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Sarn Ford

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This article is about a ford near the Shire. For the ford in Beleriand, see Sarn Athrad.

Sarn Ford was the stone ford on the River Baranduin, on the far southern borders of the Shire. It was guarded by the Rangers of the North.

A road beginning at Michel Delving crossed the ford, which met the Greenway further south. By this road Khamûl the Ringwraith entered the Shire during the War of the Ring.

Contents

Etymology

Sarn Ford was so named by the Númenóreans, after Sarn Athrad in Beleriand.[1]

The name is a half-translation of the Elvish (Sindarin) name Sarn-athrad, meaning "stony-ford" (sarn + athrad).[2][1]

Inspirations

Perhaps J.R.R. Tolkien was inspired by the landscape of his childhood: "Hall Green village was only a little distance away [from Sarehole] down a lane and across a ford.".[3]

Portrayal in adaptations

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Sarn Ford (colloquial name for Iach Sarn or Athrad Sarn) is a ford maintained by an Arthedain garrison. The site is given a detailed description and history.[4][5][6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 163
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 775
  3. ↑ Humphrey Carpenter, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography
  4. ↑ Mark Rabuck (1992), Northwestern Middle-earth Gazetteer (#4002)
  5. ↑ Wesley Frank (1995), The Shire (#2017)
  6. ↑ Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1997), Arnor: The Land (#2023)
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