Stonewain Valley
| Stonewain Valley | |
|---|---|
| Valley | |
| General Information | |
| Location | Eastern White Mountains |
| Type | Valley |
| Description | Long, narrow valley, traversed by ancient road |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Gondorians |
| Events | Ride of the Rohirrim to Pelennor Fields |
Stonewain Valley was a long narrow straight valley in the eastern White Mountains, deep within the Drúadan Forest. Its eastern end opened just to the north-west of the Rammas Echor that encircled Minas Tirith.[1]
History
A road, four horses wide, had been made in ancient days by the Men of Gondor,[2] as a route from the quarries beneath Min-Rimmon to Minas Anor.[3]
By the time of the War of the Ring, it was overgrown and all but forgotten. However, on 13 March T.A. 3019, King Théoden met with Ghân-buri-Ghân in the Drúadan Forest[4] and the headman of the Woses revealed the existence of the old road. During the next day the Rohirrim used the road in Stonewain Valley to avoid the Orcs blocking the main road to come to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[2]
Etymology
The name was given because of the "wains (sleds or drays) passed to and fro from the stone-quarries" along the long, narrow defile.[5]
In Quenya it was called Nand' Ondolunkava or Ondolunkanan(do), in Sindarin Nan Gondresgion and in Rohirric Stānwægna Dæl.[3] Another Sindarin name, a translation of "Stonewain Valley", was Imrath Gondraich, where imrath meant "a long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise."[6]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Ride of the Rohirrim"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 28
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ 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. 776
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, Stonewain Valley
