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'''Gelion''' was a river of [[Middle-earth]] in the [[First Age]], the principal river of [[East Beleriand]], being the border of [[Beleriand]] and [[Ossiriand]]. | '''Gelion''' was a river of [[Middle-earth]] in the [[First Age]], the principal river of [[East Beleriand]], being the border of [[Beleriand]] and [[Ossiriand]]. | ||
The vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward and thus had neither falls nor rapids, yet was ever swifter than the River [[Sirion]]. | The vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward and thus had neither falls nor rapids, yet was ever swifter than the River [[Sirion]]. Although Gelion was twice the length of Sirion after its junction with [[Ascar]], it was less wide and full, for more rain fell in the west than in the east.<ref name="Beleriand">{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> | ||
==Course== | ==Course== | ||
Its two sources were at the hill of [[Himring]], via the [[Little Gelion]], and [[Mount Rerir]], via the [[Greater Gelion]] (which also had a tributary connected to [[Lake Helevorn]]). | Its two sources were at the hill of [[Himring]], via the [[Little Gelion]], and [[Mount Rerir]], via the [[Greater Gelion]] (which also had a tributary connected to [[Lake Helevorn]]). | ||
It then flowed south for forty leagues, | It then flowed south for forty leagues, dividing [[Estolad]] to the west from [[Thargelion]] to the east. Gelion met [[Sarn Athrad]] ("Ford of Stones") just above the inflow of the River Ascar. Gelion then became the western border of [[Ossiriand]], the Land of Seven Rivers, from which it was fed by the rivers: [[Ascar]], [[Thalos]], [[Legolin]], [[Brilthor]], [[Duilwen]], and [[Adurant]], all rising in the [[Ered Luin]].<ref name=Beleriand/> South of the [[Falls of Gelion]], after Ascar met Gelion, that section of the river became swift and ever broader by the tributaries and thus was called '''Gabilān''' by the [[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains]] in [[Belegost]] and [[Nogrod]].<ref name=maeg/> | ||
After its junction with Adurant, Gelion turned southwest, passing by [[Taur-im-Duinath]] (the Forest between the Rivers) before emptying its waters into the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]].<ref>{{S|Map}}</ref> There were at least 300 leagues of total length between Gelion's source and its outfall into Belegaer.<ref name=Beleriand/> | |||
Gelion | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Between the arms of Gelion lay the ward of [[Maglor]]. [[Caranthir]] made his abode at Lake Helevorn, and the land of Thargelion, which signified the Land beyond Gelion, was also called [[Dor Caranthir]], the Land of Caranthir.<ref name="Beleriand"/> | Between the arms of Gelion lay the ward of [[Maglor]]. [[Caranthir]] made his abode at Lake Helevorn, and the land of Thargelion, which signified the Land beyond Gelion, was also called [[Dor Caranthir]], the Land of Caranthir.<ref name="Beleriand"/> | ||
Due to the open nature of the land about the upper reaches of the River Gelion the region was subjected to many battles. [[Haldad]] of the [[Haladin]] built a stockade in the corner formed by the Gelion and the Ascar when an orc-raid fell upon his people in Thargelion.<ref>{{S|West}}</ref> During the [[Dagor Bragollach]] the dragon [[Glaurung]] came and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion.<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> Eventually the lands between the rivers [[Aros]] and Gelion became so dangerous that [[Dwarves]] traveling to and from the Ered Luin and [[Menegroth]] | Due to the open nature of the land about the upper reaches of the River Gelion the region was subjected to many battles. [[Haldad]] of the [[Haladin]] built a stockade in the corner formed by the Gelion and the Ascar when an orc-raid fell upon his people in Thargelion.<ref>{{S|West}}</ref> During the [[Dagor Bragollach]] the dragon [[Glaurung]] came and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion.<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> Eventually the lands between the rivers [[Aros]] and Gelion became so dangerous that [[Dwarves]] traveling to and from the Ered Luin and [[Menegroth]] stopped going in small parties but went in great companies well armed.<ref>{{S|Doriath}}</ref> | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 36: | ||
==Other names== | ==Other names== | ||
In [[Khuzdul]] it was known as '''''Gabilān'''''. The | In [[Khuzdul]], it was known as '''''Gabilān'''''. The Dwarves used the name only of the river south of the [[Falls of Gelion]] where the river became swift and ever broader.<ref name=maeg>{{WJ|Maeglin}}, p. 336</ref> | ||
The name contains the element ''[[gabil]]'' ("great"), that also appears in the Khuzdul name of [[Belegost]], ''[[Gabilgathol]]'' ("Great Fortress"). | |||
In a later text, [[Tolkien]] used the form '''''Gevolon''''', clearly a phonological development from the Dwarf-name ''Gabilān''.<ref>{{NM|P3ix}}, p. 311</ref> | |||
== Other versions of the legendarium == | |||
In later writings, Tolkien decided that the Gelion and [[Celon]] "''river-names need revision to etymologizable words''". Tolkien proposed many names: '''Gelduin''', '''Gevilon''', '''Gevelon''', '''Duin Daer''', and '''Duin Dhaer'''.<ref>{{WJ|III}}</ref> | |||
The [[Ambarkanta maps|map V of ''Ambarkanta'']]<ref>{{SM|Ambar}} p.250-251</ref>, developed by Tolkien during the 1930s, shows the mouth of the Gelion in the ocean. The river seems to flow (if we do not take into account a pentimento in the sketch) into an unnamed bay comparable in size to the [[Bay of Balar]]. | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
Latest revision as of 17:51, 18 April 2024
| Gelion | |
|---|---|
| River | |
 | |
| Gelion in its course through the north | |
| General Information | |
| Other names | K. Gabilān Gevolon |
| Location | East Beleriand |
| Type | River |
| Description | Mighty river |
| Regions | Thargelion, Ossiriand |
Gelion was a river of Middle-earth in the First Age, the principal river of East Beleriand, being the border of Beleriand and Ossiriand.
The vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward and thus had neither falls nor rapids, yet was ever swifter than the River Sirion. Although Gelion was twice the length of Sirion after its junction with Ascar, it was less wide and full, for more rain fell in the west than in the east.[1]
Course[edit | edit source]
Its two sources were at the hill of Himring, via the Little Gelion, and Mount Rerir, via the Greater Gelion (which also had a tributary connected to Lake Helevorn).
It then flowed south for forty leagues, dividing Estolad to the west from Thargelion to the east. Gelion met Sarn Athrad ("Ford of Stones") just above the inflow of the River Ascar. Gelion then became the western border of Ossiriand, the Land of Seven Rivers, from which it was fed by the rivers: Ascar, Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor, Duilwen, and Adurant, all rising in the Ered Luin.[1] South of the Falls of Gelion, after Ascar met Gelion, that section of the river became swift and ever broader by the tributaries and thus was called Gabilān by the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains in Belegost and Nogrod.[2]
After its junction with Adurant, Gelion turned southwest, passing by Taur-im-Duinath (the Forest between the Rivers) before emptying its waters into the Great Sea.[3] There were at least 300 leagues of total length between Gelion's source and its outfall into Belegaer.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Between the arms of Gelion lay the ward of Maglor. Caranthir made his abode at Lake Helevorn, and the land of Thargelion, which signified the Land beyond Gelion, was also called Dor Caranthir, the Land of Caranthir.[1]
Due to the open nature of the land about the upper reaches of the River Gelion the region was subjected to many battles. Haldad of the Haladin built a stockade in the corner formed by the Gelion and the Ascar when an orc-raid fell upon his people in Thargelion.[4] During the Dagor Bragollach the dragon Glaurung came and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion.[5] Eventually the lands between the rivers Aros and Gelion became so dangerous that Dwarves traveling to and from the Ered Luin and Menegroth stopped going in small parties but went in great companies well armed.[6]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The name Gelion is Sindarin, but it is never glossed. In the Noldorin phase of the language, it is related with the Ilkorin word gelion ("bright"). However, it is noticeable that the same name is glossed as "Merry Singer", but applied to Tinfang.[7]
Other names[edit | edit source]
In Khuzdul, it was known as Gabilān. The Dwarves used the name only of the river south of the Falls of Gelion where the river became swift and ever broader.[2]
The name contains the element gabil ("great"), that also appears in the Khuzdul name of Belegost, Gabilgathol ("Great Fortress").
In a later text, Tolkien used the form Gevolon, clearly a phonological development from the Dwarf-name Gabilān.[8]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
In later writings, Tolkien decided that the Gelion and Celon "river-names need revision to etymologizable words". Tolkien proposed many names: Gelduin, Gevilon, Gevelon, Duin Daer, and Duin Dhaer.[9]
The map V of Ambarkanta[10], developed by Tolkien during the 1930s, shows the mouth of the Gelion in the ocean. The river seems to flow (if we do not take into account a pentimento in the sketch) into an unnamed bay comparable in size to the Bay of Balar.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin", p. 336
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "GYEL"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: IX. Elvish Journeys on Horseback", p. 311
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta" p.250-251
| Seven Rivers of Ossiriand | |
|---|---|
| Gelion · Ascar · Thalos · Legolin · Brilthor · Duilwen · Adurant | |
