Gelion
Little Gelion | |
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River | |
Gelion in its course through the north | |
General Information | |
Other names | K. Gabilān |
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 it was less wide and full, for more rain fell in the west than in the east.
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).
It then flowed south for forty leagues,[1] 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. Gelion then turned southwest, passing by Taur-im-Duinath (the Forest between the Rivers) before emptying into the Great Sea Belegaer.[2]
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.[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.[3] During the Dagor Bragollach the dragon Glaurung came and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion.[4] Eventually the lands between the rivers Aros and Gelion became so dangerous that Dwarves traveling to and from the Ered Luin and Menegroth stopping going in small parties but went in great companies well armed.[5]
Etymology
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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.[6]
Other names
In Khuzdul it was known as Gabilān. The dwarves used the name only of the river south of the Falls of Gelion, after the junction of Gelion and Ascar, where the river became swift and ever broader by the five more tributaries.[7]
The name contains the element gabil "great" that also appears in the Khuzdul name of Belegost, Gabilgathol "Great Fortress".
A later name of Gelion is revealed in The Nature of Middle-earth : Gevolon arose by phonological development from the dwarf-name Gabilān.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
- ↑ 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, 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, 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.
Seven Rivers of Ossiriand | |
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Gelion · Ascar · Thalos · Legolin · Brilthor · Duilwen · Adurant |