Eryn Vorn
| Eryn Vorn | |
|---|---|
| Forest | |
.png) | |
| "The Eaves of the Choil Borba" by Angus McBride | |
| General Information | |
| Location | Minhiriath, adjacent to the mouth of Baranduin as it enters Belegaer |
| Type | Forest |
| Description | Dark pine forest |
| Inhabitants | Men |
| Gallery | Images of Eryn Vorn |
Eryn Vorn (Sindarin for Blackwood[1]) was a wooded cape in Eriador[2], and a region of dark pine trees.[3]
History[edit | edit source]
Located in western Minhiriath, Eryn Vorn (likely named so by the Númenóreans) was originally part of the vast ancient treescape that covered most of north-western Middle-earth. During the Second Age, however, these forests were decimated by the Númenóreans in their greed for ship-building timber, before being almost completely burnt down by the forces of Sauron during the ensuing war in Eriador.[2]
By the latter half of the Second Age, the surviving natives of Minhiriath had retreated either north to Bree, or hidden themselves in Eryn Vorn which was probably all that remained of the vast forests in Minhiriath for long years thereafter.[1]
From T.A. 861, Eryn Vorn nominally formed a part of Cardolan and by the end of the Third Age, scattered woodlands had reappeared in much of the rest of Minhiriath.
It is probable that people remained hidden in Eryn Vorn by the Third Age. Although Bree was the westernmost permanent settlement of Men by the late Third Age,[4][source?] the woods of Minhiriath were home of a few, secretive hunter-folk at the time of the War of the Ring. These wild people were afraid to cross the river Baranduin because of the Elves who dwelt beyond.[2][note 1]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Eryn Vorn is Sindarin and has been given the translation "Blackwood". The name consists of eryn ("wood") and vorn ("dark"),[1] the latter being the lenited form of morn.[5]
The name Eryn Vorn first appeared on Pauline Baynes's A Map of Middle-earth (1970), for which Tolkien had supplied notes on additional names. The first printing of the map wrongly has Erin Voru.[1]
Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]
| Eryn Vorn in adaptations | |||||||||
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1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Eryn Vorn, the Black Wood (called Choil Borba in the local tongue), covers the promontory of Rast Vorn (the Dark Cape). The large wood is a wild land, inhabited by Woses and evil creatures.[6][7]
1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- The card game features the "Woses of the Eryn Vorn" in the expansion Against the Shadow.[8]
2022-Present: The One Ring (Second Edition):
- The supplement Ruins of the Lost Realm features segments on Eryn Vorn [9] and The Tree of Sorrow. [10]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. lxv
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix D: The Port of Lond Daer"
- ↑ "Tolkien’s annotated map of Middle-earth transcribed" dated 10 November 2015, The Tolkien Society (accessed 11 November 2015)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King
- ↑ Helge Fauskanger, "Sindarin - the Noble Tongue: I. Soft Mutation" at Ardalambion (accessed 8 June 2011)
- ↑ Jeff McKeage (1987), Woses of the Black Wood (#8107)
- ↑ Jessica Ney (ed.; 1990), Angus McBride's Characters of Middle-earth (#8007), pp. 42-43
- ↑ "(Results from search for cards in the game Middle Earth)", Tradecardsoneline.com (accessed 27 March 2014)
- ↑ Ruins of the Lost Realm, pp 27-28
- ↑ Ruins of the Lost Realm, pp 64-69
