Sarn Athrad was the stony ford of the River Gelion across which the Dwarf-road from the Blue Mountains entered East Beleriand.[1]
It was here that the Battle of Sarn Athrad took place between the Elves and Dwarves of Nogrod.[2]
Etymology
Sarn Athrad is Sindarin for "Ford of Stones"[3] or "Stony-ford",[4][5] from sarn ("small stone, pebble") + athrad ("ford, crossing").[6]
Other versions of the legendarium
In The Book of Lost Tales, this ford (Sarnathrod) is crossing the river Aros south of Artanor (Doriath).[7] This is in agreement with The First 'Silmarillion' Map, where it is marked as Athrasarn (Stony Ford), but later crossed out[8].
On the Eastern extension of The First 'Silmarillion' Map, the ford is named Sarn Athra. It is located first south of the confluence of the Gelion and the Duilwen (later the Legolin river), but crossed out, and then relocated south of the confluence of Gelion and Ascar.
Finally on The Second 'Silmarillion' Map Sarn Athrad is located not far north of the confluence of Gelion and Ascar rivers. However, the north road of Dwarves is crossing further north[9], through a ford identified as northern ford in contrast with Harathrad the "South Ford"[10] (see below).
In a late text dated to 1971, Tolkien wrote that the name Sarn Athrad must be changed to Athrad i-Nogoth [> Negyth] ("Ford of the Dwarves"), or Athrad Dhaer ("Great Ford").[11] In The Nature of Middle-earth, a related text has Harathrad ("Southern Ford") in addition to Athrad Daer [12](these names were already revealed by Christopher Tolkien in The War of the Jewels, p.335).
Portrayal in adaptations
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Sarn Athrad (S. "Stony Ford") is an abandoned ford on what remains of the Gelion in Forlindon. It was replaced by Edenathrad (S. "New ford") a little north, and a small village has been constructed nearby.[13]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry "Sarn Athrad"
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 163
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 775
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entries sarn, athrad
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.) 1984: The History of Middle-earth, vol. 2, The Book of Lost Tales, part two, p. 225 and 236.
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "IV. The First 'Silmarillion' Map: The Southern Half of the Map", p.224
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand its Realms (Chapter 11)", §50 p.189
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin", Note 9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: IX. Elvish Journeys on Horseback", Footnote 4, p. 311
- ↑ Jeff J. Erwin, Oliver Schick (1990s), Lindon (unpublished manuscripts), "Lindon Gazetteer: Geleidhien"