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The River Isen (or '''''Angren''''' in [[Sindarin]]) began in the southern [[Misty Mountains]], first flowing south through the fortress of [[Isengard]] (or Angrenost) to the [[White Mountains]], where it abrubtly bent west and flowed to the sea of [[Belegaer]].
[[File:Alan Lee - The Road to Isengard.jpg|thumb|"The Road to Isengard" by [[Alan Lee]]]]
The River '''Isen''' (or '''''Sîr Angren''''' in [[Sindarin]]<ref>{{UT|Wife}}, Note 6, p. 214</ref>) was a river in [[Middle-earth]].
==Course==
The source of the river was in the southern [[Misty Mountains]], first flowing south through [[Nan Curunír]] and across the [[Gap of Rohan]] to the edge of the [[White Mountains]], where it abruptly bent west and ran to the sea of [[Belegaer]]. At a distance of about 50 [[lár|lári]] west of the [[Gap of Rohan]], the Isen was joined by its tributary, the river [[Adorn]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref>  The [[North-South Road]] crossed the river at the [[Fords of Isen]] where there was a small eyot.<ref>{{UT|Isen}}, p. 356</ref> About a mile east of the gates of Isengard, a bridge had been built over the Isen where it ran through a deep channel.<ref>{{TT|III9}}</ref>


At a distance of about 150 [[Númenórean Mile|Númenórean miles]] west of the [[Gap of Rohan]], the Isen was joined by its tributary, the river [[Adorn]].
==History==
In the [[Third Age]] Isen and [[Adorn]] formed the boundary of the Kingdom of [[Rohan]], but the triangle of land between Isen, Adorn, and the White Mountains was a contested land, claimed by the [[Rohirrim]] as well as the [[Dunlendings]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}, Note 4, p. 364</ref>


The Isen and Adorn formed the boundary of the Kingdom of [[Rohan]], but the triangle of land between Isen, Adorn, and the White Mountains was a contested land, claimed by the [[Rohirrim]] as well as the [[Dunlendings]].
The Isen formed a natural boundary in the Gap of Rohan, and was only crossable at Isengard or at the [[Fords of Isen]], where the Rohirrim fought a number of great battles against the Dunlendings and [[Saruman]]'s [[Orcs]] in the late [[Third Age]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>


The Isen formed a natural boundary in the Gap of Rohan, and was only crossable at Isengard or at the ''Fords of Isen'', where the Rohirrim fought a number of great battles against the Dunlendings and [[Saruman]]'s [[Orcs]] in the late [[Third Age]].
When the [[Ents]] attacked [[Isengard]], they dammed the Isen and other springs and streams in Nan Curunír, and dug trenches to divert the river's flow, before breaking the dams and temporarily drowning all of Isengard.<ref>{{TT|III9}}</ref>


Saruman diverted the Isen away from Isengard as he turned the fortress into a war machine, and it was dammed at the northern wall. When the [[Ents]] attacked Isengard, they broke the dam and restored the original flow of the river, temporarily drowning all of Isengard.
==Etymology==
Why the river was called ''Isen'', or "Iron" in modern English, is not known. Presumably the grey pebbles on the bottom and the banks of the river made the water look iron-grey.  


[[Category:Rivers]]
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of the Isen|Images of the Isen]]
 
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Rivers of Rohan]]
[[de:Isen]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/rohan/isen]]
[[fi:Rautkymi]]

Revision as of 20:42, 8 October 2016

"The Road to Isengard" by Alan Lee

The River Isen (or Sîr Angren in Sindarin[1]) was a river in Middle-earth.

Course

The source of the river was in the southern Misty Mountains, first flowing south through Nan Curunír and across the Gap of Rohan to the edge of the White Mountains, where it abruptly bent west and ran to the sea of Belegaer. At a distance of about 50 lári west of the Gap of Rohan, the Isen was joined by its tributary, the river Adorn.[2] The North-South Road crossed the river at the Fords of Isen where there was a small eyot.[3] About a mile east of the gates of Isengard, a bridge had been built over the Isen where it ran through a deep channel.[4]

History

In the Third Age Isen and Adorn formed the boundary of the Kingdom of Rohan, but the triangle of land between Isen, Adorn, and the White Mountains was a contested land, claimed by the Rohirrim as well as the Dunlendings.[5]

The Isen formed a natural boundary in the Gap of Rohan, and was only crossable at Isengard or at the Fords of Isen, where the Rohirrim fought a number of great battles against the Dunlendings and Saruman's Orcs in the late Third Age.[6]

When the Ents attacked Isengard, they dammed the Isen and other springs and streams in Nan Curunír, and dug trenches to divert the river's flow, before breaking the dams and temporarily drowning all of Isengard.[7]

Etymology

Why the river was called Isen, or "Iron" in modern English, is not known. Presumably the grey pebbles on the bottom and the banks of the river made the water look iron-grey.

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife", Note 6, p. 214
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", p. 356
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", Note 4, p. 364
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam"
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