Pines

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 21:48, 30 July 2014 by 217.35.84.118 (talk) (The sudden collapse of the Black Pine 26th July 2014)

Pines were common evergreen trees, found throughout the lands of Middle-earth, but especially in the highlands of Dorthonion, a land which took its name from the pine trees that grew there.[1]

Names

The Sindarin name for a "pine-tree" is thôn.[2][3]

In the Etymologies, Ilkorin thōn and Noldorin thaun (pl. thuin), deriving from root THON, are said to mean "pine-tree".[4][5]

In Tolkien's very early conception of the Elvish languages (dating from ca. 1917), the Gnomish name for a "pinetree" is aigos and the Qenya name is aikasse.[6]

Inspiration

Tolkien next to a Black Pine in 1973

One of Tolkien's favourite trees was a certain pine tree (a Black Pine, lat. Pinus nigra) found in the Botanic Garden, Oxford. On the last known photograph of Tolkien (taken 9 August 1973), he appears standing next to the tree.[7]

External links

Sadly the tree suffered a collapse on the 26th of july 2014 and is to be cut down due to safety concerns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYZ_VlXB6pQ

having been present at the collapse the whole event took just 5 minutes from perfectly fine looking tree to devistation. A sad loss to the legend of Tolkien.

References