Sirannon: Difference between revisions

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{{location
{{location infobox
|image=
| name=Sirannon
[[Image:Glanduin.png|250px]]
| image=
|name=Sirannon
| caption=
|othernames=Gate Stream
| pronun=
|etymology=
| othernames=Gate-stream
|type=Stream
| location=Running from [[Doors of Durin]] to [[Eregion]]
|location=[[Eriador]] west of [[Moria]]
| type=Stream
|inhabitants=
| description=
|realms=
| regions=
|description=Lesser tributary of [[Glanduin]]
| towns=
|events=Journey of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] to the South
| inhabitants=
|references=
| created=
|}}
| destroyed=
The '''Sirannon''', or [[Gate Stream]], was a stream in [[Eriador]].
| events=Journey of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
}}
The '''Sirannon''', or '''Gate-stream''', was a stream in [[Eriador]].<ref name=Map>{{FR|Map}}</ref>


Beginning at the [[Celebdil|Silvertine]], it flowed past the gates of [[Khazad-dûm|Moria]] (hence its name) to [[Ost-in-Edhil]], the old capital city of the [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]], where it joined the river [[Glanduin]]. The Sirannon dropped over the [[Stair Falls]] beyond the gates of Moria, and its sound was heard from miles around.<ref name="Dark">{{FR|II4}}</ref>
==Course==
The Sirannon flowed from its springs near the [[Doors of Durin]], the West-gate of [[Moria]] (hence its name) along the highroad to [[Eregion]]<ref name=UI>{{HM|UI}}, entry ''Sirannon'', pp. 276-277</ref> to the city [[Ost-in-Edhil]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}, fifth paragraph</ref>. It originally ran through a shallow valley that lay in front of the West-gate and then dropped through a wide cleft down the [[Stair Falls]] over a thirty-foot high cliff. It then continued as a swift and noisy river through a deep, narrow channel over a river bed consisting of brown and red stained stones, with the highroad on its northern side.<ref name=Journey>{{FR|Journey}}, pp. 300-302</ref> It is possible that the Sirannon flowed into the nearest river, [[Glanduin]], which flowed from the western side of the [[Misty Mountains]] south of the Doors of Durin to the river [[Greyflood]].<ref name=Map/>


On [[13 January]] {{TA|3019}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> (by which point both Moria and Eregion had long been abandoned), the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] found that the Sirannon had been dammed by someone or something, and before the gates of Moria there was now a foul lake.  In this lake dwelt the [[Watcher in the Water]], who nearly caught the Ringbearer [[Frodo Baggins]].<ref name="Dark"/>
==History==
At some point in time, probably between the time that [[Gandalf]] had been to Moria to search for [[Thráin]] after his disappearance in {{TA|2845}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 2845, p. 1088</ref> and the time that [[Aragorn]] had been there<ref>{{FR|Journey}}, p. 297</ref>, maybe during his great journey and errantries from {{TA|2957}} until {{TA|2980|n}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the years 2957-80, p. 1090</ref> and the end of the failed attempt of the dwarven expedition of [[Balin]] to resettle Moria in {{TA|2994}},<ref name=TA2994>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 2994, p. 1090</ref> someone or something had dammed the river so that a dark, still lake filled the entire valley before the West-gate of Moria, and hardly a trickle of water flowed down the Stair Falls into the channel.<ref name=Journey/>


Some time during the [[Fourth Age]], the Sirannon was probably cleansed, as Moria was eventually resettled by [[Dwarves]].
At the time of the expedition of Balin to Moria between {{TA|2989}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 2989, p. 1090</ref> and {{TA|2994|n}},<ref name=TA2994/> the lake reached the wall of the West-gate and the [[Watcher in the Water]] in the lake took the dwarf [[Óin]], which prevented the dwarves from getting out of Moria through the West-gate.<ref name=Bridge>{{FR|Bridge}}, p. 322</ref>
 
On [[13 January]] {{TA|3019}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 3019, January 13, p. 1092</ref> the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] reached the channel with the river bed and were surprised that the river was reduced to a trickle. They travelled upriver on the road next to the river, climbed the stairs cut into the rock beside the Stair Falls, and discovered that the Sirannon had been dammed. There was now a lake so wide that the great roots of two very large holly trees next to the West-gate reached from the wall of the cliff to the water of the lake.<ref name=Journey/> After [[Boromir]] threw a stone into the lake, the Watcher in the Water nearly caught the Ring-bearer [[Frodo Baggins]]. The Fellowship of the Ring fled from his attack into Moria, but the Watcher in the Water, with a noise of rending and crashing, closed the doors of the West-gate with its tentacles, thus blocking the exit through the Doors of Durin.<ref>{{FR|Journey}}, p. 308</ref>
 
Moria was eventually resettled by [[Dwarves]] during the [[Fourth Age]].<ref name=Fourth>{{PM|Aiv}}, p. 278</ref> As a consequence, it is possible that the dam was removed and that the original course of the Sirannon was restored.
 
==Etymology==
Sirannon is a [[Sindarin]] name.<ref name=Eldamo>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=https://www.eldamo.org/content/words/word-1333188901.html|articlename=S. ''Sirannon'' pn.|website=Eldamo|accessed=29 July 2022}}</ref> It literally means "stream of the Gate". The [[Westron]] name '''Gate-stream''' is its translation.<ref name=UI/> Paul Strack suggests that the name is a combination of ''[[sîr]]'' ("river", "stream") and ''[[annon]]'' ("(great) gate", "door").<ref name=Eldamo/>


{{References}}
{{References}}
[[Category:Streams]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Streams]]
[[de:Sirannon]]
[[de:Sirannon]]
[[fi:Sirannon]]
[[fi:Sirannon]]

Latest revision as of 11:21, 10 November 2023

Sirannon
Stream
General Information
Other namesGate-stream
LocationRunning from Doors of Durin to Eregion
TypeStream
History
EventsJourney of the Fellowship of the Ring

The Sirannon, or Gate-stream, was a stream in Eriador.[1]

Course[edit | edit source]

The Sirannon flowed from its springs near the Doors of Durin, the West-gate of Moria (hence its name) along the highroad to Eregion[2] to the city Ost-in-Edhil[3]. It originally ran through a shallow valley that lay in front of the West-gate and then dropped through a wide cleft down the Stair Falls over a thirty-foot high cliff. It then continued as a swift and noisy river through a deep, narrow channel over a river bed consisting of brown and red stained stones, with the highroad on its northern side.[4] It is possible that the Sirannon flowed into the nearest river, Glanduin, which flowed from the western side of the Misty Mountains south of the Doors of Durin to the river Greyflood.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

At some point in time, probably between the time that Gandalf had been to Moria to search for Thráin after his disappearance in T.A. 2845[5] and the time that Aragorn had been there[6], maybe during his great journey and errantries from T.A. 2957 until 2980[7] and the end of the failed attempt of the dwarven expedition of Balin to resettle Moria in T.A. 2994,[8] someone or something had dammed the river so that a dark, still lake filled the entire valley before the West-gate of Moria, and hardly a trickle of water flowed down the Stair Falls into the channel.[4]

At the time of the expedition of Balin to Moria between T.A. 2989[9] and 2994,[8] the lake reached the wall of the West-gate and the Watcher in the Water in the lake took the dwarf Óin, which prevented the dwarves from getting out of Moria through the West-gate.[10]

On 13 January T.A. 3019[11] the Fellowship of the Ring reached the channel with the river bed and were surprised that the river was reduced to a trickle. They travelled upriver on the road next to the river, climbed the stairs cut into the rock beside the Stair Falls, and discovered that the Sirannon had been dammed. There was now a lake so wide that the great roots of two very large holly trees next to the West-gate reached from the wall of the cliff to the water of the lake.[4] After Boromir threw a stone into the lake, the Watcher in the Water nearly caught the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins. The Fellowship of the Ring fled from his attack into Moria, but the Watcher in the Water, with a noise of rending and crashing, closed the doors of the West-gate with its tentacles, thus blocking the exit through the Doors of Durin.[12]

Moria was eventually resettled by Dwarves during the Fourth Age.[13] As a consequence, it is possible that the dam was removed and that the original course of the Sirannon was restored.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Sirannon is a Sindarin name.[14] It literally means "stream of the Gate". The Westron name Gate-stream is its translation.[2] Paul Strack suggests that the name is a combination of sîr ("river", "stream") and annon ("(great) gate", "door").[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Sirannon, pp. 276-277
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age", fifth paragraph
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", pp. 300-302
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2845, p. 1088
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", p. 297
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the years 2957-80, p. 1090
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2994, p. 1090
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2989, p. 1090
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm", p. 322
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 3019, January 13, p. 1092
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", p. 308
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (iv) "Durin's Folk", p. 278
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Paul Strack, "S. Sirannon pn.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 29 July 2022)
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