Lindon: Difference between revisions

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In a post-[[Lord of the Rings|LotR]] writing, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] says that the name ''Lindon'' was coined by the Green-elves, derived from [[Nandorin]](?) *''Lindānā''. The Sindar and Noldor adopted the name ''Lindon''; the former also called the country ''Dor Lindon'', and the latter ''Lindóne'' (or ''Lindónë''<ref>{{HM|IX}}</ref>).<ref name=WJC>{{WJ|C}}, p. 385</ref>
In a post-[[Lord of the Rings|LotR]] writing, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] says that the name ''Lindon'' was coined by the Green-elves, derived from [[Nandorin]](?) *''Lindānā''. The Sindar and Noldor adopted the name ''Lindon''; the former also called the country ''Dor Lindon'', and the latter ''Lindóne'' (or ''Lindónë''<ref>{{HM|IX}}</ref>).<ref name=WJC>{{WJ|C}}, p. 385</ref>


In early versions of the ''[[The Lord of the Rings Appendices]]'', Gil-galad is said to have founded Lindon in [[Second Age|S.A.]] 10.<ref>{{PM|VI}}, pp. 168, 173</ref>
In early versions of the ''[[The Lord of the Rings Appendices]]'', Gil-galad is said to have founded Lindon in {{SA|10}}.<ref>{{PM|VI}}, pp. 168, 173</ref>


==Portrayals in Adaptations==
==Portrayals in Adaptations==

Revision as of 17:44, 20 October 2010

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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General information
LocationWest of the Ered Luin
People
LanguageSindarin
GalleryImages of Lindon

Lindon was an Elvish realm west of the Blue Mountains. During the First Age, Lindon was situated in Eastern Beleriand. During the Second and Third Ages, Lindon was the westernmost land of the continent of Middle-earth, and the Gulf of Lune divided the realm into Forlindon (North Lindon) and Harlindon (South Lindon).

History

The First Age

The name Lindon was first used by the exiled Noldor for the region of Ossiriand.[1]

Lindon was the only part of Beleriand that survived the War of Wrath, the rest of the land having been broken or submerged by the tumults.[2] However, Belegaer the Great Sea broke through the mountain chain at the former riverbed of Ascar, creating the Gulf of Lhûn.[source?]

The Second Age: Kingdom of Gil-galad

Gil-galad founded the Kingdom of Lindon and the Havens (Mithlond, and possibly also Harlond and Forlond) in S.A. 1.[3] Many of the surviving Elves of drowned Beleriand, especially the exiled Noldor, relocated to Lindon at the beginning of the Second Age, where they were ruled by Gil-galad.[2]

The Noldor mainly dwelt in Forlindon, and the Sindar (and surviving Green-elves[source?]) in Harlindon (a fief under the rule of Celeborn).[4][5] Together, they built Mithlond (the Grey Havens) on the Gulf, and many Elves left from there to Valinor. Lindon was one of the two Noldorin Kingdoms during the Second Age (the other being Eregion), until Gil-galad was killed by Sauron during the War of the Last Alliance.

In the tumult following the Downfall of Númenor, Lindon suffered great loss as "the sea rode in upon the land", and therefore had shrunk when the Third Age began.[6]

The Third Age: Rule of Círdan

After the War of the Last Alliance, most of the Ñoldor finally departed for Valinor, and Lindon became depopulated, now ruled by Gil-galad's lieutenant, the Sindarin elf Círdan the Shipwright,[source?] who kept building ships for the departing Elves.

Names and Etymology

  • Etymology:[7] lin- + ?

Lindon (Q, pron. [ˈlindon]) means "land of music",[8] or "Land of the singers".[9] It has been suggested that the name literally means "lofty song".[10]

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In a post-LotR writing, J.R.R. Tolkien says that the name Lindon was coined by the Green-elves, derived from Nandorin(?) *Lindānā. The Sindar and Noldor adopted the name Lindon; the former also called the country Dor Lindon, and the latter Lindóne (or Lindónë[11]).[12]

In early versions of the The Lord of the Rings Appendices, Gil-galad is said to have founded Lindon in S.A. 10.[13]

Portrayals in Adaptations

Middle-earth Role Playing:

A supplement on Lindon was never released by ICE, although there were such plans,[14] and Jeff J. Erwin and Oliver Schick were commissioned to write supplements on Lindon and Mithlond, respectively (both supplements were nearly finished at the time ICE lost their license from Tolkien Enterprises).[15] However, scattered information on Lindon and its prominent individuals can be found in several supplements.[16][17][18][19]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", p. 78
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", p. 328 (Note 65)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", (Introduction & Note 2)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VI. The Tale of Years of the Second Age", p. 183
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  9. The translation "Land of the singers", conceived to be a name in the Ossiriandic tongue, has been suggested by David Salo, Arden Smith, Patrick Wynne, et al. (linguistic contribution to MERP: Arnor, The Land)
  10. Jeff J. Erwin (ca. 1997/98), MERP: Lindon [unpublished manuscript]
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The History of Middle-earth Index
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: C. The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", p. 385
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VI. The Tale of Years of the Second Age", pp. 168, 173
  14. John Crowdis (1990), Rogues of the Borderlands (#8014), p. 15
  15. Oliver Schick, Mailing list message of 9 Oct 2007, at Yahoo groups Fan modules
  16. John Crowdis (1990), Rogues of the Borderlands (#8014), pp. 3-4, 10-11, 14-15
  17. Mark Rabuck (1992), Northwestern Middle-earth Gazetteer (#4002), pp. 16, 44-46
  18. Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1996), Arnor: The People (#2022), pp. 61, 148
  19. Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1997), Arnor: The Land (#2023), pp. 68-69
Remnants of Drowned Beleriand
 Isles:  Himring · Tol Fuin · Tol Morwen
Mainland:  Lindon