 | |
| Hills | |
| Downs | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Location | north Eastemnet in Rohan, south-east of Fangorn Forest, north-west of the Emyn Muil, south-west of The Wold |
| Type | Hills |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Men |
| Events | first meeting of Éomer with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli |
The downs was a range of hills in Rohan in the north of the Eastemnet. They were located south-east of Fangorn Forest, south-west of The Wold and north-west of the Emyn Muil and the river Anduin. A ten miles wide long strip of sunken land lay between them and the river Entwash to the west. The downs ran in a line straight towards the north for eight leagues. They had green slopes that rose to bare ridges. The most northerly of the downs was a smooth and bare round green hill.[1]
History
On 29 February 3019[2][3] Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli reached the downs and spent the night on the top of the northernmost down. On 30 February 3019[3] they spotted riders of Rohan to the north-west and walked down the northward slope to wait for the riders. They met Éomer and a company of riders from Rohan at the foot of the down.[1]
Other versions of the legendarium
The downs are included on the First Map of The Lord of the Rings, the Second Map of The Lord of the Rings and the Third Map of The Lord of the Rings, that were drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the location that is described in the narrative. They do not have a name on the first[4][5] and the second map[6] and are simply labelled Downs on the third map.[7]
Tolkien uses the capitalized term Downs in notes he made regarding what happened on 27 February in The Lord of the Rings.[8] The downs are not included on the General Map of Middle-earth and on The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age map that were drawn by Christopher Tolkien and published with The Lord of the Rings or Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan", one day before they meet Éomer and his company of riders
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for 30 February of the year 3019 of the Third Age
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "First Map of The Lord of the Rings", , accessed 11 January 2022
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XV. The First Map of The Lord of the Rings", "Maps IVD and IVE", map square O12, p. 319
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Three: Minas Tirith", "XIV. The Second Map", The Second Map (West) on map square O12, p. 434
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Maps: MIDDLE-EARTH", , accessed 11 January 2022 , map square J10
- ↑ The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, "Orcs and Enemies" entry for February 27, p. 54