Ossiriand

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Ossiriand
File:Ossiriandmap.jpg
General information
LocationEasternmost Beleriand
Capitalnone
People
LanguageNandorin
GalleryImages of Ossiriand

Ossiriand was a region of eastern Beleriand.

History

In the Elder Days, a green, forested and little peopled region in easternmost Beleriand at the western feet of the Blue Mountains was named Ossiriand ("Land of Seven Rivers") by the Sindar.[1] [2][3]

In the early First Age before the rise of the Moon,[4] a part of the Telerin Elven people called Nandor entered Ossiriand under their leader Denethor, and were given permission by Thingol to settle the lands.[3][5] These Nandor became known as the Green-elves.

After their leader Denethor was killed in an Orc-raid, the Green-elves chose no more leaders, and many of them removed to Doriath.[6][7]

In the following centuries of the First Age, Ossiriand suffered little from the Battles of Beleriand. After the return of Beren and Luthien from the dead, they stayed in Dor Firn-i-Guinar on Tol Galen. After the death of Thingol, Dwarves of Nogrod tried to return home with the treasure of Menegroth; but they were waylaid by Beren, leading an army of Laiquendi and Ents. The Dwarves were all slain, and the treasure was cast into the River Ascar.

Ossiriand was the only part of Beleriand that survived the War of Wrath, although it was split in half by the Gulf of Lune. For its later history see Lindon.

Geography

The Land of Seven Rivers was so named because the River Gelion and its tributaries watered the lands.[8][3] The Seven Rivers were, from north to south:[3]

  1. River Gelion
  2. River Ascar or Rathlóriel
  3. River Thalos
  4. River Legolin
  5. River Brilthor
  6. River Duilwen
  7. River Adurant, with Tol Galen

North of Ossiriand lay the land of Thargelion, and south of the river Adurant later lay Dor Firn-i-Guinar. Along the northern shore of the Ascar ran the Dwarf-Road to Nogrod.

Names and Etymology

Ossiriand is Sindarin, meaning "the Land of Seven Rivers"[9] (alternatively "Land of Seven Streams"[10]).

Early names used by J.R.R. Tolkien for this region were Ossiriande[11], Assariad and Ossiriath[12].

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: C. The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", p. 385
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand its Realms (Chapter 11)", p. 195
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §1350, p. 13
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 3. Of the Coming of the Elves", p. 164 (§29)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Fourth section of the Annals of Aman", p. 93 (§86)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", p. 263 (§114)
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand its Realms (Chapter 11)", p. 195
  9. 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 81
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, p. 116
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto I (Of Thingol)", pp. 158-9
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, pp. 173, 233
Ossiriand
Amon Ereb Thargelion Nogrod
Taur-im-Duinath WindRose3.pngEred Luin