Ost-in-Edhil

From Tolkien Gateway
Ost-in-Edhil
City
Felix Sotomayor - Ost-in-Edhil cropped.jpg
"Ost-in-Edhil" by Felix Sotomayor
General Information
LocationProbably near the Sirannon many miles downstream from the west-gate of Moria
TypeCity
People and History
InhabitantsElves of Eregion
CreatedS.A. 750[1]
DestroyedS.A. 1697[2]
EventsSack of Eregion
GalleryImages of Ost-in-Edhil
"Deep they delved us, high they builded us, fair they wrought us, but they are gone."
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Ring Goes South[3]

Ost-in-Edhil (S.A. 7501697, existed for c. 947 years) was the chief city in the elven realm of Eregion[1] in Eriador.

The highroad connected Ost-in-Edhil with the west gate of Moria.[4] It was the only road of old from the west to Khazad-dûm and ran along the river Sirannon. Ost-in-Edhil was not within sight of the road for many miles from Moria.[5] As a consequence, it is possible that Ost-in-Edhil was located near the river Sirannon many miles downstream from its source at the west gate of Moria.

History[edit | edit source]

Around S.A. 700 Galadriel and her husband Celeborn, who were regarded as the Lord and Lady of the Eldar in Eriador founded the elven realm of Eregion. The Elves of Eregion were primarily Noldor. Celebrimbor, a Noldorin smith who had accompanied Galadriel and Celeborn, and other elven smiths founded the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, a brotherhood of Elven craftsmen.[1]

Around S.A. 750 the Noldor started to build Ost-in-Edhil.[1] The Elves of Ost-in-Edhil also built[6] a highroad that connected the city with the west gate of Khazad-dûm.[4]

In 1200 a mysterious craftsman named Annatar came to the city. Annatar claimed to have been sent as an emissary by the Valar to aid the Elves. Although Galadriel did not trust Annatar and treated him with contempt, Annatar reacted with patience and courtesy, because he wanted to avoid an open conflict with her at the moment. Annatar was more successful to by accepted by the smiths of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain and in secret instructed them in the art of smithing. After some time the Gwaith-i-Mírdain fell under his influence.[1]

Between S.A. 1350 and 1400 Annatar persuaded the Gwaith-i-Mírdain to rebel against the rule of Galadriel and Celeborn and to seize control over the elven realm of Eregion. As a consequence Galadriel left Eregion with her daugther Celebrian and travelled through Khazad-dûm to the elven realm of Lórinand. Celeborn did not want to enter Khazad-dûm and stayed in Eregion where he was ignored by Celebrimbor.[1]

After the Gwaith-i-Mírdain started to forge the Rings of Power Annatar left Eregion around S.A. 1500[1] and returned to Mordor. Around S.A. 1590 Celebrimbor completed the forging of the three Rings of Power of the Elves.[7] Around S.A. 1600 Annatar, who was in truth Sauron forged a master ring in Mordor with the fire of Mount Doom to dominate the wearers of the Rings of Power. When Sauron put the master ring on his finger Celebrimbor[8] and the other Elves became aware of his plan to be the master of the wearers of the Rings of Power and took their rings off[4] and Celebrimbor revolted against Sauron.[1] After Sauron became aware of the revolt of Celebrimbor, he started to gather an army to take the Rings of Power from the Elves of Eregion by force.[1]

In S.A. 1695 the forces of Sauron came through Calenardhon, invaded Eriador and began the War of the Elves and Sauron.[1] Only two years later, in S.A. 1697[9] the forces of Sauron stormed and destroyed Ost-in-Edhil.[1]

After four years,[10] Sauron and his army were eventually defeated by the Elves with help from the Númenóreans in S.A. 1701 and Sauron fled back to Mordor.[1]

Forty-seven centuries later the Fellowship of the Ring travelled for many miles on the broken and decayed road that once led from Ost-in-Edhil, along the Sirannon, towards the West Gate of Moria without seeing the ruins of Ost-in-Edhil.[5]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Ost-in-Edhil is a Sindarin name.[11] It means "Fortress of the Eldar".[12] Paul Strack suggests that the name is a combination of ost ("fortress", "fort", "stronghold", "citadel", "fortified town", "enclosure"), the plural in of the definite article i and the plural Edhil of edhel "Elf".[11]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Ost-in-Edhil in adaptations
"Caras Gelebren" before its fall in The Lord of the Rings Online  
The "City of the Elven-smiths" in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power  

2009: The Lord of the Rings Online:

As the game does not have the rights to the name "Ost-in-Edhil", other names are used for Eregion's capital. "Mirobel, the Jewel-town" is applied to the eastern part of the city, in the game's region of Eregion proper. It includes "Tham Mírdain": the jewelsmiths' school and library, as well as the Ring-forges. The larger, western part of the city, "Caras Gelebren, the Silver Bastion", lies within the Swanfleet region.
In addition to exploring the late Third Age ruins, players can experience a flashback scenario in which they defend Caras Gelebren during its fall.

2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power:

Amazon Studios does not have the rights to use the name "Ost-in-Edhil". Thus, while the city of Ost-in-Edhil is featured in the show, it is not referred to by name, being instead referred to as the City of the Elven-smiths.

References