Red Arrow

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The Red Arrow
Symbolic weapon
Paula DiSante - The Red Arrow.JPG
"The Red Arrow" by Paula DiSante
LocationGondor, Rohan
AppearanceBlack flights, steel barbs; red mark painted on the arrow's tip
GalleryImages of the Red Arrow

The Red Arrow was a way Gondor summoned its allies in time of need.

Description

Its flights were black and its barbs were made of steel, and it took its name from a mark of red painted on the arrow's tip,[1] standing for blood to show the situation was serious. The black flights were like the Orc arrows.

History

First mention of the Red Arrow is when Borondir of Gondor and five other messengers rode north along Anduin to seek out Gondor's old allies, the Éothéod, when Gondor was being overrun by Easterlings, in T.A. 2509. Borondir was the only survivor, and presented the Red Arrow to the Éothéod King Eorl the Young.

It is not certain where the Red Arrow came from: it is possible that the tradition was an old one and that Gondor had always summoned its allies this way, but another possibility is that Borondir actually took an Orc arrow with a bloody tip to present to the Éothéod, to prove that the situation was as bad as his message stated.

On 9 March T.A. 3019[2] it became a summons for the Rohirrim. The Red Arrow was presented to Rohan by Hirgon in the War of the Ring, and Théoden King rode out with the Muster of Rohan to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[1]

Inspiration

It has been noted that J.R.R. Tolkien's concept of the use of a red arrow by Gondor to summon the Rohirrim to war is very reminiscent of a similar use in The House of the Wolfings, a novel by William Morris, which Tolkien owned and from which he took inspiration.[3]

Portrayal in Adaptations

1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):

The Red Arrow makes a brief appearance where it is conveyed to Theoden by a messenger of Gondor.

References

Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë