Barrow-downs: Difference between revisions

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''See also [[barrowdowns.com]]''
{{Sources}}
{{location
{{disambig-two|the location in [[Middle-earth]]|website|[[barrowdowns.com]]}}
{{Location
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| name=Barrow Downs
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| events=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
| references= [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]
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'''Barrow-downs''' or '''''Tyrn Gorthad''''' were a series of low hills east of [[the Shire]], behind the [[Old Forest]], and west of the village of [[Bree]]. Many of the hills were crowned with megaliths and [[barrows]], whence their name.
 
==History==
'''Barrow-downs''' or '''[[Tyrn Gorthad]]''' were a series of low hills east of [[The Shire]], behind the [[Old Forest]], and west of the village of [[Bree]]. Many of the hills were crowned with megaliths and [[barrows]], whence their name.
 
The Barrow-downs were first inhabited by [[Men]] related to the [[Edain]] in the [[First Age]], together with the [[Hills of Evendim]] to the north. They fled east as [[Easterlings]] invaded [[Eriador]] and passed on to [[Beleriand]], but after these had left or been killed in the [[War of Wrath]] the Edain returned to their old homes.
The Barrow-downs were first inhabited by [[Men]] related to the [[Edain]] in the [[First Age]], together with the [[Hills of Evendim]] to the north. They fled east as [[Easterlings]] invaded [[Eriador]] and passed on to [[Beleriand]], but after these had left or been killed in the [[War of Wrath]] the Edain returned to their old homes.


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A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 766</ref>
A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 766</ref>


==Inspiration==
'''''Tyrn Gorthad''''' was the [[Sindarin]] name of the Barrow-downs. ''Tyrn Gorthad'' is a compound of ''[[torn]]'' ("burial mound") and ''[[gorthad]]'' ("of buried").<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 116</ref> In one manuscript, the name ''Tyrn Goerthaid'' was used by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]].<ref>{{PM|VII}}</ref>
A possible real-life inspiration for Tolkien were the Barrow Downs of [[Warwickshire]], near the village of Long Compton.{{fact}}


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Hobbits' passage through the Barrow-downs is represented by a respective level.
[[File:Barrow-downs.jpg|thumb|View of the Barrow-downs at night (''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'').]]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The barrow-downs are a series of mounds crowned with megaliths. The region is inhabited by wraiths. The largest and oldest barrow is [[Othrongroth]].
:The Barrow-downs are a divided into North and South Barrows, depicted as a series of mounds crowned with megaliths. The region is inhabited by wights, recently stirred by the passage of the [[Nazgul]]. The largest and oldest barrow is called [[Othrongroth]].


'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
<!--Add image-->
<!--Add image-->
:After [[Halbarad]] sent [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]], [[Andriel]] and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] to warn [[Aragorn]] in Bree, the three heroes travel through the Barrow-downs as a short cut.<ref>[http://www.oxmonline.com/ Offical Xbox Magazine Online], [http://www.oxmonline.com/article/previews/g-l/lord-rings-war-north The Lord of the Rings: War in the North], dated [[28 April]], [[2011]] (accessed at [[7 July]], [[2011]])</ref> In the whole level fog hangs above the ground.<ref>[www.warinthenorth.com The Lord of the Rings: War in the North's Official Site], [http://www.warinthenorth.com/index.php/media/videos Videos], The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Dev video: Art Direction Process, dated [[11 May]], [[2011]] (accessed [[14 September]], [[2011]])</ref>
:After [[Halbarad]] sends [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]], [[Andriel]] and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] to warn [[Aragorn]] in Bree, the three heroes travel through the Barrow-downs as a short cut.<ref>[http://www.oxmonline.com/ Offical Xbox Magazine Online], [http://www.oxmonline.com/article/previews/g-l/lord-rings-war-north The Lord of the Rings: War in the North], dated [[28 April]], [[2011]] (accessed at [[7 July]], [[2011]])</ref> On their way, they have to save two Dunedain Rangers named Luin and Kilaran. In the whole level fog hangs above the ground.<ref>[http://www.warinthenorth.com The Lord of the Rings: War in the North's Official Site], [http://www.warinthenorth.com/index.php/media/videos Videos], The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Dev video: Art Direction Process, dated [[11 May]], [[2011]] (accessed [[14 September]], [[2011]])</ref>


==External link==
*[http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/rollright.htm Warwickshire Barrow Downs: Rollright Stones, The King Stone, The Whispering Knights]
{{references}}
{{references}}
*<small>{{HM|FR}}</small>
[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Hills]]
[[Category:Hills]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Graves and tombs]]
[[de:Hügelgräberhöhen (Eriador)]]
[[de:Hügelgräberhöhen (Eriador)]]
[[fi:Hautakerot]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/reliefs/eriador/hauts_des_galgals]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/reliefs/eriador/hauts_des_galgals]]
[[fi:Hautakerot]]

Revision as of 18:38, 23 November 2012

"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.
This article is about the location in Middle-earth. For the website, see barrowdowns.com.
Barrow Downs
Hills
Paul Raymond Gregory - Fog on the Barrow Downs.jpg
General Information
LocationCentral Eriador, borders the Old Forest
TypeHills
RegionsArnor
Cardolan
Reunited Kingdom
People and History
InhabitantsMen, then Barrow-wights
EventsWar of the Elves and Sauron

Barrow-downs or Tyrn Gorthad were a series of low hills east of the Shire, behind the Old Forest, and west of the village of Bree. Many of the hills were crowned with megaliths and barrows, whence their name.

History

The Barrow-downs were first inhabited by Men related to the Edain in the First Age, together with the Hills of Evendim to the north. They fled east as Easterlings invaded Eriador and passed on to Beleriand, but after these had left or been killed in the War of Wrath the Edain returned to their old homes.

During the Second Age they were fairly numerous, and when they met with the Númenóreans the Barrow-downs were the first places where the Dúnedain emigrees from Númenor settled. When Elendil returned to Middle-earth, the Barrow-downs were incorporated in the kingdom of Arnor.

After the split of Arnor the Barrow-downs became the capital of Cardolan. After Rhudaur fell to Angmar, the Dúnedain of Cardolan entrenched themselves here, but eventually the realm fell. The Barrow-wights were now sent there by the Witch-king. After Arthedain once again claimed the kingship over all of Arnor the Dúnedain tried to recolonize Cardolan, but this failed because of the Barrow-wights.

During the War of the Ring Frodo Baggins and company were trapped in the downs by a wight, probably in the same cairn which held the grave of the last prince of Cardolan. They were rescued by Tom Bombadil, and there got their swords.

Etymology

In topography, a "down" is a low-lying hill, from the Anglo-Saxon dún meaning "hill".[1] In the United Kingdom, a down is a gently-rolling chalk hill in Southern England (seen especially in the North and South Downs).[2]

A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.[3]

Tyrn Gorthad was the Sindarin name of the Barrow-downs. Tyrn Gorthad is a compound of torn ("burial mound") and gorthad ("of buried").[4] In one manuscript, the name Tyrn Goerthaid was used by Tolkien.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations

2002: Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring:

Hobbits' passage through the Barrow-downs is represented by a respective level.
File:Barrow-downs.jpg
View of the Barrow-downs at night (The Lord of the Rings Online).

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Barrow-downs are a divided into North and South Barrows, depicted as a series of mounds crowned with megaliths. The region is inhabited by wights, recently stirred by the passage of the Nazgul. The largest and oldest barrow is called Othrongroth.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

After Halbarad sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to warn Aragorn in Bree, the three heroes travel through the Barrow-downs as a short cut.[6] On their way, they have to save two Dunedain Rangers named Luin and Kilaran. In the whole level fog hangs above the ground.[7]

References

  1. Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller, "DÚN" at An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 12 October 2010)
  2. Oxford Dictionaries, "down" (accessed 12 October 2010)
  3. 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. 766
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 116
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  6. Offical Xbox Magazine Online, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, dated 28 April, 2011 (accessed at 7 July, 2011)
  7. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North's Official Site, Videos, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Dev video: Art Direction Process, dated 11 May, 2011 (accessed 14 September, 2011)