Ithilien

2011-11-22T13:31:41Z

76.248.68.174: /* Etymology */ added page number in RK for -end

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[[Image:Ted_Nasmith_-_First_Sight_of_Ithilien.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''First Sight of Ithilien'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]
'''Ithilien''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[iˈθiljen]}}) was a region and fiefdom of [[Gondor]]. Ithilien was the only part of Gondor on the eastern side of the [[Anduin]], wedged in between the river and the [[Ephel Dúath]]. The region was further divided into North and South Ithilien.

==History==
Ithilien was a fair and prosperous land during the [[Second Age]] and the first part of the [[Third Age]], when Gondor was strong and Mordor deserted. Of old its chief city was ''Minas Ithil'', the Tower of the Moon, but when this was captured by Mordor it was renamed [[Minas Morgul]], the Tower of Black Sorcery. After this event, the majority of the people of Ithilien fled across the Anduin to escape war, but the [[Stewards of Gondor]] still kept scouts there, operating out of secret locations such as [[Henneth Annûn]]. Those who stayed fled in {{TA|2954}} when [[Mount Doom]] erupted.

During the [[War of the Ring]], in early May {{TA|3019}}, [[Gollum]] leads [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] through Ithilien on their way to [[Cirith Ungol]] and into Mordor. After witnessing an ambush of [[Haradrim]], the hobbits were found by [[Faramir]], the son of the Steward [[Denethor II|Denethor]], but are allowed to continue when he is satisfied they are not agents of [[Sauron]].

During the [[Fourth Age]], Ithilien was ruled by the [[Prince of Ithilien|Princes of Ithilien]], a line that started with Faramir and [[Éowyn]], who became known as the White Lady of Ithilien. Minas Morgul was not repopulated, and Faramir had his throne in [[Emyn Arnen]]. After the fall of Sauron, [[Legolas]] brought elves from [[Mirkwood|Greenwood]], and they dwelt in Ithilien, and once again it became the fairest country in all the westlands.

==Etymology==

''Ithilien'' is a [[Sindarin]] name meaning "land of the moon".<ref>{{HM|UI}}, p. 233</ref> It has been suggested that the name consists of the elements ''[[Moon#Other names|Ithil]]'' ("moon") + the affix ''[[-nd|end]]''.<ref>[http://www.tolkiendil.com/langues/english/i-lam_arth/compound_sindarin_names Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth] at [http://www.tolkiendil.com Tolkiendil.com] (accessed 20 July 2011)</ref> <ref>{{HM|RK}}, p. 490</ref>

{{references}}<small>
::* {{HM|TT}}, passim.
::* {{HM|RK}}, passim.
::* {{HM|AB}}
</small>
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin Locations]]

[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/gondor/ithilien]]

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Ithilien