Dorwinion: Difference between revisions

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{{location
| image=[[File:Lori Deitrick - Men of Dorwinion.jpg|250px]]
| name=Dorwinion
| othernames=
| etymology=See below
| type=Region
| location=On the northwest side of the Sea of Rhûn
| inhabitants=
| realms=
| description=A land of vineyards
| events=
}}
'''Dorwinion''' or '''Dor-Winion''' was a land which lay on the northwestern shores of the [[Sea of Rhûn]], surrounded by the [[River Running]].<ref>{{HM|Map}}</ref> In Dorwinion was made a heady wine, which was strong enough to let even [[Elves]] get drunk and fall asleep.
==History==
Despite its location in the outskirts of [[Rhûn]], the very name of Dorwinion betrayed an influence by the [[Elves]] or the [[Gondorians]], although it can't be said with certainty who inhabited that land, Elves or Men.
What is known is that by the time of [[King of Gondor|King]] [[Hyarmendacil I]] ({{TA|1015}} - {{TA|1149|n}}), the lands around the region that was or would become Dorwinion were within the borders of [[Gondor]]. In {{TA|1248}} [[Minalcar]] and [[Vidugavia]] also campaigned in the lands between Rhovanion and the Inland Sea.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> In the following centuries the [[Great Plague]] had hit those lands<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> although it is not known how much Dorwinion was affected. Eventually Gondor's borders diminished and it withdrew its hold from the lands around Rhûn, and thus Dorwinion.
By {{TA|2941}} Dorwinion traded with realms of [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]], such as the [[Woodland Realm]]. The special wine of [[Thranduil]] came from that place in crates. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]] returned the crates by way of the [[Forest River]] to [[Lake-town]] on [[Long Lake]].<ref>{{H|9}}</ref>
==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Dorwinion.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Dorwinion.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Dorwinion2.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Dorwinion2.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Dorwinion''' or '''Dor-Winion''', the ''Land of Wines'', is a land which lay on the northwestern shores of the [[Sea of Rhûn]].
The name is [[Sindarin]] meaning "Land of Gwinion", whereas Gwinion itself is a name of a country meaning "Young-land"; from ''[[dor]]'' and ''[[gwain]]'' plus the geographical ending ''[[-nd|-iond]]''.<ref name=PE17>{{PE|17}}, p. 54</ref> The latter part of the name is apparently related to [[Gnomish]] words such as ''gwinwen'' (“freshness”) and ''gwion'' (“young”).
 
Dorwinion was drawn at Tolkien's advice on [[Pauline Baynes]]' map of Middle-earth as lying at the end of the [[Carnen]] and [[Celduin]], and in that position it has since appeared on other maps.
 
Dorwinion is mentioned in [[The Hobbit]] as the place where the special wine of the ''Elven King'' ([[Thranduil]]) comes from, and the crates are returned by way of the [[Forest River (Middle-earth)|Forest River]] to the [[Long Lake]] of [[Esgaroth]].


It is also mentioned in the [[Narn i Chîn Húrin]], where it was drunk in [[Thingol]]'s halls of [[Menegroth]]. It is said there to lie in the ''Burning south'', which might suggest it was a different 'Dorwinion', or may just have referred to the fact it came from the more southern lands of [[Rhovanion]] by way of the dwarf-road.
[[Tolkien]] commented that the [[Elvish]] name in such a remote location is a "testimony to the spread of Sindarin".<ref>{{HM|HH}}</ref>


In Dorwinion was made a heady wine, which was strong enough to let even [[Elves]] get drunk and fall asleep.
==Other versions==
''Dor'''v'''inion'' or ''Dor-Winion'' is mentioned in the ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]''; its wine was famous among the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]] and [[Menegroth]]. It is said there to lie in the "Burning south" (of [[Beleriand]])<ref>{{LB|1b}} lines 223, 425</ref>, which might suggest it was a different "Dorwinion", or may just have referred to the fact it came from the more southern lands of  [[Rhovanion]] by way of the [[Dwarf-road of Beleriand]].  


Not much else is known about Dorwinion, and the name cannot easily be translated. It is not even known if the name is true [[Sindarin]].
While writing the [[Quenta Silmarillion]], Tolkien once mentioned Dorwinion as a location of [[Tol Eressea]].<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, p. 338</ref> Tolkien reused the name and the wines in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', establishing thus that it is somewhere in or near the  [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]].
==Inspiration==
Based on the meaning of its name, [[John Rateliff]] suggests that the name is a reference to the Irish legend of [[Wikipedia:Tír na nÓg|Tír na nÓg]] "Land of the Young". However this similarity rather applies to the earlier phase where Dorwinion was mentioned as a part of Tol Eressea.


It has been suggested by [[Tolkienist]]s that the name may not have been Sindarin at all, but come from an [[Avari]] or [[Nandor]]in tongue: if that is the case Dorwinion may have been the only Avari realm close to those areas of Middle-earth that Tolkien's stories take place. Certainly the element "Winion", apparently meaning "wine", has no probable origin in any known etymology. Support for the Elven origin of Dorwinion is that its population must have been Elvish, since it was already well established while the [[Atanatári]] were still young.
==External links==
*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2011/10/19/was-dorwinion-an-elf-kingdom/ Was Dorwinion an Elf-kingdom?] by [[Michael Martinez]]
*[http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=36 Dorwinion, pays de cépages] by [[Didier Willis]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Rhovanion]]


[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[de:Dorwinion]]
[[fi:Dorwinion]]

Revision as of 00:47, 17 December 2016

Dorwinion
Region
Lori Deitrick - Men of Dorwinion.jpg
General Information
LocationOn the northwest side of the Sea of Rhûn
TypeRegion
DescriptionA land of vineyards
GalleryImages of Dorwinion

Dorwinion or Dor-Winion was a land which lay on the northwestern shores of the Sea of Rhûn, surrounded by the River Running.[1] In Dorwinion was made a heady wine, which was strong enough to let even Elves get drunk and fall asleep.

History

Despite its location in the outskirts of Rhûn, the very name of Dorwinion betrayed an influence by the Elves or the Gondorians, although it can't be said with certainty who inhabited that land, Elves or Men.

What is known is that by the time of King Hyarmendacil I (T.A. 1015 - 1149), the lands around the region that was or would become Dorwinion were within the borders of Gondor. In T.A. 1248 Minalcar and Vidugavia also campaigned in the lands between Rhovanion and the Inland Sea.[2] In the following centuries the Great Plague had hit those lands[3] although it is not known how much Dorwinion was affected. Eventually Gondor's borders diminished and it withdrew its hold from the lands around Rhûn, and thus Dorwinion.

By T.A. 2941 Dorwinion traded with realms of Wilderland, such as the Woodland Realm. The special wine of Thranduil came from that place in crates. The Elves of Mirkwood returned the crates by way of the Forest River to Lake-town on Long Lake.[4]

Etymology

The name is Sindarin meaning "Land of Gwinion", whereas Gwinion itself is a name of a country meaning "Young-land"; from dor and gwain plus the geographical ending -iond.[5] The latter part of the name is apparently related to Gnomish words such as gwinwen (“freshness”) and gwion (“young”).

Tolkien commented that the Elvish name in such a remote location is a "testimony to the spread of Sindarin".[6]

Other versions

Dorvinion or Dor-Winion is mentioned in the The Lay of the Children of Húrin; its wine was famous among the Dwarves of Nogrod and Menegroth. It is said there to lie in the "Burning south" (of Beleriand)[7], which might suggest it was a different "Dorwinion", or may just have referred to the fact it came from the more southern lands of Rhovanion by way of the Dwarf-road of Beleriand.

While writing the Quenta Silmarillion, Tolkien once mentioned Dorwinion as a location of Tol Eressea.[8] Tolkien reused the name and the wines in The Hobbit, establishing thus that it is somewhere in or near the Wilderland.

Inspiration

Based on the meaning of its name, John Rateliff suggests that the name is a reference to the Irish legend of Tír na nÓg "Land of the Young". However this similarity rather applies to the earlier phase where Dorwinion was mentioned as a part of Tol Eressea.

External links

References