Lhûn: Difference between revisions

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The river Lhûn found its origin in the [[First Age]] or before. The river had its origin in the north of the Blue Mountains, and had two tributaries: the [[Little Lune]] and an unnamed river that had its origin in the [[Hills of Evendim|Emyn Uial]].
The river Lhûn found its origin in the [[First Age]] or before. The river had its origin in the north of the Blue Mountains, and had two tributaries: the [[Little Lune]] and an unnamed river that had its origin in the [[Hills of Evendim|Emyn Uial]].


Its original course is no longer recorded in history, but following the [[War of Wrath]], its course was severely altered; after the breaking of the Blue Mountains, it flowed in the newly-formed [[Gulf of Lune]].<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>  
Its original course is no longer recorded in history, but following the [[War of Wrath]], its course was severely altered; after the breaking of the Blue Mountains, it flowed in the newly-formed [[Gulf of Lune]].<ref name=rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref>  
==History==
==History==
Of old, the Lhûn had been a line of defence: first against Sauron, and later against the [[Witch-king]].
Of old, the Lhûn had been a line of defence: first against Sauron, and later against the [[Witch-king]].


Following the forging of [[the One Ring]] and the [[Sack of Eregion]], [[Sauron]] ruled most of Eriador. [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] were desperately protecting the [[Grey Havens]], and managed to hold the Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|UT}}, "[[The History of Galadriel and Celeborn]]", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"</ref>
In the later Ages, the Lhûn formed the border between [[Grey Havens|Mithlond]] and [[Arnor]].<ref>{{AA|Eriador}}</ref> [[Elendil]]'s [[Arnorians|people]] dwelt about the courses of the Lhûn.<ref name=rings/> During [[Sauron]]'s advent, [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] were desperately protecting the [[Grey Havens]], and managed to hold the Lhûn.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>


In the [[Third Age]], the Lhûn formed the border between [[Grey Havens|Mithlond]] and [[Arnor]].<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Eriador, Arnor and the Heirs of Isildur"</ref> During the [[Angmar War|War with Angmar]], it formed the end of the [[Witch-king]]'s influence: many of the Dúnedain fled across it. When [[Eärnil II]] came, passage was won back over it. With their defeat imminent, many of the Witch-king's minions drowned in the river Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion"</ref>
During the [[Angmar War|War with Angmar]], it formed the end of the [[Witch-king]]'s influence: many of the Dúnedain fled across it. When [[Eärnil II]] came, passage was won back over it. With their defeat imminent, many of the Witch-king's minions drowned in the river Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion"</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==

Revision as of 10:49, 27 March 2018

Lhûn
River
General Information
Other namesLune
LocationWestern Eriador, east of the Ered Luin
TypeRiver
GalleryImages of Lhûn

The river Lhûn (S, pron. [ˈɬuːːn]) or Westronized Lune was a river of north-western Eriador. It gave its name to the Gulf of Lune and the Mountains of Lune.

Course

The river Lhûn found its origin in the First Age or before. The river had its origin in the north of the Blue Mountains, and had two tributaries: the Little Lune and an unnamed river that had its origin in the Emyn Uial.

Its original course is no longer recorded in history, but following the War of Wrath, its course was severely altered; after the breaking of the Blue Mountains, it flowed in the newly-formed Gulf of Lune.[1]

History

Of old, the Lhûn had been a line of defence: first against Sauron, and later against the Witch-king.

In the later Ages, the Lhûn formed the border between Mithlond and Arnor.[2] Elendil's people dwelt about the courses of the Lhûn.[1] During Sauron's advent, Gil-galad and Elendil were desperately protecting the Grey Havens, and managed to hold the Lhûn.[3]

During the War with Angmar, it formed the end of the Witch-king's influence: many of the Dúnedain fled across it. When Eärnil II came, passage was won back over it. With their defeat imminent, many of the Witch-king's minions drowned in the river Lhûn.[4]

Etymology

The meaning of Lhûn is not known. In connection with its first appearance, in a manuscript dating from ca. 1940, the translation "Blue River" is given.[5][6] Apparently, Tolkien originally envisioned it as Noldorin for "blue" (cf. Sindarin luin).[7] Lhûn, and especially the initial /lh/, may have been valid in Noldorin, it was not so in Sindarin, so Tolkien had to rewrite the etymology. He considered the following:[6][8]

  • CE Slōna, "floody"
  • CE Slōnā, "in flood, full of water" (during melting season)
  • CE Slounā, "flow freely"
  • CE Slōno, "deep of water, applied originally to the Gulf!"
  • A renaming to Sîr Luin, "Blue River"
  • CE Slōn, "sound"
  • A Khuzdul origin, salôn or sulûn, "fall, descend swiftly"

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "The Annals of Aman": §Eriador
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "VI. The Council of Elrond (1): The Third Version, (iii)", p. 124
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Two: The Problem of Lhûn" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 48, December 2005
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies" (entry for LUG2-)
  8. 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), pp. 136-7