Helm's Dike: Difference between revisions

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'''Helm's Dike''' was the trench and rampart that blocked [[Helm's Deep]]. Behind it lay the fortress of [[Aglarond]] or the '''[[Hornburg]]''', at the entrance to the [[Glittering Caves]].
{{location infobox
| name=Helm's Dike
| image=[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - An aerial view of Helm’s Deep (detail).jpg|275px]]
| caption=A cropped section of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - An aerial view of Helm’s Deep.jpg|aerial view of Helm's Deep]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=[[Deeping-coomb]]
| type=Fortification
| description=Earthen wall and ditch
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=[[Battle of the Hornburg]]
}}
'''Helm's Dike''' was an earth wall that protected the upland of the [[Deeping-coomb]] before [[Helm's Deep]].<ref>{{HM|UI}}, '''Helm's Dike''', p. 415</ref>


[[Category:Structures]]
==Description==
Helm's Dike was a quarter of a mile in front of the [[Hornburg]] and the [[Deeping Wall]]. It was an ancient high rampart made from earth behind a trench that stretched across the Deeping-coomb for a mile or more from one side of the valley to the other side. The [[Deeping-stream]] beside the [[Deeping-road]] ran from Helm's Deep through a wide breach in the rampart further down the Deeping-coomb.<ref name=Deep>{{TT|Deep}}, p. 530</ref>
 
==History==
On [[3 March]] {{TA|3019}}<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, March 3, p. 1093</ref> King [[Théoden]] with [[Aragorn]], [[Legolas]], [[Gimli]], [[Éomer]], and other [[Rohirrim|riders]] hurried to reach [[Helm's Deep]] before the army of [[Saruman]] could overtake them. When they came to the rampart the defenders of the dike were greatly cheered to learn of the arrival of the king, who stopped to learn of news.<ref name=Deep/>
 
In the early stages of the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], [[Orcs]] attacked the reargard<ref name=Deep/> of the Rohirrim at the dike during the night. [[Gamling]] commanded the defence of the dike during which the archers of the rearguard used all their arrows and filled the dike with downed Orcs, but the defenders soon had to retreat on horses back to the Hornburg.<ref>{{TT|Deep}}, p. 531</ref>
 
The next morning, the defenders counter-attacked the orcs and [[Dunlendings]] and drove them over the Dike. Then, the king and his company stopped in amazement, for a quarter mile beyond the Dike was a new, nameless wood. In the space between the host of Saruman was caught in panic until, with the arrival of [[Gandalf]] and [[Erkenbrand]], the orcs fled into the forest.<ref>{{TT|Deep}}, pp. 540-42</ref>
 
As the victors rested, those who had been driven back into the caves (Gamling, Éomer, and Gimli among them) came over the wall to greet their friends.<ref>{{TT|Road}}, pp. 543-44</ref> In the middle of the field between the Hornburg and Helm's Dike two burial mounds, one for the men from the [[Westfold]] and one for the men from the [[East Dales]] were raised while a mound for the men from [[Dunland]] was erected below the dike.<ref>{{TT|Road}}, p. 545</ref> Later, near sunset, Théoden, Gandalf, and the others left the Dike on their way to [[Isengard]].<ref>{{TT|Road}}, p. 546</ref> In the middle of the night between [[3 March]] and [[4 March]] {{TA|3019}}<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, March 3, p. 1093</ref>men in the Hornburg heard a great noise in the valley and the ground trembled. In the next morning they discovered that the new wood had disappeared and that someone, probably the [[Huorns]]<ref>{{RK|Company}}, p. 777</ref>, had dug a huge pit below the dike and had piled up stones into a hill over it, which was called the Death Down, because it was believed that the dead Orcs had been buried there.<ref>{{TT|Road}}, p. 553</ref>
 
==Etymology==
The element ''Helm'' in the name ''Helm's Dike'' refers to the name of a man called Helm.<ref>{{HM|N}}, '''Helm's Deep, Helm's Dike, Helm's Gate''', entry, p. 772</ref> The gorge behind the Hornburg was called Helm's Deep after King [[Helm]] of Rohan sought refuge in the Hornburg when his realm was invaded by the ursurper [[Wulf]] and the Dunlendings.<ref>{{App|Eorl}}, entry for King Helm, p. 1066</ref> As a consequence, it is probable that the element ''Helm'' in the name ''Helm's Dike'' also refers to King Helm of Rohan.
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Rohan]]
[[Category:Walls]]
[[Category:Walls]]
[[Category:Rohan]]
[[de:Helms Deich]]
[[fi:Helmin valli]]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 2 April 2024

Helm's Dike
Fortification
J.R.R. Tolkien - An aerial view of Helm’s Deep (detail).jpg
A cropped section of J.R.R. Tolkien's aerial view of Helm's Deep
General Information
LocationDeeping-coomb
TypeFortification
DescriptionEarthen wall and ditch
History
EventsBattle of the Hornburg

Helm's Dike was an earth wall that protected the upland of the Deeping-coomb before Helm's Deep.[1]

Description[edit | edit source]

Helm's Dike was a quarter of a mile in front of the Hornburg and the Deeping Wall. It was an ancient high rampart made from earth behind a trench that stretched across the Deeping-coomb for a mile or more from one side of the valley to the other side. The Deeping-stream beside the Deeping-road ran from Helm's Deep through a wide breach in the rampart further down the Deeping-coomb.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

On 3 March T.A. 3019[3] King Théoden with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Éomer, and other riders hurried to reach Helm's Deep before the army of Saruman could overtake them. When they came to the rampart the defenders of the dike were greatly cheered to learn of the arrival of the king, who stopped to learn of news.[2]

In the early stages of the Battle of the Hornburg, Orcs attacked the reargard[2] of the Rohirrim at the dike during the night. Gamling commanded the defence of the dike during which the archers of the rearguard used all their arrows and filled the dike with downed Orcs, but the defenders soon had to retreat on horses back to the Hornburg.[4]

The next morning, the defenders counter-attacked the orcs and Dunlendings and drove them over the Dike. Then, the king and his company stopped in amazement, for a quarter mile beyond the Dike was a new, nameless wood. In the space between the host of Saruman was caught in panic until, with the arrival of Gandalf and Erkenbrand, the orcs fled into the forest.[5]

As the victors rested, those who had been driven back into the caves (Gamling, Éomer, and Gimli among them) came over the wall to greet their friends.[6] In the middle of the field between the Hornburg and Helm's Dike two burial mounds, one for the men from the Westfold and one for the men from the East Dales were raised while a mound for the men from Dunland was erected below the dike.[7] Later, near sunset, Théoden, Gandalf, and the others left the Dike on their way to Isengard.[8] In the middle of the night between 3 March and 4 March T.A. 3019[9]men in the Hornburg heard a great noise in the valley and the ground trembled. In the next morning they discovered that the new wood had disappeared and that someone, probably the Huorns[10], had dug a huge pit below the dike and had piled up stones into a hill over it, which was called the Death Down, because it was believed that the dead Orcs had been buried there.[11]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The element Helm in the name Helm's Dike refers to the name of a man called Helm.[12] The gorge behind the Hornburg was called Helm's Deep after King Helm of Rohan sought refuge in the Hornburg when his realm was invaded by the ursurper Wulf and the Dunlendings.[13] As a consequence, it is probable that the element Helm in the name Helm's Dike also refers to King Helm of Rohan.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, Helm's Dike, p. 415
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep", p. 530
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 3, p. 1093
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep", p. 531
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep", pp. 540-42
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard", pp. 543-44
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard", p. 545
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard", p. 546
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 3, p. 1093
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company", p. 777
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard", p. 553
  12. ↑ 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, Helm's Deep, Helm's Dike, Helm's Gate, entry, p. 772
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", entry for King Helm, p. 1066
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