Old Forest Road: Difference between revisions

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| othernames=Road of the Dwarves (translation), Men-i-Naugrim
| othernames=Road of the Dwarves (translation), Men-i-Naugrim, Forest Road
| location=Running from the [[Misty Mountains]] through central [[Mirkwood]] to the [[River Running|Celduin]]
| location=Running from the [[Misty Mountains]] through central [[Mirkwood]] to the [[River Running|Celduin]]
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==Route==
==Route==
The road ran from the east gate of [[Moria]] north along the eastern side of the [[Misty Mountains]] over the upper course of the river [[Gladden]] to the lowest point where a bridge over the [[Anduin]] could be built and then straight east across the value of the Anduin and through Mirkwood forest to a bridge across the [[River Running]] and then north-east to the iron mines<ref name=NM>{{NM|P3xx}}</ref> in the [[Iron Hills]]<ref name=note>{{PM|XNotes}}, note 30</ref>. A road that descended from the [[Pass of Imladris]] was also part of the Drawf Road.<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Roads'' (2) (v)</ref> The latitude of the eastern part of the road is halfway between the ancient Dwarven meeting-place at [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] to the north, and [[Moria]] to the south.<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref>
The road ran from the east gate of [[Moria]] north along the eastern side of the [[Misty Mountains]] over the upper course of the river [[Gladden]] to the lowest point where a bridge over the [[Anduin]] could be built and then straight east across the value of the Anduin and through Mirkwood forest to a bridge across the [[River Running]] and then north-east to the iron mines<ref name=NM>{{NM|P3xx}}</ref> in the [[Iron Hills]]<ref name=note>{{PM|XNotes}}, note 30</ref>. A road that descended from the [[High Pass of Imladris]] was also part of the Drawf Road.<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Roads'' (2) (v)</ref> The latitude of the eastern part of the road is halfway between the ancient Dwarven meeting-place at [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] to the north, and [[Moria]] to the south.<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The stone-bridge over the Anduin and the first miles of the road through Greenwood were built by the [[Longbeards|Longbeard]] [[dwarves of Moria]] and the bridge over the River Running was built by [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills|their kin]] from the Iron Hills in the [[First Age]]. The road was completed during the [[Second Age]] when [[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains|many dwarves]] emigrated from the [[Blue Mountains]] to Moria and to the Iron Hills.<ref name=NM/>
The stone-bridge over the Anduin and the first miles of the road through Greenwood were built by the [[Longbeards|Longbeard]] [[dwarves of Moria]] and the bridge over the River Running was built by [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills|their kin]] from the Iron Hills in the [[First Age]]. The road was completed during the [[Second Age]] when [[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains|many dwarves]] emigrated from the [[Blue Mountains]] to [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] and to the Iron Hills.<ref name=NM/>
 
The road enjoyed a large amount of traffic until the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]].<ref name=NM/>
 
 
After a while the road fell into disrepair, and the [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills]] lost contact with the capital of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].


The road enjoyed a large amount of traffic until the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]].<ref name=NM/>


Near the end of the [[Second Age]] the stone bridge across the [[Anduin]] was specially enlarged and strengthened to carry the armies of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]].<ref>{{UT|7a}}, Note 14</ref>
Near the end of the [[Second Age]] the stone bridge across the [[Anduin]] was specially enlarged and strengthened to carry the armies of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]].<ref>{{UT|7a}}, Note 14</ref>


At the time of the Quest for Erebor the stone bridge over the Anduin had been lost and the river was crossed at the [[Old Ford]]. [[Beorn]] warned [[Thorin and Company]] that it was often used by [[Orcs|Goblins]] and inside the forest, the road was overgrown and disused. At this time the road led to impassable [[Long Marshes|marshes]] near the River Running where the paths had long been lost.<ref name=lodg>{{H|Queer}}</ref>
The original route planned for the [[Quest of Erebor]] was to cross Mirkwood using the Old Forest Road. However, the Dwarves had been dwelling in the [[Blue Mountains]] in the west for many decades and knew not that the stone bridge over the Anduin had been lost and the river was crossed at the [[Old Ford]]. When the company arrived at the house of [[Beorn]], however, Beorn warned [[Thorin and Company]] that the old forest road was often used by [[Orcs|Goblins]] and that inside the forest, the eastern portions of the road had fallen into such disrepair that the route was overgrown and impassible. At this time, the road followed a nearly straight course through the central parts of the forest, somewhat to the south of the [[Mountains of Mirkwood]], leading to impassable [[Long Marshes|marshes]] near the banks of the River Running where the paths had long been lost.<ref name=lodg>{{H|Queer}}</ref>
 


==Etymology==
=Etymology===
''Men-i-Naugrim'' is a [[Sindarin]] name.<ref name=Eldamo>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=https://www.eldamo.org/content/words/word-729506707.html|articlename=S. ''Men-i-Naugrim'' loc.|website=Eldamo|accessed=09 March 2022}}</ref> It means "Way of the Dwarves" or "Dwarf Road".<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Men-i-Naugrim''</ref> It is a compound of ''[[men (Elvish)|men]]'' ("road, way"), ''[[i]]'' ("the") and ''[[Naugrim]]'' ("dwarves").<ref name=Eldamo/>
''Men-i-Naugrim'' is a [[Sindarin]] name.<ref name=Eldamo>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=https://www.eldamo.org/content/words/word-729506707.html|articlename=S. ''Men-i-Naugrim'' loc.|website=Eldamo|accessed=09 March 2022}}</ref> It means "Way of the Dwarves" or "Dwarf Road".<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Men-i-Naugrim''</ref> It is a compound of ''[[men (Elvish)|men]]'' ("road, way"), ''[[i]]'' ("the") and ''[[Naugrim]]'' ("dwarves").<ref name=Eldamo/>



Revision as of 15:23, 16 March 2022

This article is about the Dwarf-road through Mirkwood. For the Dwarf-road of the First Age, see Dwarf-road of Beleriand.
Old Forest Road
General Information
Other namesRoad of the Dwarves (translation), Men-i-Naugrim, Forest Road
LocationRunning from the Misty Mountains through central Mirkwood to the Celduin
InhabitantsUsed by Dwarves

The Old Forest Road or Men-i-Naugrim was the main route through the great forest originally known as Greenwood the Great and latterly as Mirkwood.

Route

The road ran from the east gate of Moria north along the eastern side of the Misty Mountains over the upper course of the river Gladden to the lowest point where a bridge over the Anduin could be built and then straight east across the value of the Anduin and through Mirkwood forest to a bridge across the River Running and then north-east to the iron mines[1] in the Iron Hills[2]. A road that descended from the High Pass of Imladris was also part of the Drawf Road.[3] The latitude of the eastern part of the road is halfway between the ancient Dwarven meeting-place at Mount Gundabad to the north, and Moria to the south.[4]

History

The stone-bridge over the Anduin and the first miles of the road through Greenwood were built by the Longbeard dwarves of Moria and the bridge over the River Running was built by their kin from the Iron Hills in the First Age. The road was completed during the Second Age when many dwarves emigrated from the Blue Mountains to Khazad-dûm and to the Iron Hills.[1]

The road enjoyed a large amount of traffic until the War of the Elves and Sauron.[1]


After a while the road fell into disrepair, and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills lost contact with the capital of Khazad-dûm.


Near the end of the Second Age the stone bridge across the Anduin was specially enlarged and strengthened to carry the armies of the Last Alliance.[5]

The original route planned for the Quest of Erebor was to cross Mirkwood using the Old Forest Road. However, the Dwarves had been dwelling in the Blue Mountains in the west for many decades and knew not that the stone bridge over the Anduin had been lost and the river was crossed at the Old Ford. When the company arrived at the house of Beorn, however, Beorn warned Thorin and Company that the old forest road was often used by Goblins and that inside the forest, the eastern portions of the road had fallen into such disrepair that the route was overgrown and impassible. At this time, the road followed a nearly straight course through the central parts of the forest, somewhat to the south of the Mountains of Mirkwood, leading to impassable marshes near the banks of the River Running where the paths had long been lost.[6]


Etymology==

Men-i-Naugrim is a Sindarin name.[7] It means "Way of the Dwarves" or "Dwarf Road".[8] It is a compound of men ("road, way"), i ("the") and Naugrim ("dwarves").[7]

External links

References