Narchost: Difference between revisions
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'''Narchost''' was the western<ref name=UI/> of the two [[Towers of the Teeth]], | '''Narchost''' was the western<ref name=UI>{{HM|UI}}, p. 601</ref> of the two [[Towers of the Teeth]], that stood on two sheer hills that were thrust forward on either side of the mouth of the pass of [[Cirith Gorgor]] at the northwestern end of [[Mordor]] where the [[Ered Lithui]] met the [[Ephel Duath]]. It was strong, tall, stony-faced and had dark window-holes facing north, east and west.<ref name=Gate>{{TT|Gate}}</ref> | ||
==History== | |||
Narchost was built by the men of [[Gondor]] after the [[War of the Last Alliance]] to prevent [[Sauron]] from returning to Mordor<ref name=Gate/> and to keep watch on Mordor where the creatures of Sauron still lurked.<ref name=Tower>{{RK|Tower}}</ref> At the time of the death of king [[Ondoher]] it was still manned by the men of Gondor.<ref>{{UT|8e}}, note 15</ref> As the strength of Gondor failed, Narchost was abandoned by the the men of Gondor and was empty for long years and fell into decay. After the return of Sauron Narchost was repaired and garrisonned with the forces of Sauron.<ref name=Gate/> | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
In his [[Unfinished index]] for ''The Lord of the Rings'', Tolkien translated the [[Sindarin]] name ''Narchost'' as "bitter-biting fort".<ref name=UI/> Its initial element ''narch'' "bitter-biting" is not otherwise attested, but a similar ([[Noldorin]]) verb ''[[narcha-]]'' "to rend" appears in the ''Etymologies'' as a derivative of the root [[NÁRAK]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, NÁRAK</ref> The second element is ''[[ost]]'' "fortress".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, ''os(t)''</ref> | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
Revision as of 13:59, 21 September 2021
This page should be merged with Towers of the Teeth.Narchost was the western[1] of the two Towers of the Teeth, that stood on two sheer hills that were thrust forward on either side of the mouth of the pass of Cirith Gorgor at the northwestern end of Mordor where the Ered Lithui met the Ephel Duath. It was strong, tall, stony-faced and had dark window-holes facing north, east and west.[2]
History
Narchost was built by the men of Gondor after the War of the Last Alliance to prevent Sauron from returning to Mordor[2] and to keep watch on Mordor where the creatures of Sauron still lurked.[3] At the time of the death of king Ondoher it was still manned by the men of Gondor.[4] As the strength of Gondor failed, Narchost was abandoned by the the men of Gondor and was empty for long years and fell into decay. After the return of Sauron Narchost was repaired and garrisonned with the forces of Sauron.[2]
Etymology
In his Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien translated the Sindarin name Narchost as "bitter-biting fort".[1] Its initial element narch "bitter-biting" is not otherwise attested, but a similar (Noldorin) verb narcha- "to rend" appears in the Etymologies as a derivative of the root NÁRAK.[5] The second element is ost "fortress".[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 601
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Black Gate is Closed"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 15
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", NÁRAK
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", os(t)
