Athelas: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-more|Athelas|[[Athelas (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Athelas|[[Athelas (disambiguation)]]}}
{{plants
{{plant infobox
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Athelas.jpg]]
| name=Athelas
| name=Athelas
| othernames=Kingsfoil, ''[[asëa aranion]]''
| image=John Howe - Athelas.jpg
| derivation=
| caption="[[:Image:John Howe - Athelas.jpg|Athelas]]" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun={{respell|ath|eh-las}}
| othernames=Kingsfoil (W), ''[[asëa aranion]]'' (Q)
| location=[[Númenor]] and the [[Westlands]], especially where [[Dúnedain]] had passed
| notablefor=Healing properties against the [[Black Breath]]
| family=
| family=
| location=[[Middle-earth]]
| appearance=
| appearance=
| references=
}}
}}
'''Athelas''', also known as '''Kingsfoil''' or '''''[[asëa aranion]]''''' ("Leaf of Kings"), was a plant with healing powers.  
'''Athelas''', also known as '''Kingsfoil''' or '''''asëa aranion''''', was a sweet-smelling herb with healing properties, such as curing wounds, poison and counteracting evil influence such as the [[Black Breath]].  


==History==
==History==
During the [[First Age]] athelas was perhaps growing in [[Beleriand]]. [[Huan]] had found athelas to heal [[Beren]] of his wounds.<ref>{{LB|Leithian}}</ref>
During the [[First Age]] athelas was perhaps growing in [[Beleriand]]. [[Huan]] had found athelas to heal [[Beren]] of his wounds.<ref name="Canto10">{{LB|C10}}</ref>


Athelas also grew on the island of [[Númenor]] and was brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Númenóreans]]. It was a sweet-smelling herb which grew sparsely in the North and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived, but by the end of the [[Third Age]] only the [[Rangers of the North]] retained the knowledge of its healing properties.  
Athelas most notably grew on the island of [[Númenor]] and was brought to [[Middle-earth]] by the [[Númenóreans]].<ref name="Flight">{{FR|I12}}</ref> It grew sparsely in [[Eriador|the North]] and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived. By the end of the [[Third Age]] only the [[Rangers of the North]] retained the knowledge of its healing properties.  


In Gondor (where the name “kingsfoil” was used) its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent but it was especially powerful in the hands of the king, perhaps because of the [[Elvish]] heritage of the royal house.  
In Gondor (where it was known as '''Kingsfoil''') its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent, but it was especially powerful in the hands of the [[Kings of Gondor]], perhaps because of the [[Elves|Elvish]] heritage of the [[House of Anarion|royal house]].<ref name="Healing">{{RK|V8}}</ref>


It was used by [[Aragorn]] on several occasions: healing [[Frodo]] from the [[Morgul wound]], tend the wounds of Frodo and Sam after the exit from [[Moria]], and, secretly entering [[Minas Tirith]] upon his return to [[Gondor]], to heal those touched by the [[Black Breath]], an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthed his claim to the crown.  
It was used by [[Aragorn]] on several occasions: healing [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] from the Morgul wound,<ref name="Flight"/> tending the wounds of Frodo and Sam after the exit from [[Moria]],<ref name="Lorien">{{FR|II6}}</ref> and, secretly entering [[Minas Tirith]] upon his return to [[Gondor]], to heal those touched by the [[Black Breath]], an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthened his claim to the crown.<ref name="Healing"/>


==Properties and Effects==
==Properties and Effects==
Athelas, when dried and crushed in hot water, is refreshing. It clears and calms<ref name="Flight"/> the minds of those who smell it. Athelas also strengthens<ref name="Lorien"/> those smelling the scent. It has a particular scent that is either unique to the individual who smells the herb or influenced by the recipient of the herb's effects:


Athelas, when dried and crushed in hot water, is refreshing, clears, calms<ref>{{FR|I12}}</ref> the minds and strengthens<ref>{{FR|II6}}</ref> those smelling the scent. It also has a particular scent that is particular to individual who smells the herb:
* [[Faramir]]'s scent is of "dewy mornings of unshadowed sun... [in which] Spring is itself but a fleeting memory."<ref name="Healing"/>
 
* [[Ioreth]] smells the "roses of Imloth Melui" from her childhood.<ref name="Healing"/>
* [[Faramir]]'s scent is of "dewy mornings of unshadowed sun... [in which] Spring is itself but a fleeting memory" <ref>{{RK|V8}}</ref>
* [[Éowyn]] smells no scent as if the air was clean, fresh and had never "been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam."<ref name="Healing"/>
* [[Ioreth]] smells "roses of Imloth Melui" of her childhood <ref>{{RK|V8}}</ref>
* [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]]'s smell is that of "orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees."<ref name="Healing"/>
* [[Éowyn]] smells no scent as if the air was clean, fresh and had never "been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam." <ref>{{RK|V8}}</ref>
* [[Merry]]'s smell is that of "orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees"
 
 
[[Image:Athelas from Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.jpg|200px|left]]


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Athelas'' is a [[Sindarin]] word, consisting of ''[[athae]]'' + ''[[lass]]''.<ref name=Eldarin>{{PE|Eldarin}}, pp. 49-100</ref>


''Athelas'' is a [[Sindarin]] word, consisting of ''[[athae]]'' + ''[[lass]]''.<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 49</ref>
The [[Quenya]] cognate is '''''asëa aranion''''' ("asëa of the Kings").<ref name=Eldarin></ref> It has been suggested that the whole name could mean "Beneficial (leaf) of Kings".<ref>[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/quen-eng.htm Quettaparma Quenyallo] at [http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/ Ardalambion] (accessed 14 May 2011)</ref><ref>[http://www.tuckborough.net/plants.html Plants & Trees] (cf. Athelas) at [http://www.tuckborough.net/index.htm The Thain's Book] (accessed 14 May 2011)</ref> The rejected form ''asea aranaite'' was used in a manuscript version of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.<ref>{{WR|3|XI}}, p. 394</ref>


''Kingsfoil'' has the Old French element ''foil'', "leaf" as seen in [[Wikipedia:cinquefoil|cinquefoil]].<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 781</ref>
''Kingsfoil'' has the Old French element ''foil'', "leaf" as seen in [[Wikipedia:cinquefoil|cinquefoil]].<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 781</ref>


==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
Athelas was also used by [[Huan]] and [[Lúthien]] to heal wounded [[Beren]] in the early ''[[Lay of Leithian]]''. It contradicts the information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' of it being brought to Middle-earth by [[Númenóreans]], so it was either changed by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] in later versions of his legendarium, or athelas grew in [[Beleriand]] before it was destroyed, and then brought ''back'' to Middle-earth by Númenóreans in the [[Second Age]].
Athelas doesn't appear in the published ''[[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]'' or in the tales of the [[First Age]] in general; however in the early ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'' it was used by [[Huan]] and [[Lúthien]] to heal the wounded [[Beren]].<ref name="Canto10"/> This contradicts the information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' of it being brought to Middle-earth by [[Númenóreans]],<ref name="Flight"/> so its history was either revised by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], or athelas grew in [[Beleriand]] before it was destroyed, and then brought ''back'' to Middle-earth by Númenóreans in the [[Second Age]].
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Athelas in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Athelas.jpg|Athelas from ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug - Athelas.png|Athelas from ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]''
}}
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:In the [[Flight to the Ford (scene)|Flight to the Ford scene]] Aragorn searches for the plant with Samwise, so that he might halt the effect of the [[Morgul-knife]] on Frodo. He finds it and uses some on the wound before [[Arwen]] takes Frodo on her horse to [[Rivendell]].
 
'''2013: ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'':'''
:Athelas appears as a plant used by the Elf [[Tauriel]] to heal the Dwarf, [[Kili]], of a poisonous wound inflicted by an Orc's arrow.


==Appearances outside the legendarium==
==In other media==
Kingsfoil is also mentioned in [[wikipedia:Ursula K. Le Guin|Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''[[wikipedia:A Wizard of Earthsea|A Wizard of Earthsea]]'', as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.<ref>"[http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5895 Athelas]", dated 21 January 2001, at [http://forum.barrowdowns.com/index.php? Forum.BarrowDowns.com] (accessed 13 November 2011)</ref>
Kingsfoil is also mentioned in [[wikipedia:Ursula K. Le Guin|Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''[[wikipedia:A Wizard of Earthsea|A Wizard of Earthsea]]'', as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.<ref>"[http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5895 Athelas]", dated 21 January 2001, at [http://forum.barrowdowns.com/index.php? Forum.BarrowDowns.com] (accessed 13 November 2011)</ref>


Athelas is also mentioned in the game [[wikipedia:Quest for Glory I|Quest for Glory]].
Athelas is also mentioned in the game [[wikipedia:Quest for Glory I|Quest for Glory]].


==See also==
The [[fonts|font]] ''Athelas''<ref>"[https://www.type-together.com/athelas-font Official page]" of ''Athelas'' font, on [https://www.type-together.com TypeTogether.com] (accessed April 11, 2024)</ref>, named for the plant, was released in 2008 by independent type foundry TypeTogether. The font was designed by TypeTogether's founders, Veronika Burian and Jose Scaglione.
* [[:Category:Images of Athelas|Images of Athelas]]


{{references}}
{{references}}

Latest revision as of 13:22, 15 April 2024

The name Athelas refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Athelas (disambiguation).
Athelas
"Athelas" by John Howe
"Athelas" by John Howe
Pronunciationath-eh-las
Other namesKingsfoil (W), asëa aranion (Q)
LocationNúmenor and the Westlands, especially where Dúnedain had passed
Notable forHealing properties against the Black Breath
GalleryImages of Athelas

Athelas, also known as Kingsfoil or asëa aranion, was a sweet-smelling herb with healing properties, such as curing wounds, poison and counteracting evil influence such as the Black Breath.

History[edit | edit source]

During the First Age athelas was perhaps growing in Beleriand. Huan had found athelas to heal Beren of his wounds.[1]

Athelas most notably grew on the island of Númenor and was brought to Middle-earth by the Númenóreans.[2] It grew sparsely in the North and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived. By the end of the Third Age only the Rangers of the North retained the knowledge of its healing properties.

In Gondor (where it was known as Kingsfoil) its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent, but it was especially powerful in the hands of the Kings of Gondor, perhaps because of the Elvish heritage of the royal house.[3]

It was used by Aragorn on several occasions: healing Frodo from the Morgul wound,[2] tending the wounds of Frodo and Sam after the exit from Moria,[4] and, secretly entering Minas Tirith upon his return to Gondor, to heal those touched by the Black Breath, an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthened his claim to the crown.[3]

Properties and Effects[edit | edit source]

Athelas, when dried and crushed in hot water, is refreshing. It clears and calms[2] the minds of those who smell it. Athelas also strengthens[4] those smelling the scent. It has a particular scent that is either unique to the individual who smells the herb or influenced by the recipient of the herb's effects:

  • Faramir's scent is of "dewy mornings of unshadowed sun... [in which] Spring is itself but a fleeting memory."[3]
  • Ioreth smells the "roses of Imloth Melui" from her childhood.[3]
  • Éowyn smells no scent as if the air was clean, fresh and had never "been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam."[3]
  • Merry's smell is that of "orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees."[3]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Athelas is a Sindarin word, consisting of athae + lass.[5]

The Quenya cognate is asëa aranion ("asëa of the Kings").[5] It has been suggested that the whole name could mean "Beneficial (leaf) of Kings".[6][7] The rejected form asea aranaite was used in a manuscript version of The Lord of the Rings.[8]

Kingsfoil has the Old French element foil, "leaf" as seen in cinquefoil.[9]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Athelas doesn't appear in the published Silmarillion or in the tales of the First Age in general; however in the early Lay of Leithian it was used by Huan and Lúthien to heal the wounded Beren.[1] This contradicts the information from The Lord of the Rings of it being brought to Middle-earth by Númenóreans,[2] so its history was either revised by Tolkien, or athelas grew in Beleriand before it was destroyed, and then brought back to Middle-earth by Númenóreans in the Second Age.

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Athelas in adaptations
Athelas from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring  
Athelas from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug  

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

In the Flight to the Ford scene Aragorn searches for the plant with Samwise, so that he might halt the effect of the Morgul-knife on Frodo. He finds it and uses some on the wound before Arwen takes Frodo on her horse to Rivendell.

2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

Athelas appears as a plant used by the Elf Tauriel to heal the Dwarf, Kili, of a poisonous wound inflicted by an Orc's arrow.

In other media[edit | edit source]

Kingsfoil is also mentioned in Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.[10]

Athelas is also mentioned in the game Quest for Glory.

The font Athelas[11], named for the plant, was released in 2008 by independent type foundry TypeTogether. The font was designed by TypeTogether's founders, Veronika Burian and Jose Scaglione.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto X (The attack by Celegorm and Curufin)"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Houses of Healing"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), pp. 49-100
  6. ↑ Quettaparma Quenyallo at Ardalambion (accessed 14 May 2011)
  7. ↑ Plants & Trees (cf. Athelas) at The Thain's Book (accessed 14 May 2011)
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Three: Minas Tirith", "XI. The Houses of Healing", p. 394
  9. ↑ 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, p. 781
  10. ↑ "Athelas", dated 21 January 2001, at Forum.BarrowDowns.com (accessed 13 November 2011)
  11. ↑ "Official page" of Athelas font, on TypeTogether.com (accessed April 11, 2024)
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