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'''Narchost''' was one of the two towers known as the [[Teeth of Mordor]],<ref>{{TT|IV3}}</ref> that stood on two hills either side of the [[Black Gate]] of the [[Morannon]], guarding the northwestern entrance into [[Mordor]].  Narchost and its companion [[Carchost]] were originally built by the [[Gondorians]], as a guard upon Mordor after [[Sauron]]'s first defeat.  As Gondor's strength waned, Narchost was abandoned and left to decay, until Sauron returned to his ancient land.  His forces took over both the old guard-towers and repaired them, so that at the time of the [[War of the Ring]], they formed part of Sauron's own defences.<ref name="Towers">{{RK|VI1}}</ref>
'''Narchost''' was the western<ref name=UI/> of the two [[Towers of the Teeth]],<ref>{{TT|IV3}}</ref> that stood on two hills on either side of the [[Black Gate]], guarding the northwestern entrance into [[Mordor]].  Narchost and its companion [[Carchost]] were originally built by the [[Gondorians]], as a guard upon Mordor after [[Sauron]]'s first defeat.  As Gondor's strength waned, Narchost was abandoned and left to decay, until Sauron returned to his ancient land.  His forces took over both the old guard-towers and repaired them, so that at the time of the [[War of the Ring]], they formed part of Sauron's own defences.<ref name="Towers">{{RK|VI1}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
   
   
In his unfinished index for the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien translated ''Narchost'' as "Bitter-biting Fort".<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 601</ref>
In his [[Unfinished index]] for ''The Lord of the Rings'', Tolkien translated the [[Sindarin]] name ''Narchost'' as "bitter-biting fort".<ref name=UI>{{HM|UI}}, p. 601</ref> Its initial element ''narch'' "bitter-biting" is not otherwise attested, but a similar ([[Noldorin]]) verb ''[[narcha-]]'' "to rend" appears in the ''Etymologies'' as a derivative of the root [[NÁRAK]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, NÁRAK</ref> The second element is ''[[ost]]'' "fortress".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, ''os(t)''</ref>


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Towers]]
[[Category:Towers]]



Revision as of 08:28, 26 November 2020

Narchost was the western[1] of the two Towers of the Teeth,[2] that stood on two hills on either side of the Black Gate, guarding the northwestern entrance into Mordor. Narchost and its companion Carchost were originally built by the Gondorians, as a guard upon Mordor after Sauron's first defeat. As Gondor's strength waned, Narchost was abandoned and left to decay, until Sauron returned to his ancient land. His forces took over both the old guard-towers and repaired them, so that at the time of the War of the Ring, they formed part of Sauron's own defences.[3]

Etymology

In his Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien translated the Sindarin name Narchost as "bitter-biting fort".[1] Its initial element narch "bitter-biting" is not otherwise attested, but a similar (Noldorin) verb narcha- "to rend" appears in the Etymologies as a derivative of the root NÁRAK.[4] The second element is ost "fortress".[5]

References