Barrow-downs

2012-03-19T08:21:15Z

151.49.69.201: /* Inspiration */ Nine Barrow Down

''See also [[barrowdowns.com]]''
{{location
| image=[[Image:Paul_Raymond_Gregory_-_Fog_on_the_Barrow_Downs.jpg|250px]]
| name=Barrow Downs
| type=Hills
| location=Central [[Eriador]], borders the Old Forest
| inhabitants=[[Men]], then [[Barrow-wights]]
| realms=[[Arnor]]<br/>[[Cardolan]]<br/>[[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| othernames=
| etymology=
| events=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
| references= [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]
|}}

'''Barrow-downs''' or '''[[Tyrn Gorthad]]''' were a series of low hills east of [[The Shire]], behind the [[Old Forest]], and west of the village of [[Bree]]. Many of the hills were crowned with megaliths and [[barrows]], whence their name.

The Barrow-downs were first inhabited by [[Men]] related to the [[Edain]] in the [[First Age]], together with the [[Hills of Evendim]] to the north. They fled east as [[Easterlings]] invaded [[Eriador]] and passed on to [[Beleriand]], but after these had left or been killed in the [[War of Wrath]] the Edain returned to their old homes.

During the [[Second Age]] they were fairly numerous, and when they met with the [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]]s the Barrow-downs were the first places where the [[Dúnedain]] emigrees from [[Númenor]] settled. When [[Elendil]] returned to [[Middle-earth]], the Barrow-downs were incorporated in the kingdom of [[Arnor]].

After the split of Arnor the Barrow-downs became the capital of [[Cardolan]]. After [[Rhudaur]] fell to [[Angmar]], the Dúnedain of Cardolan entrenched themselves here, but eventually the realm fell. The [[Barrow-wights]] were now sent there by the [[Witch-king]]. After [[Arthedain]] once again claimed the kingship over all of Arnor the Dúnedain tried to recolonize Cardolan, but this failed because of the Barrow-wights.

During the [[War of the Ring]] [[Frodo Baggins]] and company were trapped in the downs by a wight, probably in the same [[uncommon words|cairn]] which held the grave of the last prince of [[Cardolan]]. They were rescued by [[Tom Bombadil]], and there got their [[Daggers_of_Westernesse|swords]].

==Etymology==
In topography, a "down" is a low-lying hill, from the [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] ''dún'' meaning "hill".<ref name="ASD">Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller, "[http://bosworth.ff.cuni.cz/008106 DÚN]" at ''An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary'' (accessed 12 October 2010)</ref> In the [[wikipedia:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], a [[wikipedia:Downland|down]] is a gently-rolling chalk hill in Southern [[wikipedia:England|England]] (seen especially in the [[wikipedia:North Downs|North]] and [[wikipedia:South Downs|South Downs]]).<ref name="OD">[http://oxforddictionaries.com/ Oxford Dictionaries], "[http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0241750?rskey=YT9je8&result=4#m_en_gb0241750 down]" (accessed 12 October 2010)</ref>

A "barrow" (or "berrow"; from English beorg, berg, 'hill, mound') not to be confused with the wheeled vehicle, is a tumulus or other prehistoric grave-mound.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 766</ref>

==Inspiration==
A possible real-life inspiration for Tolkien were the Barrow Downs of [[Warwickshire]], near the village of Long Compton.{{fact}}

A more realistic inspiration for Tolkien, as we know he was in Dorset while writing part of the LOTR, could have been the Nine Barrow Down, a linear barrow cemetery of round barrows and a long barrow on the Purbeck ridgeway.{{fact}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The barrow-downs are a series of mounds crowned with megaliths. The region is inhabited by wraiths. The largest and oldest barrow is [[Othrongroth]].

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''

:After [[Halbarad]] sent [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]], [[Andriel]] and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] to warn [[Aragorn]] in Bree, the three heroes travel through the Barrow-downs as a short cut.<ref>[http://www.oxmonline.com/ Offical Xbox Magazine Online], [http://www.oxmonline.com/article/previews/g-l/lord-rings-war-north The Lord of the Rings: War in the North], dated [[28 April]], [[2011]] (accessed at [[7 July]], [[2011]])</ref> In the whole level fog hangs above the ground.<ref>[http://www.warinthenorth.com The Lord of the Rings: War in the North's Official Site], [http://www.warinthenorth.com/index.php/media/videos Videos], The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Dev video: Art Direction Process, dated [[11 May]], [[2011]] (accessed [[14 September]], [[2011]])</ref>

==External link==
*[http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/rollright.htm Warwickshire Barrow Downs: Rollright Stones, The King Stone, The Whispering Knights]
{{references}}
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Hills]]
[[de:Hügelgräberhöhen (Eriador)]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/reliefs/eriador/hauts_des_galgals]]
[[fi:Hautakerot]]

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Barrow-downs