Nen Hithoel: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
mNo edit summary
(Added category and style)
(17 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Nen Hithoel''' is a large lake upon the Great River [[Anduin]] amid the [[Emyn Muil]] to the east of [[Rohan]]. The lake is approximately 20 miles long from north to south, and 10 miles wide. Upon the lake's northern approach from Anduin the [[Men]] of [[Gondor]] constructed the huge pillars of the [[Argonath]] in the reign of [[Rómendacil II]] to mark the northern boundary of their realm, although by the time of the [[War of the Ring]] that boundary has long since receded. At the southern end of the lake stand three hills. [[Amon Hen]], the "Seat of Seeing", stands upon the western shore and [[Amon Lhaw]], the "Seat of Hearing" upon the east. The third hill forms an island in the lake itself, [[Tol Brandir]]. None has ever set foot upon the island due to the intense currents at the lake's south end, for the lake is drained by the falls of [[Rauros]].
__NOTOC__
{{location infobox
| name=Nen Hithoel
| image=[[File:Francesco Amadio - Rauros.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Rauros" by Francesco Amadio
| pronun={{respell|nen}} {{respell|hith|oil}}
| othernames=
| location=North of [[Rauros]], amid [[Emyn Muil]]
| type=Lake
| description=Long oval lake, pale-coloured
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=[[Breaking of the Fellowship]]
}}
{{quote|The pent waters spread out into a long oval lake, pale Nen Hithoel, fenced by steep grey hills whose sides were clad with trees, but their heads were bare, cold-gleaming in the sunlight.|"[[The Great River]]", ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}


The [[Fellowship of the Ring]] arrived at Nen Hithoel on February 25, 3019 [[Third Age]], and made camp at [[Parth Galen]] close to Amon Hen. The fall of [[Boromir son of Denethor II|Boromir]] and the breaking of the Fellowship occurred soon after. [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] took a boat for the eastern shore, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] were captured by [[Orcs]], and after sending Boromir's body over the falls in another boat [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], [[Legolas of Mirkwood|Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], calling themselves the ''[[Three Hunters]]'', set out to track the orcs and find the captive [[Hobbits]].
'''Nen Hithoel''' was a large lake upon the Great River [[Anduin]] amid the [[Emyn Muil]] to the east of [[Rohan]].  


==Description==
The lake was approximately 20 miles long from north to south, and 10 miles wide. The lake was formed by a narrow southern outlet and the small island of [[Tol Brandir]], which created a natural dam.<ref>{{RK|Map}}</ref> Upon the lake's northern approach from Anduin the [[Men]] of [[Gondor]] carved the huge pillars of the [[Argonath]] in the reign of [[Rómendacil II]] to mark the northern boundary of their realm,<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> although by the time of the [[War of the Ring]] that boundary has long since receded. At the southern end of the lake stood three steep hills. [[Amon Hen]], the "Hill of Seeing", was upon the western shore and [[Amon Lhaw]], the "Hill of Hearing", was upon the east. The third hill formed the island of [[Tol Brandir]]. None ever set foot upon the island due to its sheer cliffs that rose directly from the river.<ref name="Break">{{FR|II10}}</ref>
== History ==
The [[Fellowship of the Ring]] arrived at Nen Hithoel on [[25 February]], {{TA|3019}},<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> and made camp at [[Parth Galen]] close to Amon Hen. The fall of [[Boromir]] and the breaking of the Fellowship occurred soon after. [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] took a boat for the eastern shore skirting the southern edge of Tol Brandir,<ref name="Break"/> [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] were captured by [[Orcs]],<ref>{{TT|III3}}</ref> and after sending Boromir's body over the falls in another boat, [[Aragorn]], [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], calling themselves the ''[[Three Hunters]]'', set out to track the Orcs and find the captive [[Hobbits]].<ref>{{TT|III1}}</ref>
== Etymology ==
''Nen Hithoel'' is [[Sindarin]] for "Mist-cool Water", from ''[[nen]]'' ("water") + ''[[hîth]]'' ("mist") + ''oel'' ("cool").<ref name="Index">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "Unfinished Index", cited in: [[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Christina Scull]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', pp. 327-328</ref> Note that the ([[Noldorin]]) word ''[[oel]]'' appeared in the earlier ''Etymologies'' of the 1930s with the meaning "pool, lake", but this word had changed to (Sindarin) ''[[ael]]'' by the time that ''The Lord of the Rings'' was written, and therefore could not have been an element of the name ''Nen Hithoel''. Compare, for example, ''[[Aelin-uial]]'' with its earlier form ''Oelin-uial''.{{fact}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Lakes]]
[[Category:Lakes]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Nen Hithoel]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/rhovanion/nen_hithoel]]
[[fi:Nen Hithoel]]

Revision as of 18:16, 14 April 2021

Nen Hithoel
Lake
Francesco Amadio - Rauros.jpg
"Rauros" by Francesco Amadio
General Information
Pronunciationnen hith-oil
LocationNorth of Rauros, amid Emyn Muil
TypeLake
DescriptionLong oval lake, pale-coloured
History
EventsBreaking of the Fellowship
GalleryImages of Nen Hithoel
"The pent waters spread out into a long oval lake, pale Nen Hithoel, fenced by steep grey hills whose sides were clad with trees, but their heads were bare, cold-gleaming in the sunlight."
― "The Great River", The Lord of the Rings

Nen Hithoel was a large lake upon the Great River Anduin amid the Emyn Muil to the east of Rohan.

Description

The lake was approximately 20 miles long from north to south, and 10 miles wide. The lake was formed by a narrow southern outlet and the small island of Tol Brandir, which created a natural dam.[1] Upon the lake's northern approach from Anduin the Men of Gondor carved the huge pillars of the Argonath in the reign of Rómendacil II to mark the northern boundary of their realm,[2] although by the time of the War of the Ring that boundary has long since receded. At the southern end of the lake stood three steep hills. Amon Hen, the "Hill of Seeing", was upon the western shore and Amon Lhaw, the "Hill of Hearing", was upon the east. The third hill formed the island of Tol Brandir. None ever set foot upon the island due to its sheer cliffs that rose directly from the river.[3]

History

The Fellowship of the Ring arrived at Nen Hithoel on 25 February, T.A. 3019,[4] and made camp at Parth Galen close to Amon Hen. The fall of Boromir and the breaking of the Fellowship occurred soon after. Frodo and Sam took a boat for the eastern shore skirting the southern edge of Tol Brandir,[3] Merry and Pippin were captured by Orcs,[5] and after sending Boromir's body over the falls in another boat, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, calling themselves the Three Hunters, set out to track the Orcs and find the captive Hobbits.[6]

Etymology

Nen Hithoel is Sindarin for "Mist-cool Water", from nen ("water") + hîth ("mist") + oel ("cool").[7] Note that the (Noldorin) word oel appeared in the earlier Etymologies of the 1930s with the meaning "pool, lake", but this word had changed to (Sindarin) ael by the time that The Lord of the Rings was written, and therefore could not have been an element of the name Nen Hithoel. Compare, for example, Aelin-uial with its earlier form Oelin-uial.[source?]

References