Orfalch Echor: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
(18 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Orfalch Echor''' was the ravine of the [[Dry River]] in the [[Encircling Mountains]], the route by which the hidden city of [[Gondolin]] was approached. At its lower end was the First Gate, the [[Gate of Wood]]. The Orfalch continued through the the remainder of the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin]], reaching the Seventh Gate, the [[Gate of Steel]].  At the upper end was a high sward that offered a view of [[Tumladen]] and the city in its center.<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}</ref>
[[File:Alarie - The First Gate.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The First Gate'' by [[:Category:Images by Alarie|Alarie]]]]
The '''Orfalch Echor''' was the great ravine through the [[Dry River]] of the [[Encircling Mountains]] by which [[Gondolin]] was approached.


==Etymology==
== History ==
To decipher ''Orfalch Echor'', it can be compared to the similar but early ([[Gnomish]]) name ''Glorfalc'' "Golden Cleft" (in later writings called [[Cirith Ninniach]])<ref>{{LT2|Appendix}}, p. 341</ref>. The element ''falc'' in that name meant "cleft", and it seems probable that later [[Sindarin]] ''falch'' has a similar meaning.
The Orfalch Echor was the route that [[Elemmakil]] led [[Tuor]] and [[Voronwë]] through to meet [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]]. At its lower end was the First Gate, the [[Gate of Wood]]. The Orfalch continued through the remainder of the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin]], reaching the Seventh Gate, the [[Gate of Steel]]. At the upper end was a high sward that offered a view of [[Tumladen]] and the city in its center.<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}</ref><ref>{{S|23}}</ref>


The initial element of ''Orfalch'' is probably derived from the root ''[[ORO]]'' "up, rise"<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, '''ORO'''</ref>, while the element ''[[echor]]'' "outer circle" is also attested in the name ''[[Rammas Echor]]'' "Great Wall of the Outer Circle"<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 512</ref>.
During [[Húrin|Húrin's]] [[The Wanderings of Húrin|wanderings]], he came upon the Orfalch Echor, only to find the old Way of Escape buried underneath ''"a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock-wall"''.<ref>{{WJ|Hurin}}, pp. 271, 302</ref>


Thus, the meaning of ''Orfalch Echor'' might be something like "Upper Cleft of the Outer Circle".
== Etymology ==
The name ''Orfalch Echor'' is suggested by Paul Strack to be a combination of [[Noldorin]] ''or'' ("above"), ''falch'' ("cleft"), and ''echor'' ("outer circle"), perhaps meaning "High Cleft of the Outer Circle".<ref>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=http://eldamo.org/content/words/word-677947469.html|articlename=S. ''Orfalch Echor'' loc.|website=Eldamo|accessed=16 March 2019}}</ref>


{{references}}
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In ''[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the '''Way of Escape''' was the main entrance to [[Gondolin]], and it was not a natural ravine, but was instead built by the Gondothlim to be used by those [[Noldoli]] who escaped from Melko<ref name=LT>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|163}} and as a way of escape in case the city was attacked, as it eventually was. Because of [[Maeglin|Meglin]]'s treason, Melko was aware of this pass, so many survivors were killed there by a monster while trying to escape quickly in spite of Idril's warnings.<ref name=LT></ref>{{rp|189}}
 
This way is also known as ''Bad Uthwen'' in [[Gnomish]] and ''Uswevandë'' in [[Qenya]].<ref name=LT></ref>{{rp|336}}
 
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Cliffs and ravines]]
[[Category:Gondolin]]
[[Category:Gondolin]]
[[Category:Passes]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Cliffs and ravines]]


[[fr:encyclo/geographie/routes/orfalch_echor]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/routes/orfalch_echor]]

Revision as of 14:24, 29 September 2022

The First Gate by Alarie

The Orfalch Echor was the great ravine through the Dry River of the Encircling Mountains by which Gondolin was approached.

History

The Orfalch Echor was the route that Elemmakil led Tuor and Voronwë through to meet Ecthelion of the Fountain. At its lower end was the First Gate, the Gate of Wood. The Orfalch continued through the remainder of the Seven Gates of Gondolin, reaching the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Steel. At the upper end was a high sward that offered a view of Tumladen and the city in its center.[1][2]

During Húrin's wanderings, he came upon the Orfalch Echor, only to find the old Way of Escape buried underneath "a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock-wall".[3]

Etymology

The name Orfalch Echor is suggested by Paul Strack to be a combination of Noldorin or ("above"), falch ("cleft"), and echor ("outer circle"), perhaps meaning "High Cleft of the Outer Circle".[4]

Other versions of the legendarium

In The Book of Lost Tales, the Way of Escape was the main entrance to Gondolin, and it was not a natural ravine, but was instead built by the Gondothlim to be used by those Noldoli who escaped from Melko[5]:163 and as a way of escape in case the city was attacked, as it eventually was. Because of Meglin's treason, Melko was aware of this pass, so many survivors were killed there by a monster while trying to escape quickly in spite of Idril's warnings.[5]:189

This way is also known as Bad Uthwen in Gnomish and Uswevandë in Qenya.[5]:336

References