Rivers of Gondor: Difference between revisions

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The '''Rivers of Gondor''' can be classified into two distinct groups.
The '''Rivers of Gondor''' can be classified into two overlapping groups.  
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==Rivers of Gondor==


The ''Seven Rivers of Gondor'' are the following:
The ''Five Rivers of Gondor'' are named in order of their mouths from east to west:<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 704</ref>


#The river [[Lefnui]],
# [[Erui]], flowing from [[Lossarnach]] and into the [[Anduin]];
#The river [[Morthond]],
# [[Sirith]], arising from the [[White Mountains]] and joining the Anduin at [[Pelargir]];
#The river [[Ciril]],
# [[Serni]], meeting the [[Bay of Belfalas]] just below [[Linhir]];
#The river [[Ringló]],
# [[Morthond]], being joined by [[Ringló]] and [[Ciril]] it flows into the [[Cobas Haven]];
#The river [[Gilrain]],
# [[Lefnui]], the fifth river which forms the boundary between [[Gondor]] and [[Drúwaith Iaur]].<ref>{{VT|42a}}, p. 14</ref>
#The river [[Serni]],
#The river [[Anduin]].


The ''Five Rivers of [[Lebennin]]'' are the following:
In [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s earlier notes on the creation of [[General Map of Middle-earth|the map]] of [[Middle-earth]] - included in both ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]'' and ''[[The War of the Ring]]'' - [[Christopher Tolkien]] shows that the original extensive list of the Rivers of Gondor also included the [[Anduin]], the [[Morgulduin|Duin Morghul]], the [[Poros]] and the [[Calenhir]].<ref>{{WR|3|XIV}}, p. 436</ref> In the earlier drafts of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' there were several references to both the "Land of the Seven Streams" and "Seven Streams" (with one in the published [[Lament for Boromir]]: "''I saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and grey''");<ref>{{TT|Departure}}</ref> although Christopher Tolkien regards this as a "puzzle", a note from Tolkien on the map names the seven rivers (the five above with two more added):<ref>{{TI|First}}, p. 312</ref>


#The river Anduin,
<ol start="6">
#The river Celos, which started in the [[White Mountains]] and became a tributary of-
<li>[[Isen]], flowing westward to [[Belegaer]] from [[Isengard]];</li>
#the river Sirith, which met Anduin at [[Pelargir]],
<li>[[Gwathló]], representing the boundary of [[Arnor]], passing through the port of [[Tharbad]] and joining the sea at [[Lond Daer]].</li>
#The river Serni (also spelled ''Sernui''), which began in the plains of Lebennin and met the [[Bay of Belfalas]] north of Ethir Anduin at the city of Linhir, and
</ol>
#the river Gilrain, which started as two unnamed tributaries in the White Mountains, and flowed south meeting the Sernui at Linhir.


The river [[Poros]] was the effective southern border of Gondor during the later [[Third Age]].
However, the poem "[[The Last Ship]]" in ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' makes reference to the "Seven Rivers"<ref>{{AB|Ship}}</ref> which are identified as:<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christina Scull]] (ed.) and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] (ed.), ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' pocket edition, "Commentary", pp. 120-1</ref><ref>{{AB|Preface}}</ref>


# [[Lefnui]], the first river going from west to east, forms the western boundary of [[Gondor]];
# [[Morthond]], starting near the southern entrance of the [[Paths of the Dead]] it passes [[Erech]] to reach the sea above [[Dol Amroth]]
# [[Ciril|Kiril]], a tributary of the Morthond that flows from the White Mountains past the town of [[Calembel]];
# [[Ringló]], another tributary of the Morthond that passes through the ford of [[Ethring]];
# [[Gilrain]], joining the river Serni at [[Linhir]];
# [[Serni]] - originally spelt "Sernui" - and joins with the Gilrain at Linhir;
# [[Anduin]], the Great River that flows from [[Rhovanion]], over [[Rauros]], through [[Osgiliath]] and out into the sea after [[Pelargir]].
==Five Rivers of Lebennin==
[[Lebennin]] is the region south of [[Minas Tirith]] between the [[White Mountains]] and [[Ethir Anduin]]. Its name means "Five Rivers", and the ''Five Rivers of Lebennin'' are the following:<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Lebennin''</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 274</ref>
# [[Erui]], forming the traditional boundary between Lebennin and [[Anórien]];
# [[Celos]], a small tributary of [[Sirith]];
# [[Sirith]], arising from the [[White Mountains]] and joining the Anduin at [[Pelargir]];
# [[Gilrain]], which started as two unnamed tributaries in the White Mountains and flowed south meeting the Serni at [[Linhir]];
# [[Serni]], meeting the Bay of [[Belfalas]] just below Linhir and above [[Ethir Anduin]].
==See also==
* [[Ossiriand]], "Land of Seven Rivers"
* [[Poros]], the border-river between [[South Ithilien]] and [[South Gondor]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Rivers]]

Latest revision as of 15:35, 18 February 2024

The Rivers of Gondor can be classified into two overlapping groups.

Rivers of Gondor[edit | edit source]

The Five Rivers of Gondor are named in order of their mouths from east to west:[1]

  1. Erui, flowing from Lossarnach and into the Anduin;
  2. Sirith, arising from the White Mountains and joining the Anduin at Pelargir;
  3. Serni, meeting the Bay of Belfalas just below Linhir;
  4. Morthond, being joined by Ringló and Ciril it flows into the Cobas Haven;
  5. Lefnui, the fifth river which forms the boundary between Gondor and Drúwaith Iaur.[2]

In Tolkien's earlier notes on the creation of the map of Middle-earth - included in both The Treason of Isengard and The War of the Ring - Christopher Tolkien shows that the original extensive list of the Rivers of Gondor also included the Anduin, the Duin Morghul, the Poros and the Calenhir.[3] In the earlier drafts of The Lord of the Rings there were several references to both the "Land of the Seven Streams" and "Seven Streams" (with one in the published Lament for Boromir: "I saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and grey");[4] although Christopher Tolkien regards this as a "puzzle", a note from Tolkien on the map names the seven rivers (the five above with two more added):[5]

  1. Isen, flowing westward to Belegaer from Isengard;
  2. Gwathló, representing the boundary of Arnor, passing through the port of Tharbad and joining the sea at Lond Daer.

However, the poem "The Last Ship" in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil makes reference to the "Seven Rivers"[6] which are identified as:[7][8]

  1. Lefnui, the first river going from west to east, forms the western boundary of Gondor;
  2. Morthond, starting near the southern entrance of the Paths of the Dead it passes Erech to reach the sea above Dol Amroth
  3. Kiril, a tributary of the Morthond that flows from the White Mountains past the town of Calembel;
  4. Ringló, another tributary of the Morthond that passes through the ford of Ethring;
  5. Gilrain, joining the river Serni at Linhir;
  6. Serni - originally spelt "Sernui" - and joins with the Gilrain at Linhir;
  7. Anduin, the Great River that flows from Rhovanion, over Rauros, through Osgiliath and out into the sea after Pelargir.

Five Rivers of Lebennin[edit | edit source]

Lebennin is the region south of Minas Tirith between the White Mountains and Ethir Anduin. Its name means "Five Rivers", and the Five Rivers of Lebennin are the following:[9][10]

  1. Erui, forming the traditional boundary between Lebennin and Anórien;
  2. Celos, a small tributary of Sirith;
  3. Sirith, arising from the White Mountains and joining the Anduin at Pelargir;
  4. Gilrain, which started as two unnamed tributaries in the White Mountains and flowed south meeting the Serni at Linhir;
  5. Serni, meeting the Bay of Belfalas just below Linhir and above Ethir Anduin.

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 704
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, p. 14
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Three: Minas Tirith", "XIV. The Second Map", p. 436
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Departure of Boromir"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XV. The First Map of The Lord of the Rings", "The original element in the First Map", p. 312
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Last Ship"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christina Scull (ed.) and Wayne G. Hammond (ed.), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil pocket edition, "Commentary", pp. 120-1
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Preface"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, entry Lebennin
  10. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 274
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