Mundburg
Mundburg was the name given to Minas Tirith by the Rohirrim of Rohan in their own tongue.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Etymology
Mundburg means "Guardian-fortress" in the language of Rohan.[1] Like many names in Rohan, it is probably an Old English name. It probably consists of mund ("protection")[7] and burg ("fortress")[8], probably a translation of the Sindarin name of the city. The name of the "Mounds of Mundburg" comes from this name.
Other versions of the legendarium
In manuscripts Tolkien used the Old English names Gemenburg, Heatorras Giemen Minas Tirith and Mundbeorg. gemen means "care", "heed" or "watch". Heatorras means "high towers" and Mundbeorg means "protection-hill".[9] The Old English variants berg and beorg mean "hill" or "mountain".[10]
On an unfinished sketch, Tolkien has written the names Stanburg (Old English) and Steinborg (Old Norse) both meaning "Stone City".[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from the 1966 index, p. 400
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", pp. 508 and 509
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Muster of Rohan", pp. 803 and 804
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Ride of the Rohirrim", pp. 832 and 835
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings", p. 978
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, 2948-3019 17. Théoden, p. 1069
- ↑ "mund", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 31 October 2023)
- ↑ "burg", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 31 October 2023)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XXVI. The King of the Golden Hall", Notes, note 7, p. 449
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Three: Minas Tirith", "VII. The Ride of the Rohirrim", Notes, note 9, p. 356
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien, #27