 | |
| Mountain | |
| Halifirien | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Other names | Eilenaer, Amon Anwar, the Whispering Wood |
| Location | In the central White Mountains overlooking Gondor and Rohan |
| Type | Mountain |
| Description | Seventh Beacon-hill of Gondor |
Halifirien, originally known as Eilenaer and later known as Amon Anwar by the Gondorians, Halifirien by the Rohirrim[1] and the Whispering Wood" in Westron[2], was the seventh and westernmost of the Beacon-hills north of the White Mountains which ran westwards from the city of Minas Tirith to close to the border between Anórien and Rohan (formerly the Gondorian provnice of Calenardhon.[3]
Appearance
Halifirien was the highest of the seven Beacon-hills north of the White Mountains and the highest point of a long northward spur of the White Mountains. Halifirien appeared to stand alone out of the Firien Wood due to a deep cleft, the Firien-dale, that separated it from the northward spur of the White Mountains. On the cleft side it was a sheer wall, but its outer slopes, especially to the north, were long and nowhere steep. Trees grew densely on the base of its outer slopes, becoming thinner almost up to the summit, which was bare. When Isildur visited, the summit was leveled and a memorial mound was raised on the eastward side, with a stairway and then a pathway marked by standing stones descending to the great West Road. After the hallowing by Isildur the hill and the surrounding woods were known for their profound silence.[2]
Besides the trees on the slopes and the green grass at the summit (which was surrounded by a belt of white birches), the memorial mound was covered with white flowers of alfirin.[2]
History
After the end of the War of the Last Alliance (S.A. 3441) and before he departed for Arnor (T.A. 2), Isildur journeyed with his nephew Meneldil and a party of trusted friends about the borders of all the lands claimed by Gondor. Near the center of these lands they came to a hill then called Eilenaer. The party made a path to the treeless summit, created a level space, and raised a mound at its eastern end. Within the mound Isildur laid a casket and hallowed it as the Tomb of Elendil. After that time the hill was renamed Amon Anwar, the “Hill of Awe”.[1]
No beacon was built on Amon Anwar as long as communication was still maintained between Osgiliath, Minas Ithil, Minas Anor and Orthanc with the Palantíri in thre great days of Gondor.[2]
Following the victory at the Field of Celebrant, Cirion the Stewards of Gondor, brought Eorl the Young, the Lord of the Éothéod, to the summit of Amon Anwar in August, T.A. 2510. There they spoke the Oath by which Calenardhon was ceded to the Éothéod. Cirion also declared that Amon Anwar was now a hallowed place of both peoples and that the Eorlings and the Stewards should henceforward share in its guard and maintenance. After Eorl had returned to the North to bring back all his people, Cirion removed the tomb of Elendil and took the casket to Rath Dínen.[2]
After the Éothéod had settled in Calenardhon (later known as Rohan), a warning beacon was built[4] on the crown of the hill[1] at the beacon-site, a wide circle and lodges were constructed for the Beacon-wardens in the trees near the summit[2]. The Beacon-wardens had turns of duty and did not stay long, unless they were forced to stay there by bad weather. Initially Gondor and Rohan shared the guarding and maintenance of Amon Anwar.[2]
In later days as Gondor declined and the Rohirrim grew in power and numbers, the wardens of Anwar were provided entirely by the people of Eastfold from Rohan. The hill was then named the Halifirien by them.[2]
During the ride of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith (on March 7, T.A. 3019) they saw the beacons of Gondor, including the one on the Halifirien, being lit.[5]
After King Elessar returned, the bond of Cirion and Eorl was renewed in the same place with Éomer, king of the Rohirrim.[6]
Etymology
Halifirien means "Holy Mount"[1] or "Holy Mountain" in the language of Rohan[2][7][8]. The name is a modernized spelling of Old English Háligfirgen.[9][7][8] The second element firgen means "mountain" in Old English.[9][10]
Eilenaer is a name of pre-Númenórean origin, which is related to the name Eilenach.[11] It was not a name in Sindarin, Númenórean or Westron.[12][13]
Amon Anwar means "Hill of Awe" in Sindarin[2][14] from amon "hill" and anwar "awe"[15].
Portrayal in adaptations
2012: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- The Beacon-hill of Halifirien is visible from the town of Beaconwatch in Rohan and accessible from the Beacon-hills area in Gondor. The Tomb of Elendil stands untouched, although several Variags have been trying to find their way in.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "(iv) The Tradition of Isildur"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "(iii) Cirion and Eorl"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 35
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 747
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 44
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, entry Halifirien, p. 20
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XXII. The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor", entry Halifirien, p. 394
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 33
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry, Firien, p. 770
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 51
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, entry Eilenach and Eilenaer, p. 20
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XXII. The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor", entry Eilenach and Eilenaer, pp. 390-1
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, entry *Amon Anwar
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Amon Anwar loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 10 May 2026
| Beacons of Gondor | |
| Amon Dîn · Eilenach · Nardol · Erelas · Min-Rimmon · Calenhad · Halifirien | |