Lake-town: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
It is not known when Esgaroth was built. The name ''Esgaroth'' is mentioned on the [[Thrór's Map]], and is said to be an older name, known while Smaug was younger | It is not known when Esgaroth was built. The name ''Esgaroth'' is mentioned on the [[Thrór's Map]], and is said to be an older name, known while Smaug was younger<ref>{{H|12}}</ref>. When [[Bilbo]] came to the town, he noticed old pilings of a (possibly older) greater town could still be seen along the shores when the waters sank in a drought.<ref name="h10"/> It's possible that Esgaroth was destroyed sometime in the past, and the '''Lake-town''' was its remnant.<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', The Hobbit - Lake-town</ref> | ||
The Lake-town was occupied by descendants of the survivors of the former Kingdom of [[Dale]], like [[Bard the Bowman]], who was ancestor of its last lord, [[Girion]]. However as the years passed, Smaug was forgotten and children even doubted about his existence or the tales of older men who sometimes saw him flying.<ref name="h10"/> | |||
[[File:Thorin in esgaroth.jpg|thumb|left|Thorin arrives in Lake-town]] | [[File:Thorin in esgaroth.jpg|thumb|left|Thorin arrives in Lake-town]] | ||
In the autumn of {{TA|2941}} [[Thorin and Company]] escaped from the [[Thranduil]]'s halls and [[Thorin]] followed by [[Fili]], [[Kili]] and [[Bilbo]] decided to enter the town and speak to the Master. The Dwarves were welcomed warmly, because the Lake-men saw the [[King under the Mountain]] returning. The Dwarves and Bilbo were hosted, rested and pampered before sent with boats to the ruins of [[Dale]] to confront the dragon. | In the autumn of {{TA|2941}} [[Thorin and Company]] escaped from the [[Thranduil]]'s halls and [[Thorin]] followed by [[Fili]], [[Kili]] and [[Bilbo]] decided to enter the town and speak to the Master. The Dwarves were welcomed warmly, because the Lake-men saw the [[King under the Mountain]] returning. The Dwarves and Bilbo were hosted, rested and pampered before sent with boats to the ruins of [[Dale]] to confront the dragon. | ||
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Thorin refused to share Smaug's treasure and declared war on both the Lake-men and the Elves. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. | Thorin refused to share Smaug's treasure and declared war on both the Lake-men and the Elves. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. | ||
The town was afterwards rebuilt using some of the treasure | The town was afterwards rebuilt using some of the treasure to the north of its former location. The town's Master ran off with some of the gold. Part of the town's population followed Bard to resettle the Kingdom of [[Dale]]. | ||
By the time of the [[War of the Ring]], Esgaroth was part of the kingdom of Dale under [[Bard | By the time of the [[War of the Ring]], Esgaroth was part of the kingdom of Dale under [[Bard II]]<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref> | ||
==Trade== | ==Trade== |
Revision as of 21:35, 23 January 2011
Esgaroth | |
---|---|
City | |
General Information | |
Other names | Lake-town |
Location | Wilderland |
Type | City |
Description | Town built on surface of north-western Long Lake |
Regions | Esgaroth (independent) |
People and History | |
Inhabitants | Lake-men |
Events | Attack of Smaug, Battle of Five Armies |
Gallery | Images of Esgaroth |
Esgaroth.mp3 | |
By Ardamir. (Help; more articles) | |
Esgaroth upon the Long Lake, also known as Lake-town, was the township of the Lake-men in Wilderland.
Description
The town was constructed entirely of wood and stood upon wooden pillars sunk into the bed of the Long Lake, as a protection against the dragon Smaug, who dwelt nearby in the Lonely Mountain.
It was situated on the west side of the lake, south of the Lonely Mountain and east of Mirkwood, near the mouth of the Forest River in a calm bay that was formed by the shelter of a rock promontory. A long wooden bridge connected the town to the land.
In the middle of Esgaroth the central market-place was located, which was a round pool connected to the lake by a tunnel[1]. The greatest houses of Esgaroth were around this market-place[2] just as apparently the town-hall where the Master of Lake-town presided. The Master was the elected civic leader who under normal circumstances was chosen from among the old and wise.
History
It is not known when Esgaroth was built. The name Esgaroth is mentioned on the Thrór's Map, and is said to be an older name, known while Smaug was younger[3]. When Bilbo came to the town, he noticed old pilings of a (possibly older) greater town could still be seen along the shores when the waters sank in a drought.[2] It's possible that Esgaroth was destroyed sometime in the past, and the Lake-town was its remnant.[4]
The Lake-town was occupied by descendants of the survivors of the former Kingdom of Dale, like Bard the Bowman, who was ancestor of its last lord, Girion. However as the years passed, Smaug was forgotten and children even doubted about his existence or the tales of older men who sometimes saw him flying.[2]
In the autumn of T.A. 2941 Thorin and Company escaped from the Thranduil's halls and Thorin followed by Fili, Kili and Bilbo decided to enter the town and speak to the Master. The Dwarves were welcomed warmly, because the Lake-men saw the King under the Mountain returning. The Dwarves and Bilbo were hosted, rested and pampered before sent with boats to the ruins of Dale to confront the dragon.
Some days later however, the town was attacked by Smaug, but Bard the Bowman, who had indirectly learned of a weakness in Smaug's armour, slew the dragon with the Black Arrow. The town was wrecked by the dragon who fell dead on it and sunk in the lake[5].
Thorin refused to share Smaug's treasure and declared war on both the Lake-men and the Elves. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the Battle of Five Armies.
The town was afterwards rebuilt using some of the treasure to the north of its former location. The town's Master ran off with some of the gold. Part of the town's population followed Bard to resettle the Kingdom of Dale.
By the time of the War of the Ring, Esgaroth was part of the kingdom of Dale under Bard II[6]
Trade
The town's prosperity was built on trade between the Men, Elves of Mirkwood and Dwarves of Erebor. It supplied food and drink to the Elves and the products of Erebor and Dale were funneled through it.[7]
Language
As a trading people, the Lake-men knew the Common Speech, Westron. However, amongst themselves they spoke an ancient form of it, Dalian, loosely related to but distinct from Rohirric, the also-archaic language of the Rohirrim.
Etymology
The name means, "…Reedlake, because of reed-banks in west". The root-word, esgar, means "reed-bed" in Ilkorin Elvish.[8]
Portrayal in adaptations
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References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
- ↑ Karen Wynn Fonstad The Atlas of Middle-earth, The Hobbit - Lake-town
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
- ↑ Robert Foster The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, pp. 131-2
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry ESEK