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'''Dunharrow''' was a refuge of the [[Rohirrim]] hidden in the [[White Mountains]] and fortified against attack. Dunharrow had been used as a refuge by the [[Middle Men]] of the White Mountains during the [[Second Age]] — nearly three mellennia before the establishment of the Kingdom of [[Rohan]].
[[Image:Dunharrow.jpg|thumb|''Dunharrow'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
'''Dunharrow''' was a refuge of the [[Rohirrim]] hidden in the [[White Mountains]] south of [[Edoras]]<ref>{{RK|Map}}</ref> and fortified against attack. Dunharrow was a clifftop overlooking [[Harrowdale]], the valley of the river [[Snowbourn]].  


Dunharrow was a clifftop overlooking Harrowdale, the valley of the river [[Snowbourn]]. In order to reach the refuge, a winding path had to be used, known as the Stair of the Hold. This path was lined with statues known as the Púkel-men &mdash; statues originally carved by the Men of the White Mountains, in the likeness of the [[Drúedain]]. After the stair was the "Firienfeld", a large grassy area for the encampment of soldiers and refuge-seekers.
In order to reach the refuge, a winding path had to be used, known as the [[Stair of the Hold]] leading to the "[[Firienfeld]]", a large grassy area for the encampment of soldiers and refuge-seekers.


Large carved stones marked the entrance to the [[Dimholt]], a natural amphitheater, which led into the [[Paths of the Dead]].
Large carved stones marked the entrance to the [[Dimholt]], a natural amphitheater, which led into the [[Paths of the Dead]].<ref name="Muster">{{RK|V3}}</ref>


== Etymology ==
==History==
Dunharrow had been used as a refuge sacred place by the [[Pre-Númenóreans|Pre-Númenórean]] [[Middle Men]] [[Oathbreakers|of the White Mountains]] during the [[Second Age]] &mdash; nearly three millennia before the establishment of the Kingdom of [[Rohan]].


Tolkien made ''Dunharrow'' the modern form of Rohan (Old English) ''Dūnhaerg'', meaning "the heathen fane on the hillside".<sup>[[#Foot1|1]]</sup>
Those Men of the White Mountains had lined the winding path with statues known as the [[Púkel-men]] &mdash; statues originally carved in the likeness of the [[Drúedain]].<ref name="Muster"/>


When the [[Rohirrim]] came to the region, they recognized the "heathen fane" and they used it as a refuge.


== References ==
[[Aragorn]], [[Gimli]], [[Legolas]], and the [[Grey Company]] arrived at Dunharrow on [[7 March]] {{TA|3019}} and then left at dawn the next day to take the [[Paths of the Dead]].  [[Théoden]] and his riders (with [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]]) came to Dunharrow on [[9 March]] and rode out for [[Gondor]] on [[10 March|the 10th]].<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref>
 
*<span id="Foot1"><sup>1</sup>[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien, J.R.R.]]: [[Guide to The Names in the Lord of the Rings]]</span>


== Etymology ==
Tolkien made ''Dunharrow'' the Modern English form of [[Rohirric]] ([[Old English]]) ''Dúnharg'' (or ''Dūnhaerg''), meaning "the heathen fane on the hillside".<ref>{{App|E1}}, Note</ref><ref name="Nomen"/>


[[category:Fortresses]]
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] notes that he modernized the element ''haerg'' since ''harrow'' exists as an element in English place-names.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 769</ref>
[[category:Rohan]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Rohan]]
[[de:Dunharg]]
[[de:Dunharg]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:villes_tours_et_forteresses:rohan:dunharrow]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:villes_tours_et_forteresses:rohan:dunharrow]]
[[fi:Dunharg]]
[[fi:Dunharg]]

Revision as of 06:44, 10 June 2012

Dunharrow was a refuge of the Rohirrim hidden in the White Mountains south of Edoras[1] and fortified against attack. Dunharrow was a clifftop overlooking Harrowdale, the valley of the river Snowbourn.

In order to reach the refuge, a winding path had to be used, known as the Stair of the Hold leading to the "Firienfeld", a large grassy area for the encampment of soldiers and refuge-seekers.

Large carved stones marked the entrance to the Dimholt, a natural amphitheater, which led into the Paths of the Dead.[2]

History

Dunharrow had been used as a refuge sacred place by the Pre-Númenórean Middle Men of the White Mountains during the Second Age — nearly three millennia before the establishment of the Kingdom of Rohan.

Those Men of the White Mountains had lined the winding path with statues known as the Púkel-men — statues originally carved in the likeness of the Drúedain.[2]

When the Rohirrim came to the region, they recognized the "heathen fane" and they used it as a refuge.

Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the Grey Company arrived at Dunharrow on 7 March T.A. 3019 and then left at dawn the next day to take the Paths of the Dead. Théoden and his riders (with Merry) came to Dunharrow on 9 March and rode out for Gondor on the 10th.[3]

Etymology

Tolkien made Dunharrow the Modern English form of Rohirric (Old English) Dúnharg (or Dūnhaerg), meaning "the heathen fane on the hillside".[4][5]

Tolkien notes that he modernized the element haerg since harrow exists as an element in English place-names.[5]

References