Athelas

The name Athelas refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Athelas (disambiguation).

Athelas
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Other names	Kingsfoil, asëa aranion
Location	Middle-earth
Gallery	Images of Athelas

Athelas, also known as Kingsfoil or asëa aranion ("Leaf of Kings"), was a plant with healing powers.

History

Athelas was first brought to Middle-earth by Númenóreans, but by the end of the Third Age the knowledge of its healing properties was lost among all but the Rangers of the North. 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.

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.

It was used by Aragorn, 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.

File:Athelas from Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.jpg

Etymology

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

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

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 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.

Appearances outside the legendarium

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.

Athelas is also mentioned in the game Quest for Glory.

See also

• Images of Athelas