Mundburg
Mundburg was the name given to Minas Tirith by the Rohirrim of Rohan in their own tongue.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Mundburg means "Guardian-fortress" in the language of Rohan.[1] Like many names in Rohan, it is probably an Old English name. It probably consists of mund ("protection")[7] and burg ("fortress")[8], probably a translation of the Sindarin name of the city. The name of the "Mounds of Mundburg" comes from this name.
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
In manuscripts Tolkien used the Old English names Gemenburg, Heatorras Giemen Minas Tirith and Mundbeorg. gemen means "care", "heed" or "watch". Heatorras means "high towers" and Mundbeorg means "protection-hill".[9] The Old English variants berg and beorg mean "hill" or "mountain".[10]
On an unfinished sketch, Tolkien has written the names Stanburg (Old English) and Steinborg (Old Norse) both meaning "Stone City".[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from the 1966 index, p. 400
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", pp. 508 and 509
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Muster of Rohan", pp. 803 and 804
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Ride of the Rohirrim", pp. 832 and 835
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings", p. 978
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, 2948-3019 17. Théoden, p. 1069
- ↑ "mund", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 31 October 2023)
- ↑ "burg", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 31 October 2023)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XXVI. The King of the Golden Hall", Notes, note 7, p. 449
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Three: Minas Tirith", "VII. The Ride of the Rohirrim", Notes, note 9, p. 356
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien, #27