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{{Pronounce|Gelion.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{location infobox
'''Gelion''' was a river of [[Middle-earth]] in the [[First Age]], the principal river of East [[Beleriand]].
| name=Little Gelion
| image=[[File:Christopher Tolkien - Gelion .jpg|250px]]
| caption=Gelion in its course through the north
| pronun=
| othernames=[[Khuzdul|K]]. ''[[Gabilān]]''
| location=[[East Beleriand]]
| type=River
| description=Mighty river
| regions=[[Thargelion]], [[Ossiriand]]
| towns=[[Sarn Athrad]]
| inhabitants=
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
'''Gelion''' was a river of [[Middle-earth]] in the [[First Age]], the principal river of [[East Beleriand]], being the border of [[Beleriand]] and [[Ossiriand]].
 
The vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward and thus had neither falls nor rapids, yet was ever swifter than the River [[Sirion]].  Although Gelion was twice the length of Sirion it was less wide and full, for more rain fell in the west than in the east.
 
==Course==
Its two sources were at the hill of [[Himring]], via the [[Little Gelion]], and [[Mount Rerir]], via the [[Greater Gelion]] (which also had a tributary connected to [[Lake Helevorn]]).
 
It then flowed south for forty leagues,<ref name="Beleriand">{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> dividing [[Estolad]] to the west from [[Thargelion]] to the east. Gelion met [[Sarn Athrad]] ("Ford of Stones") just above the inflow of the River [[Ascar]].  Gelion then became the western border of [[Ossiriand]], the Land of Seven Rivers, from which it was fed by the rivers [[Ascar]], [[Thalos]], [[Legolin]], [[Brilthor]], [[Duilwen]], and [[Adurant]], all rising in the [[Ered Luin]]. Gelion then turned southwest, passing by [[Taur-im-Duinath]] (the Forest between the Rivers) before emptying into the Great Sea [[Belegaer]].<ref>{{S|Map}}</ref>
 
==History==
Between the arms of Gelion lay the ward of [[Maglor]]. [[Caranthir]] made his abode at Lake Helevorn, and the land of Thargelion, which signified the Land beyond Gelion, was also called [[Dor Caranthir]], the Land of Caranthir.<ref name="Beleriand"/>


Its two sources were the [[Hill of Himring]], via the '''Little Gelion''', and the [[Ered Luin]], via the '''Greater Gelion'''. It then passed south, dividing [[Estolad]] to the west from [[Thargelion]] to the east, then was crossed by the old dwarf-road at '''Sarn Athrad''' ("Ford of Stones"). It then passed into [[Ossiriand]], the Land of Seven Rivers, where it was fed by rivers [[Ascar]], [[Thalos]], [[Legolin]], [[Brilthor]], [[Duilwen]], and [[Adurant]], all rising in the Ered Luin.
Due to the open nature of the land about the upper reaches of the River Gelion the region was subjected to many battles. [[Haldad]] of the [[Haladin]] built a stockade in the corner formed by the Gelion and the Ascar when an orc-raid fell upon his people in Thargelion.<ref>{{S|West}}</ref> During the [[Dagor Bragollach]] the dragon [[Glaurung]] came and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion.<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> Eventually the lands between the rivers [[Aros]] and Gelion became so dangerous that [[Dwarves]] traveling to and from the Ered Luin and [[Menegroth]] stopping going in small parties but went in great companies well armed.<ref>{{S|Doriath}}</ref>


Gelion then passed by Tuar-im-Duinath (the Forest between the Rivers) and emptied into the Great Sea [[Belegaer]].
==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Gelion.mp3|Ardamir}}
The name ''Gelion'' is [[Sindarin]], but it is never glossed. In the [[Noldorin]] phase of the language, it is related with the [[Ilkorin]] word ''gelion'' ("bright"). However, it is noticeable that the same name is glossed as "Merry Singer", but applied to [[Tinfang]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "GYEL"</ref>


== Reference ==
==Other names==
In [[Khuzdul]] it was known as '''''Gabilān'''''. The dwarves used the name only of the river south of the [[Falls of Gelion]], after the junction of Gelion and [[Ascar]], where the river became swift and ever broader by the five more tributaries.<ref>{{WJ|Maeglin}}, p. 336</ref>


* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', pp. 121-124
The name contains the element ''[[gabil]]'' "great" that also appears in the Khuzdul name of [[Belegost]], ''[[Gabilgathol]]'' "Great Fortress".


[[Category:Rivers in Beleriand]]
{{references}}
{{ossiriandrivers}}
[[Category:Noldorin locations]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Beleriand]]
[[Category:Rivers of Beleriand]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
 
[[de:Gelion]]
[[fi:Gelion]]

Revision as of 15:23, 31 December 2020

Little Gelion
River
Christopher Tolkien - Gelion .jpg
Gelion in its course through the north
General Information
Other namesK. Gabilān
LocationEast Beleriand
TypeRiver
DescriptionMighty river
RegionsThargelion, Ossiriand

Gelion was a river of Middle-earth in the First Age, the principal river of East Beleriand, being the border of Beleriand and Ossiriand.

The vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward and thus had neither falls nor rapids, yet was ever swifter than the River Sirion. Although Gelion was twice the length of Sirion it was less wide and full, for more rain fell in the west than in the east.

Course

Its two sources were at the hill of Himring, via the Little Gelion, and Mount Rerir, via the Greater Gelion (which also had a tributary connected to Lake Helevorn).

It then flowed south for forty leagues,[1] dividing Estolad to the west from Thargelion to the east. Gelion met Sarn Athrad ("Ford of Stones") just above the inflow of the River Ascar. Gelion then became the western border of Ossiriand, the Land of Seven Rivers, from which it was fed by the rivers Ascar, Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor, Duilwen, and Adurant, all rising in the Ered Luin. Gelion then turned southwest, passing by Taur-im-Duinath (the Forest between the Rivers) before emptying into the Great Sea Belegaer.[2]

History

Between the arms of Gelion lay the ward of Maglor. Caranthir made his abode at Lake Helevorn, and the land of Thargelion, which signified the Land beyond Gelion, was also called Dor Caranthir, the Land of Caranthir.[1]

Due to the open nature of the land about the upper reaches of the River Gelion the region was subjected to many battles. Haldad of the Haladin built a stockade in the corner formed by the Gelion and the Ascar when an orc-raid fell upon his people in Thargelion.[3] During the Dagor Bragollach the dragon Glaurung came and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion.[4] Eventually the lands between the rivers Aros and Gelion became so dangerous that Dwarves traveling to and from the Ered Luin and Menegroth stopping going in small parties but went in great companies well armed.[5]

Etymology

The name Gelion is Sindarin, but it is never glossed. In the Noldorin phase of the language, it is related with the Ilkorin word gelion ("bright"). However, it is noticeable that the same name is glossed as "Merry Singer", but applied to Tinfang.[6]

Other names

In Khuzdul it was known as Gabilān. The dwarves used the name only of the river south of the Falls of Gelion, after the junction of Gelion and Ascar, where the river became swift and ever broader by the five more tributaries.[7]

The name contains the element gabil "great" that also appears in the Khuzdul name of Belegost, Gabilgathol "Great Fortress".

References

Seven Rivers of Ossiriand
Gelion · Ascar · Thalos · Legolin · Brilthor · Duilwen · Adurant