Athelas: Difference between revisions
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'''Athelas''' is also known as '''Kingsfoil''' or '''Asëa Aranion'''. | '''Athelas''' is also known as '''Kingsfoil''' or '''Asëa Aranion'''. | ||
It was first brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Númenoreans]], but by the end of the [[Third Age]] the knowledge of its healing properties was lost among all but the [[Rangers of the North]]. | It was first brought to [[Middle-earth]] by [[Númenoreans]], but by the end of the [[Third Age]] the knowledge of its healing properties was lost among all but the [[Rangers of the North]]. It was a sweet-smelling herb which grew sparsely in the North and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived. | ||
In Gondor (where the name “kingsfoil” was used) its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent but it was especially powerful in the hands of the king, perhaps because of the [[Elvish]] heritage of the royal house. | |||
It was used by [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], secretly entering [[Minas Tirith in Gondor|Minas Tirith]] upon his return to [[Gondor]] to heal those touched by the [[Black Breath]], an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthed his claim to the crown. | |||
[[Image:Athelas from Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.jpg|200px|left]] | [[Image:Athelas from Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.jpg|200px|left]] | ||
==Other versions== | |||
Athelas was also used by [[Huan]] and [[Lúthien Tinúviel|Lúthien]] to heal wounded [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] in the early ''[[Lay of Leithian]]''. It contradicts the information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' of it being brought to Middle-earth by [[Númenoreans]], so it was either changed by [[Tolkien]] in later versions of his legendarium, or athelas grew in [[Beleriand]] before it was destroyed, and then brought ''back'' to Middle-earth by Númenoreans in the [[Second Age]]. | Athelas was also used by [[Huan]] and [[Lúthien Tinúviel|Lúthien]] to heal wounded [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] in the early ''[[Lay of Leithian]]''. It contradicts the information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' of it being brought to Middle-earth by [[Númenoreans]], so it was either changed by [[Tolkien]] in later versions of his legendarium, or athelas grew in [[Beleriand]] before it was destroyed, and then brought ''back'' to Middle-earth by Númenoreans in the [[Second Age]]. | ||
==Appearances outside the legendarium== | ==Appearances outside the legendarium== | ||
Kingsfoil is also mentioned in [[wikipedia:Ursula K. Le Guin|Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''[[wikipedia:A Wizard of Earthsea|A Wizard of Earthsea]]'', as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut. | Kingsfoil is also mentioned in [[wikipedia:Ursula K. Le Guin|Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s ''[[wikipedia:A Wizard of Earthsea|A Wizard of Earthsea]]'', as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut. | ||
Athelas is also mentioned in the game [[wikipedia:Quest for Glory I|Quest for Glory]]. | |||
Revision as of 14:16, 13 February 2009
Athelas is also known as Kingsfoil or Asëa Aranion.
It was first brought to Middle-earth by Númenoreans, but by the end of the Third Age the knowledge of its healing properties was lost among all but the Rangers of the North. It was a sweet-smelling herb which grew sparsely in the North and only in places where the Men of Westernesse had camped or lived.
In Gondor (where the name “kingsfoil” was used) its healing virtues were unknown and its leaves were esteemed only for their refreshing scent but it was especially powerful in the hands of the king, perhaps because of the Elvish heritage of the royal house.
It was used by Aragorn, secretly entering Minas Tirith upon his return to Gondor to heal those touched by the Black Breath, an act that enhanced his reputation and strengthed his claim to the crown.
Other versions
Athelas was also used by Huan and Lúthien to heal wounded Beren in the early Lay of Leithian. It contradicts the information from The Lord of the Rings of it being brought to Middle-earth by Númenoreans, so it was either changed by Tolkien in later versions of his legendarium, or athelas grew in Beleriand before it was destroyed, and then brought back to Middle-earth by Númenoreans in the Second Age.
Appearances outside the legendarium
Kingsfoil is also mentioned in Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, as one of the herbs in the witch of Gont's hut.
Athelas is also mentioned in the game Quest for Glory.
