Great Horn

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The name Horn refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Horn (disambiguation).
Great Horn
Ted Nasmith - Boromir's Last Stand.jpg
Other nameshorn of Boromir
AppearanceWhite horn tipped with silver
"But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not go forth as a thief in the night."
Boromir[1]

The Great Horn was an heirloom of the House of Stewards, until its destruction on 26 February T.A. 3019.

The horn was made from the white oxen of Rhûn,[2] which was likened to an aurochs.[3] It was white itself, tipped with silver and inscribed with ancient characters.[4]

History

The Great Horn was made from the horn of a wild-ox of Rhûn. Vorondil the Hunter, the father of Mardil Voronwë, hunted the beasts in the far fields of the East, and the horn was tipped in silver. So, it passed down to every eldest son after Mardil Voronwë.[5] From Denethor, it passed down to Boromir, who wore it with him on a baldrick.[6]

Boromir bore the horn with him when he went to Imladris, and held it on his lap during the Council of Elrond.[6] After he was chosen to be one of the Fellowship, he let the horn ring through Rivendell.[1] He would wind the horn twice more. In reply to the meager horns of the Orcs in Moria, the Great Horn bellowed like the shout of many throats under the cavernous roof. Though it repelled the attackers for a while, they returned after the last echo disappeared.[7]

The last time the horn was rung was shortly before its destruction. On the slopes of Amon Hen, near Parth Galen, Boromir created a sound so loud that it could be heard in Minas Tirith.[5] So was it said in legend: if blown anywhere within the bounds of ancient Gondor, its call would not pass unheeded.[4]

Sadly, the little help that could come - the rest of the Fellowship - could not make it in time. Though the Uruk-hai were at first dismayed and drew back, they returned more fierce than ever.[8]

On February 26, in the fight that cost Boromir's life, the horn was cloven in two. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas laid it in the elven boat that with Boromir and his weapons, and send it down the falls of Rauros.[9] The two parts of the horn fell out of the boat, and were found several days later. One was found in the reeds near the mouths of Entwash on February 28, the other further down the river on February 30.[10] They were brought to Denethor, who held them on his lap, anxiously waiting for news of his beloved son.[4] Those answers came, eventually, when Gandalf brought Peregrin Took, witness to Boromir's last stand, before the Steward.[5]

Name

Though generally referred to in fanfiction[11] and adaptations[12][13] as the Horn of Gondor, this name does not appear in published writing. It is generally referred to simply as "the horn of Boromir"[4][9] as he was its most notorious (and last) bearer. The only capitalized name is "Great Horn", however.[14]

Inspiration

One of the many similarities between Roland, the paladin of Charlemagne, and Boromir is that both bore a white horn.[15] Like Roland in battle with the Saracens blew his horn to call for Charlemagne, Boromir called for Aragorn. In both cases, help came too late.[16]

Portrayal in adaptations

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

Boromir blows the horn after he has been hit be many arrows. Boromir's signal has two tones, the second higher than the first (it's the same sound heard by other horns, Rohirrim or Hobbits'). It survived the battle without being broken.[17]

1981: BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings:

Boromir winds the horn in Rivendell, where it produces a clear sound of five notes.[18] At the advice of Pippin, he blows it again at Amon Hen,[19] which is heard by the others.[20]

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

The Horn is a white horn. Boromir blows it at Amon Hen, three short blows twice. When Lurtz shoots arrows at Boromir, the horn appears broken when the third arrow hits him.[12]

2002: Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring:

Though Boromir does wear the horn, he does not use it.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

After telling Frodo and Sam of how he found a boat with Boromir's body on the Anduin,[21] Faramir holds the two pieces in his hands.[22]

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

Denethor regained possession of the Horn, and showed it to Pippin.[23]

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth:

The Horn of Gondor is one of Boromir's powers. It weakens nearby enemy units.[13]

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring goes South"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile"
  3. Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, page 265
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Window of the West"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith"
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
  8. 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Departure of Boromir"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Scheme", cited in Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, page 469
  10. "Eambar", "The Horn of Gondor", FanFiction.net
  11. 12.0 12.1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition), "The Breaking of the Fellowship"
  12. 13.0 13.1 The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth, "Manual"
  13. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, page 174
  14. Gerard Seaman, "Old French Literature", published in J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia (edited by Michael Drout), page 468-9
  15. Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, page 359
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, "Borimir's Sacrifice"
  17. The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series), "The Council of Elrond"
  18. The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series), "The Mirror of Galadriel"
  19. The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series), "The Breaking of the Fellowship"
  20. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition), "The Window of the West"
  21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition), "Sons of the Steward"
  22. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition), "Minas Tirith"