Orfalch Echor: Difference between revisions
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The ravine | [[File:Alarie - The First Gate.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The First Gate'' by [[:Category:Images by Alarie|Alarie]]]] | ||
The '''Orfalch Echor''' was the great ravine through the [[Dry River]] of the [[Encircling Mountains]] by which [[Gondolin]] was approached. | |||
[[Category: Cliffs and | == History == | ||
The Orfalch Echor was the route that [[Elemmakil]] led [[Tuor]] and [[Voronwë]] through to meet [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]]. At its lower end was the First Gate, the [[Gate of Wood]]. The Orfalch continued through the remainder of the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin]], reaching the Seventh Gate, the [[Gate of Steel]]. At the upper end was a high sward that offered a view of [[Tumladen]] and the city in its center.<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}</ref><ref>{{S|23}}</ref> | |||
During [[Húrin|Húrin's]] [[The Wanderings of Húrin|wanderings]], he came upon the Orfalch Echor, only to find the old Way of Escape buried underneath ''"a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock-wall"''.<ref>{{WJ|Hurin}}, pp. 271, 302</ref> | |||
== Etymology == | |||
The name ''Orfalch Echor'' is suggested by Paul Strack to be a combination of [[Noldorin]] ''or'' ("above"), ''falch'' ("cleft"), and ''echor'' ("outer circle"), perhaps meaning "High Cleft of the Outer Circle".<ref>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=http://eldamo.org/content/words/word-677947469.html|articlename=S. ''Orfalch Echor'' loc.|website=Eldamo|accessed=16 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
== Other versions of the legendarium == | |||
In ''[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the '''Way of Escape''' was the main entrance to [[Gondolin]], and it was not a natural ravine, but was instead built by the [[Gondothlim]] to be used by those [[Noldoli]] who escaped from [[Melko]]<ref name=LT>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|163}} and as a way of escape in case the city was attacked, as it eventually was. Because of [[Maeglin|Meglin's]] treason, Melko was aware of this pass, so many survivors were killed there by a monster while trying to escape quickly in spite of [[Idril|Idril's]] warnings.<ref name=LT></ref>{{rp|189}} | |||
This way is also known as ''Bad Uthwen'' in [[Gnomish]] and ''Uswevandë'' in [[Qenya]].<ref name=LT></ref>{{rp|336}} | |||
{{References}} | |||
{{gondolin}} | |||
[[Category:Cliffs and ravines]] | |||
[[Category:Gondolin]] | |||
[[Category:Passes]] | |||
[[Category:Sindarin locations]] | |||
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/routes/orfalch_echor]] | |||
Latest revision as of 14:23, 15 March 2023
The Orfalch Echor was the great ravine through the Dry River of the Encircling Mountains by which Gondolin was approached.
History[edit | edit source]
The Orfalch Echor was the route that Elemmakil led Tuor and Voronwë through to meet Ecthelion of the Fountain. At its lower end was the First Gate, the Gate of Wood. The Orfalch continued through the remainder of the Seven Gates of Gondolin, reaching the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Steel. At the upper end was a high sward that offered a view of Tumladen and the city in its center.[1][2]
During Húrin's wanderings, he came upon the Orfalch Echor, only to find the old Way of Escape buried underneath "a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock-wall".[3]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The name Orfalch Echor is suggested by Paul Strack to be a combination of Noldorin or ("above"), falch ("cleft"), and echor ("outer circle"), perhaps meaning "High Cleft of the Outer Circle".[4]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
In The Book of Lost Tales, the Way of Escape was the main entrance to Gondolin, and it was not a natural ravine, but was instead built by the Gondothlim to be used by those Noldoli who escaped from Melko[5]:163 and as a way of escape in case the city was attacked, as it eventually was. Because of Meglin's treason, Melko was aware of this pass, so many survivors were killed there by a monster while trying to escape quickly in spite of Idril's warnings.[5]:189
This way is also known as Bad Uthwen in Gnomish and Uswevandë in Qenya.[5]:336
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 271, 302
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Orfalch Echor loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 16 March 2019)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
