https://tolkiengateway.net/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=69.158.27.3&feedformat=atomTolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T12:03:22ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.39.3https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Mirkwood&diff=88962Mirkwood2009-12-26T07:13:52Z<p>69.158.27.3: </p>
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<div>{{sources}}{{expansion}}<br />
{{location<br />
| image=[[Image:J.R.R. Tolkien - Mirkwood.jpg|300px]]<br />
| name=Mirkwood<br />
| othernames=[[Taur-nu-Fuin (Mirkwood)|Taur-nu-Fuin]], Forest of Great Fear, [[Taur-e-Ndaedelos]], [[Greenwood the Great]], [[Eryn Galen]], Wood of Greenleaves, [[Eryn Lasgalen]].<br />
| etymology=Anglicized [[Westron]] ''mirk'' + ''wood''<br />
| type=Forest<br />
| location=East of the [[Misty Mountains]], south of [[Ered Mithrin]]<br />
| inhabitants=[[Spiders]], [[Wood-elves]], [[Orcs]], [[Nazgûl]]<br />
| realms=[[Woodland Realm]], [[Dol Guldur]]<br />
| description=Deep, thick, dark forest<br />
| events=[[Fall of Dol Guldur]]<br />
| references=<br />
|}}<br />
{{quote|Well, here is Mirkwood! ''[...]'' Greatest of the forests of the Northern world. I hope you like the look of it.|[[Gandalf]]<ref name="Queer">{{HM|H}}, "[[Queer Lodgings]]"</ref>}}<br />
<br />
'''Mirkwood''' ([[Sindarin|S]]: ''[[Taur-nu-Fuin (Mirkwood)|Taur-nu-Fuin]]'') or the '''Forest of Great Fear''' ([[Sindarin|S]]: ''[[Taur-e-Ndaedelos]]'') was a great forest in [[Rhovanion]]. It was only known by these names in the latter part of the [[Third Age]], having previously been called [[Greenwood the Great]] ([[Sindarin|S]]: ''[[Eryn Galen]]'') and later became the [[Wood of Greenleaves]] ([[Sindarin|S]]: ''[[Eryn Lasgalen]]'').<br />
<br />
== Geography ==<br />
Mirkwood seems to have had much the same boundaries as it did at the end of the Third Age for most of its history. It was roughly rectangular in shape: stretching from the foothills of the [[Grey Mountains]] in the north to the [[North Undeep]] in the south, and from the east edge of the vale of [[Anduin]] to [[Erebor]].<br />
<br />
It was bisected by the ancient [[Old Forest Road]]. Later, when this road became unusable, a second path through the forest was made to the north. Between the two paths lay the [[Mountains of Mirkwood]]. The [[Forest River]] cut through the forest's northern end from its source in the western Grey Mountains, joined in the centre by the [[Enchanted River]] which flowed north from the Mountains of Mirkwood.<br />
[[Image:CJRT - Map of Wilderland.jpg|thumb|right|Map of [[Wilderland]] by [[Christopher Tolkien]] showing the northern part of Mirkwood.]]<br />
South of the Old Forest road the [[East Bight]] created the ''Narrows of the Forest'', only one hundred miles across. South and west of the narrows was the a hill called [[Amon Lanc]].<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<br />
Originally called Greenwood the Great, the forest presumably once formed part of the vast primeval woodland which covered most of [[Middle-earth]] during the [[Years of the Trees]]. The [[Eldar]] passed through the area on their [[Great Journey|journey]] to [[Valinor]] and it was first populated at this time by the [[Nandor]], unwilling to cross the [[Misty Mountains]] settled in the wooded valleys of the river Anduin. They multiplied and were joined by wandering [[Avari]], becoming known as Silvan or Wood-elves.<br />
<br />
The Old Forest Road was constructed very early in Greenwood's history, probably by [[Dwarves]] to carry traffic between their eastern and western clans, including the Dwarven colony in Erebor very close to the north-eastern edge of the forest.<br />
<br />
=== Second Age ===<br />
<br />
Greenwood first appeared to history in recognisable form on the arrival of the [[Sindar]] [[Oropher]] and his hold at the beginning of the Second Age. Oropher built his halls at Amon Lanc and was accepted as the leader of the Wood-elves of Greenwood, forming the [[Woodland Realm]]. <br />
<br />
Presumably by this time [[Men]] had also settled in and around the forest in small numbers.<br />
<br />
=== Third Age ===<br />
<br />
The first millennium of the Third Age probably saw the creation of the East Bight by men living in the eastern eaves of the forest. These men may have formed part of the [[Kingdom of Rhovanion]] led by [[Vidugavia]]. Men, such as the [[Éothéod]], and [[Hobbits]] also lived in the vale of Anduin and were likely responsible for the retreat of the forest's western border.<br />
<br />
At the beginning of the Third Age [[Thranduil]] replaced [[Oropher]] as king of the Woodland Realm. Probably as a result of massive losses at the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] the Silvan population of Greenwood was diminished and became mainly concentrated in the hills then known as [[Emyn Duir]]. This included the abandonment of Amon Lanc, and around the turn of the first millennium [[Sauron]], under the guise of the '[[Necromancer]]', returned to Middle-earth and built a fortress there. The hill and the fortress together become known as [[Dol Guldur]], the "Hill of Sorcery".<br />
<br />
Sauron's arrival caused a darkening of Greenwood, and it is at this point it became known as Mirkwood. The children of [[Shelob]], giant [[spiders]], as well as bats and orcs in Dol Guldur's service occupied the forest and it became thicker, darker and covered in cobwebs.<ref>{{HM|H}}, "[[Flies and Spiders]]"</ref><br />
<br />
This caused the Silvan population of Mirkwood to retreat even further, residing apparently exclusively in [[Thranduil's halls]] at the eastern end of the Forest River. The ancient Old Forest Road was abandoned by men and Dwarves alike, with a new but seldom used path being made further from Dol Guldur and the Hobbits near the forest's eastern border migrated away.<br />
<br />
Mirkwood remained a place of fear throughout the Third Age, though the kingdoms of [[Erebor]] and [[Dale]] flourished briefly in the time of the [[Kings under the Mountain]]. This prosperity was ended by the arrival of the [[Dragon]] [[Smaug]] who brought yet further desolation to the area north-eastern Mirkwood. Small homesteads of 'Woodmen' are also recorded as living in the western edge of the forest south of the old road in [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]].<ref>{{HM|H}}, "Map of Wilderland"</ref><br />
<br />
[[Image:Galadriel dol guldur bfmeII.JPG|thumb|240px|left|Galadriel casts down the walls of Dol Guldur.''.]]<br />
The shadow over Mirkwood was lifted, albeit temporarily, in [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]] when the [[White Council]], prompted by the [[wizard]] [[Gandalf|Gandalf's]] discovery of his true identity, drove Sauron from Dol Guldur. Gandalf also instigated [[The Hobbit#Synopsis|the Quest for Erebor]] which resulted in the slaying of Smaug in the same year. The combination of these two events allowed the re-established kingdoms of Erebor and Dale, as well as the Woodland Realm and a confederacy of Woodmen led by the [[Beornings]] to flourish for a brief period.<br />
<br />
However, only ten years after these events Sauron, now based in [[Mordor]], sent the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] and the other [[Nazgûl]] to secretly reoccupy Dol Guldur and begin amassing an army of Orcs and [[Easterlings]] there. In [[Third Age 3018|3018]] these attacked the Woodland Realm, as well as Dale, Erebor and [[Lórien]], in the opening moves of the [[War of the Ring]].<br />
<br />
On [[Third Age 3019#March|March 19 3019]] Thranduil repulsed Sauron's forces in the bloody [[Battle Under Trees]] and mounted a campaign to clear northern Mirkwood of Sauron's servants. At the same time the elves of Lórien led by [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]] assaulted and destroyed Dol Guldur, and began to cleanse the southern part of the forest. Celeborn and Thranduil met in the midst of the forest on [[Elven New Year]] and formally renamed the forest Eryn Lasgalen. They then agreed to divide it between the Woodland Realm from the northern edge of the forest to the mountains, the Beornings from the mountains to the Narrows and [[East Lórien]] from the Narrows south.<br />
<br />
=== Fourth Age ===<br />
<br />
Though initially they prospered as the darkness was lifted, the elves of the Wood of Greenleaves were destined either to depart for Valinor or fade into rustic forest spirits. The forest probably then ultimately fell under the dominion of men, the descendent of the Beornings and the men of Dale.<br />
<br />
== Etymology ==<br />
<br />
The name ''Mirkwood'' originally came from Germanic legends.<br />
<br />
Projected into Old English, the term appears as ''Myrcwudu'' in Tolkien's ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings|The Lost Road]]'', as a poem sung by [[Aelfwine]] (''[[King Sheave]]'', [[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]):<br />
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;"><br />
Sea-danes and Goths, Swedes and Northmen, <br />
Franks and Frisians, folk of the islands, <br />
Swordmen and Saxons, Swabes and English, <br />
and the Langobards who long ago <br />
beyond Myrcwudu a mighty realm <br />
and wealth won them in the Welsh countries <br />
where Ælfwine Eadwine's heir <br />
in Italy was king. All that has passed.<br />
</poem><br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[:Category:Images of Mirkwood|Images of Mirkwood]]<br />
<br />
{{references}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Regions]]<br />
[[Category:Forests]]<br />
[[Category:Rhovanion]]<br />
[[de:Düsterwald]]<br />
[[fi:Synkmetsä]]</div>69.158.27.3https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Ar-Pharaz%C3%B4n&diff=88961Ar-Pharazôn2009-12-26T06:53:12Z<p>69.158.27.3: </p>
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<div>{{numenorean<br />
| image=[[Image:Paula_DiSante_-_Ar-Pharazon_Defies.JPG|250px]]<br />
| name=Ar-Pharazôn<br />
| othernames=[[The Golden]], [[Tar-Calion]], King of the Sea<br />
| birth=[[Second Age 3118|S.A. 3118]]<br />
| rule=[[Second Age 3255|S.A. 3255]]-[[Second Age 3319|3319]] (64 years)<br />
| death=[[Second Age 3319|S.A. 3319]]<br />
| age=201 years<br />
| party=[[King's Men]]<br />
| language=[[Adûnaic]]<br />
| gender=Male<br />
| height=<br />
| hair=<br />
| eyes=<br />
| parentage=[[Gimilkhâd]]<br />
| siblings=<br />
| spouse=[[Tar-Míriel]]<br />
| children=<br />
|}}<br />
<blockquote>''"Ar-Pharazôn the Golden was the proudest and most powerful of all the Kings, and no less than the kingship of the world was his desire."'' —''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]</blockquote><br />
'''Ar-Pharazôn the Golden''' was the twenty-fifth and last [[King of Númenor|King]] of [[Númenor]]. He was the son of [[Gimilkhâd]], who was the younger brother of the twenty-fourth King, [[Tar-Palantir]]. Ar-Pharazôn's willful rule, and his great pride, led directly to the [[Bent World|world-changing]] [[Downfall of Númenor]] and the founding of the realms of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]].<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
In his youth, Pharazôn and [[Amandil of Andúnië|Amandil]], the [[Lord of Andúnië]] and later the leader of the [[Faithful]] Númenóreans, were dear friends. After some time, Pharazôn departed from Númenor to participate in the wars in [[Middle-earth]] that the [[King's Men]] were waging against [[Sauron]]. While in Middle-earth, he became a great captain and commander of the Númenórean armies. Pharazôn did not return to Númenor until a few years before the death of Tar-Palantir, when he heard of his own father's early death. During his time there, Pharazôn was generous with the wealth he had acquired in Middle-earth, and the hearts of the people were turned toward him. He remained on the island until Tar-Palantir died. At that time, Pharazôn took the King's daughter [[Míriel of Númenor|Míriel]] as his wife, much against her will, and against the laws of Númenor which prohibited first cousins from marrying. Pharazôn then changed her name to [[Ar-Zimraphel]]. Thus he usurped the throne and, taking the [[Sceptre]] into his own hand, proclaimed himself King Ar-Pharazôn.<br />
<br />
===King of Númenor===<br />
Soon after Ar-Pharazôn's unlawful ascent to power, he heard news that Sauron had been assailing the Númenórean settlements in Middle-earth since his return to the island. His captains explained to him that the fallen [[Maia]] wished to drive the Númenóreans back to the [[Great Sea|Sea]] whence they had come, and declare himself King of Men. They also told Ar-Pharazôn that Sauron wished to destroy Númenor itself, if possible.<br />
<br />
====Ar-Pharazôn Humbles Sauron====<br />
Ar-Pharazôn became very angry upon hearing this news, and decided that he himself would claim the title of King of Men instead, and make Sauron his servant. To accomplish this end, he spent five years preparing a great force. In 3261 he launched the Númenórean fleet and landed at the [[Haven of Umbar]]. From there, Ar-Pharazôn and his army marched north to [[Mordor]]. Their splendor and might was so great that Sauron's own servants deserted him. Therefore, since he perceived that he could not defeat the Númenóreans through strength of arms, Sauron changed into his fair form and humbled himself before Ar-Pharazôn. The King stripped Sauron of his titles and decreed that he would be taken as a hostage to Númenor, to keep his servants from harassing the Númenóreans in Middle-earth. <br />
<br />
Sauron acted as if this decision dismayed him, but it actually furthered his plans to destroy Ar-Pharazôn and the Númenóreans in retaliation for this humiliation. Sauron thus allowed himself to be brought to Númenor by Ar-Pharazôn's army, but as soon as he set foot on the island he began corrupting the minds of the Númenóreans, beginning with their proud King. Sauron flattered Ar-Pharazôn and used his knowledge to help the King gain anything he desired. Ar-Pharazôn responded to this flattery and made Sauron his chief advisor three years after his coming to Númenor.<br />
<br />
====Sauron's Teachings====<br />
Sauron taught the people of Númenor many things, and in most of his speeches he spoke against the [[Valar]], who most Númenóreans already feared and disliked. Eventually, however, the Maia's teachings began to focus more upon [[Darkness (concept)|Darkness]]. He told his listeners that "Darkness alone is worshipful, and the Lord thereof may yet make other worlds to be gifts to those that serve him, so that the increase of their power shall find no end." These words reached the ears of Ar-Pharazôn, and he spoke to Sauron in secret in order to learn more about the Lord of Darkness. Sauron told the King that this Lord was [[Melkor]], and that [[Eru|Eru Ilúvatar]] was only a lie devised by the Valar to keep [[Men]] from rebelling against them. The Maia thus himself lied to Ar-Pharazôn, and said that by serving Melkor, the "Giver of Freedom", the King would escape from these untruths of the Valar, and become stronger than them.<br />
<br />
At this time Ar-Pharazôn began to worship the Darkness and Melkor its Lord. He practiced this new religion in secret at first, but soon displayed it openly, and "his people for the most part followed him". The King made ascending the [[Meneltarma]] (which the worshipers of Ilúvatar had formerly done, in order to make offerings on its summit) a crime punishable by death. Sauron then advised Ar-Pharazôn to destroy [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the White Tree of Númenor, which was the last symbol of the Númenóreans' ancient friendship with the Valar and the [[Elves]]. Ar-Pharazôn was reluctant to do this, because he had heard of Tar-Palantir's prophecy that the Line of Kings would end when the Tree perished.<br />
<br />
====Years of Tyranny====<br />
However, when a disguised man (actually [[Isildur]]) stole a fruit from Nimloth upon hearing Sauron's advice to the King, Ar-Pharazôn assented to the Tree's destruction. It was also at this time that Ar-Pharazôn dismissed his erstwhile friend Amandil from his [[Council of the Sceptre|Council]], though the King and his supporters did not otherwise harm Amandil or his family. After the White Tree was felled, Sauron had it burned in a mighty [[Temple]] that the Númenóreans had built in [[Armenelos]] on his orders. The King and his followers then used this Temple for the worship of Melkor. They captured members of the Faithful and sacrificed them in the fires of the altar, in the hope that Melkor would release them from [[Gift of Men|Death]]. The Númenóreans did the same to the Men of Middle-earth who lived near their settlements, and thus Ar-Pharazôn became the greatest tyrant that the world had seen since [[Morgoth]], "though in truth Sauron ruled all from behind the throne".<br />
<br />
But Ar-Pharazôn and the Númenóreans did not escape death by this means, and eventually the King grew old and was in great fear of the end of his life and the "going out into the Darkness that he had worshiped". Ar-Pharazôn became wrathful and desperate, and at last Sauron gave the King his final advice. The Maia told Ar-Pharazôn that by warring against the Valar and conquering [[Valinor]], their land in the [[West]], he could gain everlasting life. Ar-Pharazôn feared to wage such a war, but his desperation prompted him to begin building a [[Great Armament]] in [[Second Age 3310|S.A. 3310]] to attack Valinor. <br />
<br />
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Eagles of Manwë.jpg|right|thumb|''The Eagles of Manwë'' by Ted Nasmith]]<br> While this Armament was being constructed, the Valar sent warnings to the Númenóreans in the form of terrible thunderstorms and clouds shaped like [[Eagles]], and the ground began to groan and shake. But these signals only caused the King and his people to harden their hearts yet more, and Ar-Pharazôn (prompted by Sauron) proclaimed, "The [[Lords of the West]] have plotted against us. They strike first. The next blow shall be ours!"<br />
<br />
====War against the Valar====<br />
[[Image:John Howe - Fleet of Ar-Pharazon.jpg|thumb|left|300px|''Fleet of Ar-Pharazôn'' by [[John Howe]]]]<br />
Nine years after the preparations for war began, the Great Armament was completed. Ar-Pharazôn journeyed to the west of Númenor where the fleet was anchored, and boarded his mighty ship [[Alcarondas]]. He sat upon his throne in full armor and signaled for the raising of the anchors. The fleet left Númenor just before sundown, and passed into the forbidden seas of the West.<br />
<br />
Because no one from the Great Armament ever returned to mortal lands, Ar-Pharazôn's fate remains uncertain. It is said in the ''[[Akallabêth]]'' that the fleet passed [[Tol Eressëa]] and anchored near the coast of Valinor. Upon seeing the splendor of [[Taniquetil]], Ar-Pharazôn became afraid and nearly gave the order to retreat. In the end, however, his pride caused him to go ashore, and a great part of his army followed him. Ar-Pharazôn led his troops to the Elven city of [[Tirion]], and they set up an encampment around it. Then the King proclaimed that the land of the Valar was his, if none would challenge him for it.<br />
<br />
At this time, the Valar called upon Eru for aid, and relinquished their authority over [[Arda]]. Eru broke the world and made it round, so that Men could never again sail to Valinor. In this catastrophe, Ar-Pharazôn's fleet was pulled into the chasm that opened between the [[Blessed Realm]] and mortal lands, and Númenor sank beneath the Sea. Ar-Pharazôn himself (along with the soldiers that had followed him to Valinor) is said to have been buried "under falling hills," and lies in the [[Caves of the Forgotten]] "until the [[Dagor Dagorath|Last Battle]] and the Day of Doom".<br />
<br />
==Legacy==<br />
Though Ar-Pharazôn was the last King of Númenor, the Line of [[Elros]] survived through [[Elendil]] the son of Amandil, and his two sons, [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]]. They managed to escape the [[Downfall of Númenor]] that Ar-Pharazôn's actions had caused, and later created the kingdoms of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]] in [[Middle-earth]].<br />
<br />
Sometime before his death at the end of the [[Second Age]], Elendil wrote down some of the history of Númenor, culminating in the tale of its destruction. Much of this document was focused on the effects of the reign of Ar-Pharazôn and Sauron's teachings to the Númenóreans. Elendil's work was called the ''[[Akallabêth]]'', and its retelling of Ar-Pharazôn's life was one of the only parts of Númenor's history that remained widely known after the Downfall.<br />
<br />
Many years after the Downfall, the [[Kings of Gondor]] erected a great pillar at Umbar as a commemoration of Ar-Pharazôn. Even though Elendil's people suffered greatly because of the evil that Sauron caused in Númenor as a result of Ar-Pharazôn's deeds, his descendants still wished to honor the King and his army for the humbling of Sauron. When Sauron retook Umbar from the Gondorians, he in turn had this monument to his defeat destroyed.<br />
<br />
==Etymology==<br />
[[Pharazôn]] means "Golden" in [[Adûnaic]], and is derived from the word ''[[pharaz]]'', 'gold'. Had Ar-Pharazôn taken a [[Quenya]] name, he would have ruled as ''Tar-Calion''. This title does not appear to be a direct translation of his Adûnaic name, since it means "Son of Light" (from ''[[cal]]'' 'light', and ''[[-ion]]'', the masculine patronymic). Like all the other Kings of Númenor who took their royal names in Adûnaic, Pharazôn added the prefix ''[[Ar | ar]]'' ('high', 'King') to his name when he seized the Sceptre.<br />
<br />
==Genealogy==<br />
<code><br />
[[Ar-Gimilzôr]] = [[Inzilbêth]]<br />
|<br />
__________|_________<br />
| |<br />
| |<br />
[[Inziladûn]] ([[Tar-Palantir]]) [[Gimilkhâd]]<br />
| |<br />
| |<br />
[[Tar-Míriel]] ([[Ar-Zimraphel]]) = '''AR-PHARAZÔN'''<br />
</code><br />
==Other Versions of the Legendarium==<br />
In earlier versions of the ''Akallabêth'', Ar-Pharazôn summoned Sauron to Númenor instead of taking an army to Middle-earth and humbling him. The elements of Morgoth-worship and human sacrifice were not originally parts of his rule, either; in the first stories of the Downfall, Ar-Pharazôn merely built the Temple (on top of the Meneltarma, however) for future use and allowed Sauron to watch the people from it.<br />
<br />
Alternate stories of Ar-Pharazôn's life written by Tolkien include a version in which Míriel was actually attracted to him, and their marriage was consensual. She gave him most of her power voluntarily. This remarkable textual development existed even in some of the latest revisions of the ''Akallabêth''.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<br />
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor]]<br />
* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Akallabêth]]<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Númenóreans]]<br />
* [[Downfall of Númenor]]<br />
* [[Great Armament]]<br />
* [[Gimilkhâd]]<br />
* [[Amandil of Andúnië]]<br />
* [[Tar-Míriel]]<br />
* [[King's Men]]<br />
* [[Sauron]] <br />
{{sequence<br />
|prev=[[Tar-Palantir]]<br />
|next=None<br>(kingdom destroyed)<br />
|list=25th [[King of Númenor]]<br><code>II</code> 3255 – 3319<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[category:Adûnaic words]]<br />
[[Category:Rulers of Númenor]]<br />
[[de:Ar-Pharazôn]]<br />
[[fi:Ar-Pharazôn]]</div>69.158.27.3