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The river '''Poros''' was a river in south of [[Gondor]].
The '''Poros''' was a river in the south of [[Gondor]].  


It formed the northern border of the contested land of [[Harondor]], South Gondor, and the southern border of [[Ithilien]]. During the later [[Third Age]] it was the effective southern border of Gondor.
==Course==
About 400 [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] miles long, the Poros began in the [[Ephel Dúath]] of [[Mordor]] and then flowed south-west for about 300 miles, when it bent to the north-west and met the [[Anduin]] just before the Anduin began its delta. The Poros was crossed by the [[Harad Road]].<ref>{{RK|Map}}</ref>


About 400 [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] miles long, it began in the [[Ephel Dúath]] of [[Mordor]] and then flowed sout-west for about 300 miles, when it bent north and met the [[Anduin]] just before the Anduin began its delta.
==History==
The Poros formed the northern border of the region of Harondor ([[South Gondor]]), and the southern border of [[Ithilien]]. During the later [[Third Age]] it was the effective southern border of Gondor.


The Poros was crossed by the Harad Road at the ''Haudh in-Gwanûr''.
Around {{TA|1944}} some [[Haradrim]] had crossed the Poros to [[South Ithilien]], but they were defeated by the [[Southern Army]].<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref>


In {{TA|2885}}, the [[Haradrim]] crossed the Poros and invaded [[Ithilien]] with great strength. Reinforced by [[Rohan]], Steward [[Túrin II]] won a victory at the [[crossings of Poros]], though the Rohirrim princes [[Fastred (son of Folcwine)|Fastred]] and [[Folcred]] were slain.<ref>{{App|Mark}}</ref> The ''[[Haudh in Gwanûr]]'' was made where the Poros was crossed by the Harad Road.<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref>
==Etymology==
The meaning of the name ''Poros'' is unknown.<ref>[http://lingwe.blogspot.com/2011/10/poros-and-borphorus.html The Poros and the Bosphorus] at [http://lingwe.blogspot.com/ Lingwë.blogspot.com] (accessed 12 October 2011)</ref>
See also: ''[[ros]]''
==Other versions of the legendarium==
A map that was drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien after the [[The First Map of The Lord of the Rings|First Map of The Lord of the Rings]] carries a note where "Boundary" is written after Poros. Other rivers except the Anduin and the Poros on this note are either under a a heading "From East" or under a heading "From West", which probably refers to on which side of the river Anduin in Gondor they are located.<ref>{{TI|First}}, p. 312</ref> This probably means that the river Poros was at the boundary of Gondor.
==Portrayal in adaptations ==
[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] speculated in ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' that the [[Sea of Helcar]] drained into the [[Great Gulf]] and that Poros is what remained of the narrow region called the [[Straits of the World]] that once separated the Sea from the Gulf.<ref>{{HM|AME}}</ref> Fonstand's interpretation was predicated on the idea that [[Mordor]] was created in the Second Age where the Sea of Helcar once lay.<ref>{{HM|AME}}</ref> However, in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'' (which was published after Fontstad's ''Atlas''), [[Melkor]] was said to have created [[Mount Doom]] in Mordor during the "long [[First Age]]".<ref>{{PM|Last}} p. 390 (note 14)</ref> Additionally, it is told in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' that the migration of the [[Drúedain]] from [[Hildórien]] brought them westward through lands south of Mordor, and that they became the first Men to cross the [[Anduin]].<ref>{{UT|Druedain}}, pp. 339-340</ref>
{{References}}
[[Category:Noldorin locations]]
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Poros]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/gondor/poros]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/gondor/poros]]
[[fi:Poros]]

Revision as of 14:19, 3 May 2021

The Poros was a river in the south of Gondor.

Course

About 400 Númenórean miles long, the Poros began in the Ephel Dúath of Mordor and then flowed south-west for about 300 miles, when it bent to the north-west and met the Anduin just before the Anduin began its delta. The Poros was crossed by the Harad Road.[1]

History

The Poros formed the northern border of the region of Harondor (South Gondor), and the southern border of Ithilien. During the later Third Age it was the effective southern border of Gondor.

Around T.A. 1944 some Haradrim had crossed the Poros to South Ithilien, but they were defeated by the Southern Army.[2]

In T.A. 2885, the Haradrim crossed the Poros and invaded Ithilien with great strength. Reinforced by Rohan, Steward Túrin II won a victory at the crossings of Poros, though the Rohirrim princes Fastred and Folcred were slain.[3] The Haudh in Gwanûr was made where the Poros was crossed by the Harad Road.[4]

Etymology

The meaning of the name Poros is unknown.[5]

See also: ros

Other versions of the legendarium

A map that was drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien after the First Map of The Lord of the Rings carries a note where "Boundary" is written after Poros. Other rivers except the Anduin and the Poros on this note are either under a a heading "From East" or under a heading "From West", which probably refers to on which side of the river Anduin in Gondor they are located.[6] This probably means that the river Poros was at the boundary of Gondor.

Portrayal in adaptations

Karen Wynn Fonstad speculated in The Atlas of Middle-earth that the Sea of Helcar drained into the Great Gulf and that Poros is what remained of the narrow region called the Straits of the World that once separated the Sea from the Gulf.[7] Fonstand's interpretation was predicated on the idea that Mordor was created in the Second Age where the Sea of Helcar once lay.[8] However, in The Peoples of Middle-earth (which was published after Fontstad's Atlas), Melkor was said to have created Mount Doom in Mordor during the "long First Age".[9] Additionally, it is told in Unfinished Tales that the migration of the Drúedain from Hildórien brought them westward through lands south of Mordor, and that they became the first Men to cross the Anduin.[10]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  5. The Poros and the Bosphorus at Lingwë.blogspot.com (accessed 12 October 2011)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XV. The First Map of The Lord of the Rings", "The original element in the First Map", p. 312
  7. Karen Wynn Fonstad (1991), The Atlas of Middle-earth
  8. Karen Wynn Fonstad (1991), The Atlas of Middle-earth
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XIII. Last Writings" p. 390 (note 14)
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain", pp. 339-340