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.<ref>{{H|12}}</ref>
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>


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. As the years passed, Smaug was forgotten and children even doubted about his existence, and the tales of older men who sometimes saw him flying.<ref name="h10"/>
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, though 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]].
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 I]]<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>
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

This article is about the town in Rhovanion. For the MERP supplement, see Lake-town (book).
Esgaroth
City
J.R.R. Tolkien - Lake Town (Colored by H. E. Riddett).jpg
General Information
Other namesLake-town
LocationWilderland
TypeCity
DescriptionTown built on surface of north-western Long Lake
RegionsEsgaroth (independent)
People and History
InhabitantsLake-men
EventsAttack of Smaug, Battle of Five Armies
GalleryImages of Esgaroth

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]

File:Thorin in esgaroth.jpg
Thorin arrives in Lake-town

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.

File:Smaug vs esgaroth.jpg
Smaug attacks the town

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