The wise will stay here and hope to rebuild our town...
...there is much else that may be told.
...It is a long tale...
 | |
| Settlement | |
| Obel Halad | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Other names | Ephel Brandir, Obel, Ephel |
| Location | Amon Obel, Forest of Brethil |
| Type | Settlement |
| Description | The capital of the Forest of Brethil |
| Major Settlements | Hall of the Chieftains |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Haladin, Men of Brethil, Drúedain, Woodmen |
| Created | First Age |
| Destroyed | During the late First Age |
Obel Halad, also called the Obel, Ephel Brandir, and the Ephel, was the "capital" settlement of the woodmen in the centre of the Forest of Brethil, the homeland of the People of Haleth. Within this settlement was the Hall of the Chieftains or Warden of Brethil, who was the leader of the land.[1] Obel Halad lay upon the hill of Amon Obel, and is where Túrin was taken when he fell ill. It was ruled by Brandir son of Handir.
Etymology
Obel Halad meant the Fortified Settlement of the Halad.
Ephel Brandir is Sindarin for "the encircling fence of Brandir".[2]
Other versions of the legendarium
In earlier versions, transient names for Ephel Brandir were Tavrobel and Bar Haleth, and these can be seen on the The Second 'Silmarillion' Map. The location for Tavrobel and Bar Haleth were considerably eastward of where Ephel Brandir would be located.[3]
As noted by Christopher Tolkien: "Beyond the fact that ‘Tavrobel’ was in the extreme east of Brethil it is not possible to be sure of its site. Bar Haleth was in turn crossed out. It seems certain therefore that this was a transient name for Ephel Brandir, which was marked in subsequently in the centre of Brethil"[3]
In the development of the story, "The Wanderings of Húrin" (a tale that Christopher Tolkien regretfully excluded from The Silmarillion), Obel Halad replaced Ephel Brandir as the chief settlement of the Haladin.[4] Since Ephel Brandir was built upon Amon Obel[5] it is likely that its replacement was also intended to be in the same location.
References
- ↑ 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: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", p. 263
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, p. 435, entry "Ephel Brandir"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Commentary on The Grey Annals", §324
- ↑ 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: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", note 17, p. 301
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index