Potatoes
| Potatoes | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Taters |
| Location | The Shire |
| Family | Nightshades |
Potatoes or taters in Hobbitish, were root vegetables that were apparently among the staple foods of the Hobbits (Hamfast Gamgee was recognized locally as an expert on growing potatoes).[1] Samwise Gamgee expected to find them in Ithilien.[2]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Potato is a word of Spanish and Native American origins. The term tater seen to be used in Hobbitish, represents UK slang.
Since the potatoes are a New World plant (see below), it has been suggested that "potatoes" is perhaps a "translation" from a Westron name of a related but otherwise unrecorded plant of Third Age Middle-earth.[3]
Inspiration[edit | edit source]
Fans have noticed that potatoes are a New World plant, not native to the Old World setting of Middle-earth. The pipe-weed (another New World plant) is referenced as having being brought from Númenor and fans have explored the possibility that this was also the case with potatoes.[3][4][5]. The Children of Húrin mentions that the Dwarves of Beleriand boiled a white fleshy root similar to bread[6] which could have been another instance of potatoes in Middle-earth, from the First Age.
See also tomatoes[7] concerning a similar apparent "paradox".
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Long-expected Party"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mark Fisher, "Potatoes", Encyclopedia of Arda (accessed 3 June 2023)
- ↑ Forum discussion at LOTRplaza
- ↑ Forum discussion at the TolkienForum
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Of Mîm the Dwarf"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Douglas A. Anderson, (ed.), (2002) The Annotated Hobbit: Revised and Expanded Edition
