Dunharrow: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Dunharrow.jpg|thumb|''Dunharrow'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Dunharrow.jpg|thumb|''Dunharrow'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
'''Dunharrow''' was a refuge of the [[Rohirrim]] hidden in the [[White Mountains]] south of [[Edoras]]<ref>{{RK|Map}}</ref> and fortified against attack. Dunharrow was a clifftop overlooking [[Harrowdale]], the valley of the river [[Snowbourn]].  
'''Dunharrow''' was a refuge of the [[Rohirrim]] hidden in the [[White Mountains]] south of [[Edoras]]<ref>{{RK|Map}}</ref> and fortified against attack. Dunharrow was a clifftop overlooking [[Harrowdale]], the valley of the river [[Snowbourn]].  



Revision as of 12:57, 9 December 2014

Dunharrow by Ted Nasmith

Dunharrow was a refuge of the Rohirrim hidden in the White Mountains south of Edoras[1] and fortified against attack. Dunharrow was a clifftop overlooking Harrowdale, the valley of the river Snowbourn.

In order to reach the refuge, a winding path had to be used, known as the Stair of the Hold leading to the "Firienfeld", a large grassy area for the encampment of soldiers and refuge-seekers.

Large carved stones marked the entrance to the Dimholt, a natural amphitheater, which led into the Paths of the Dead.[2]

History

Dunharrow had been used as a refuge sacred place by the Pre-Númenórean Middle Men of the White Mountains during the Second Age — nearly three millennia before the establishment of the Kingdom of Rohan.

Those Men of the White Mountains had lined the winding path with statues known as the Púkel-men — statues originally carved in the likeness of the Drúedain.[2]

When the Rohirrim came to the region, they recognized the "heathen fane" and they used it as a refuge.

Some Orcs who fled the War of the Dwarves and Orcs tried to traverse Rohan and reach the White Mountains. Those invaders were hunted down by Brytta Léofa. However some were seen still lingering in Dunharrow, where King Walda was killed by an Orc in T.A. 2851.[3]

Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the Grey Company arrived at Dunharrow on 7 March T.A. 3019 and then left at dawn the next day to take the Paths of the Dead. Théoden and his riders (with Merry) came to Dunharrow on 9 March and rode out for Gondor on the 10th.[4]

Etymology

Tolkien made Dunharrow the Modern English form of Rohirric (Old English) Dúnharg (or Dūnhaerg), meaning "the heathen fane on the hillside".[5][6]

Tolkien notes that he modernized the element haerg since harrow exists as an element in English place-names.[6]

References