Havens

The Grey Havens, also known as Mithlond, was a seaport on the Gulf of Lune at the mouth of the River Lhûn in western Eriador.[2]

History

Founded by the Elves of Lindon in S.A. 1,[1] the Grey Havens were afterwards used by any of the Elves (whether Noldor, Sindar, or Silvan Elf) to leave Middle-earth for Valinor. Círdan was Lord of the Havens throughout the Second, Third, and early Fourth Age.[1]

In S.A. 600, Entulessë, a Númenórean ship headed by Captain Vëantur, arrived in Mithlond. It was the first time the Númenóreans landed in Middle-earth.[3][4]

About T.A. 1000 the Istari or Wizards arrived in Middle-earth at the Grey Havens. Círdan, upon meeting Gandalf, gave him Narya, the Elven Ring of Fire.[5]

In T.A. 1975, Prince Eärnur of Gondor brought a Gondorian fleet to the Grey Havens to aid Arthedain against Angmar. The fleet was so massive that the ships of Gondor filled the Grey Havens, as well as Forlond and Harlond.[6]

In T.A. 3018,[5] Círdan sent Galdor of the Havens "on an errand" to Rivendell and he became Círdan's representative at the Council of Elrond.[7]

Following the defeat of Sauron and the crowning of King Aragorn Elessar in the War of the Ring, Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel left Middle-earth for Valinor from the Grey Havens. The Last Riding of the Keepers was accompanied by Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, who were given the honor of taking the Straight Road because they had both been a Ring-bearer.[8] Years later Fairbairn family tradition held that Samwise Gamgee in Fo.A. 61 also sailed West from the Grey Havens because he too had been a Ring-bearer, even if just briefly.[9].

The Last Ship, carrying Cirdan and Celeborn,[10] apparently sailed before Fo.A. 120 based on Aragorn's final words to Arwen. Aragorn suggests Arwen might still sail into the West, and one of the reasons she gives that this is impossible is that "There is now no ship that would bear me hence...".[11] This implies that the Last Ship had already sailed by Fo.A. 120, the year in which this conversation took place.[11]

Etymology

Mithlond translates as "Grey Havens" in Sindarin (from mith "grey" and lond "harbour").[12]

See also

External Links

References