South Gondor: Difference between revisions

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==Geography==
==Geography==
Harondor was a region of Gondor during a part of the time in the history of Gondor. Its borders were probably the river [[Poros]] in the north<ref name=VT>{{VT|42a}}, p. 17</ref>, the [[Ephel Dúath]] in the east, possibly the river [[Harnen]] in the south and the river [[Anduin]] and the [[Bay of Belfalas]] in the west. It was described on maps as a "desert land".<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref> However, it is probable that this meant that it was a land that was deserted by its inhabitants because of the wars between [[Gondor]] and the [[Corsairs of Umbar]] and the [[Haradrim]].<ref group=note>South Gondor is labeled as a "verlassenes Land" (i.e. a deserted land or abandoned land) on the map of western middle-earth in the german translation of The Lord of the Rings. It is known from the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien and the books owned by him that he could read german and that he checked the german translation.</ref> The presence of the rivers Poros and Harnen, the description of the plants growing in Ithilien to the north of Harondor, the proximity of the Bay of Belfalas and the possibility that the Ephel Dúath could make clouds blown by moist winds from the Bay of Belfalas rain as they climb over the Ephel Dúath make it very unlikely that Harondor was a desert.]].<ref group=note>J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in a letter to Charlotte and Denis Plimmer that the city of Pelargir is approximately at the latitude of ancient Troy. In addition, he wrote on a map of Middle-earth for Pauline Baynes that Umbar is approximately at the latitude of Cyprus. He provided those latitudes so that Pauline Baynes could rougly judge the climate and the fauna and flora for her map of Middle-earth. As a consequence, Harondor with an ocean on its western side and mountains on its eastern and northern side could have a climate and fauna and flora similar to those in Portugal south of Figueira da Voz and to the south-west of Andalusia in Spain, which has approximately similar geographical features.</ref> It is possible that Harondor had a climate that was fluctuating between mild winters and very hot and dry summers.<ref>{{HM|AME}}, pp. 183, 185</ref>
Harondor was a region of Gondor during a part of the time in the history of Gondor. Its borders were probably the river [[Poros]] in the north<ref name=VT>{{VT|42a}}, p. 17</ref>, the [[Ephel Dúath]] in the east, possibly the river [[Harnen]] in the south and the river [[Anduin]] and the [[Bay of Belfalas]] in the west. It was described on maps as a "desert land".<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref> However, it is probable that this meant that it was a land that was deserted by its inhabitants because of the wars between [[Gondor]] and the [[Corsairs of Umbar]] and the [[Haradrim]].<ref group=note>South Gondor is labeled as a "verlassenes Land" (i.e. a deserted land or abandoned land) on the map of western middle-earth in the german translation of The Lord of the Rings. It is known from the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien and the books owned by him that he could read german and that he checked the german translation.</ref> The presence of the rivers Poros and Harnen, the description of the plants growing in Ithilien to the north of Harondor, the proximity of the Bay of Belfalas and the possibility that the Ephel Dúath could make clouds blown by moist winds from the Bay of Belfalas rain as they climb over the Ephel Dúath make it very unlikely that Harondor was a desert.]].<ref group=note>J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in a letter to Charlotte and Denis Plimmer that the city of Pelargir is approximately at the latitude of ancient Troy. In addition, he wrote on [[General Map of Middle-earth|his son's map of Middle-earth]] for [[Pauline Baynes]] that Umbar is approximately at the latitude of Cyprus. He provided those latitudes so that Pauline Baynes could rougly judge the climate and the fauna and flora for her [[A Map of Middle-earth|map of Middle-earth]]. As a consequence, Harondor with an ocean on its western side and mountains on its eastern and northern side could have a climate and fauna and flora similar to those in Portugal south of Figueira da Voz and to the south-west of Andalusia in Spain, which has approximately similar geographical features.</ref> It is possible that Harondor had a climate that was fluctuating between mild winters and very hot and dry summers.<ref>{{HM|AME}}, pp. 183, 185</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 14:52, 5 October 2020

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
Map of Harondor and neighbouring regions

South Gondor, known in Sindarin as Harondor, was a region south of Ithilien.[1]

Geography

Harondor was a region of Gondor during a part of the time in the history of Gondor. Its borders were probably the river Poros in the north[2], the Ephel Dúath in the east, possibly the river Harnen in the south and the river Anduin and the Bay of Belfalas in the west. It was described on maps as a "desert land".[3] However, it is probable that this meant that it was a land that was deserted by its inhabitants because of the wars between Gondor and the Corsairs of Umbar and the Haradrim.[note 1] The presence of the rivers Poros and Harnen, the description of the plants growing in Ithilien to the north of Harondor, the proximity of the Bay of Belfalas and the possibility that the Ephel Dúath could make clouds blown by moist winds from the Bay of Belfalas rain as they climb over the Ephel Dúath make it very unlikely that Harondor was a desert.]].[note 2] It is possible that Harondor had a climate that was fluctuating between mild winters and very hot and dry summers.[4]

History

Harondor was absorbed by Gondor during the height of its power, probably the expansions of Tarannon Falastur, who extended the sway of Gondor along the coasts west and south of the Mouths of Anduin.[5][6]

Harondor was part of Gondor until the Kin-strife when it became a debatable land between the Corsairs of Umbar and the Kings of Gondor.[7][8]

During the days of Steward Túrin II, the Haradrim occupied Harondor and there was big fighting along the Poros. When they started invading Ithilien, many Rohirrim came to the support of Gondor and won (T.A. 2885).[9]

Etymology

The Sindarin word Harondor seems to contain har- (as in Harad, meaning "south"[10]) and Gondor, with initial G- lenited to zero in compounds.

Portrayal in adaptations

1996: Middle-earth Role Playing Southern Gondor - The Land:

Several settlements and sites in Harondor are mentioned in the MERP module Southern Gondor - The Land in section 4.0 A Gazetteer to Southern Gondor, including the Aegardh uplands (page 11), the town of Amon Eithel (page 13), the town and ford of Athras Poros (page 19), the town of Barad Harn (page 21), the river Carnen that flows from the Ephel Dúath to the river Harnen (page 26), the East March district (page 32), the Echorbel hills (page 33), the town of Eithel Túrin (page 35), the Emyn Annûn hills on the coast (page 35), the Emyn Gonngaran hillfs (page 36), the Emyn Imladrim hills (page 36), the Emyn Laer hills (page 36), the Ethir Harnen rivermouth (page 40), the town of Gobel Ancalimon on the southern bank of the Harnen (page 44), the town Gobel Mírlond, the capital of Harondor (page 45), the Hyarmentië road (page 60), the Iant Amrûn bridge (page 61), the Iant Carnen bridge (page 61), the Iant Harnen bridge (page 62), the town of Imlad Carnen (page 63), the river Malduin, a tributary of the Carnen (page 75), the Men Falas road (page 75), the Men Harad road (page 76), the Men Harnen road on the north bank of the Harnen (page 76), the Men Harnen road on the south bank of the Harnen (page 76), the Men Harondor road (page 76), the town of Methir, the second largest town in Harondor (page 77), the Nen Falastir bay (page 84), the mountain Pin Hingren (page 88), the town of Ramlond, the largest town on the southern bank of the Ethir Harnen (page 91), the Rath Khand roade (page 92), the town of Tharven (page 98), the fortified town of Tiras Amrûn (page 98) and the town of Tirith Argon (page 99). The map of Ithlien in the MERP module Sea-lords of Gondor shows that Haud-in-Gwanûr is on the northern shore of the river Poros and is thus probably in Ithilien and not in Harondor. The MERP module Southern Gondor - The Land also mentions on page 59 that Haud-in-Gwanûr is on the north bank of Athrad Poros.

Other Minds Issue 20 2019:

Issue 20 of the Other Minds Magazine contains an article about Harondor on pages 49 - 63 and a map of Harondor on page 75.

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

A Card with Haudh-in-Gwanûr on it also has Harondor written on the card. However the Middle-earth Collectible Card Game was made by Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE) who also made Middle-earth Role Playing (MERP), including the MERP Module Southern Gondor - The Land in 1996. Because of that, it is likely that the text Harondor on the card for Haud in Gwanûr was an error. The city of Gobel Mírlond is on another card.

Notes

  1. South Gondor is labeled as a "verlassenes Land" (i.e. a deserted land or abandoned land) on the map of western middle-earth in the german translation of The Lord of the Rings. It is known from the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien and the books owned by him that he could read german and that he checked the german translation.
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in a letter to Charlotte and Denis Plimmer that the city of Pelargir is approximately at the latitude of ancient Troy. In addition, he wrote on his son's map of Middle-earth for Pauline Baynes that Umbar is approximately at the latitude of Cyprus. He provided those latitudes so that Pauline Baynes could rougly judge the climate and the fauna and flora for her map of Middle-earth. As a consequence, Harondor with an ocean on its western side and mountains on its eastern and northern side could have a climate and fauna and flora similar to those in Portugal south of Figueira da Voz and to the south-west of Andalusia in Spain, which has approximately similar geographical features.

References