Rhimdath
| Rhimdath | |
|---|---|
| River | |
| General Information | |
| Other names | Rushdown |
| Location | Upper vale of the Anduin |
| Type | River |
| Description | Short, east-flowing tributary of the Anduin |
The Rhimdath or Rushdown was a short, early tributary of the Anduin River. It flowed from the Misty Mountains eastward into the Anduin roughly halfway between the Langwell-Greylin confluence and the Carrock.[1] Given the name "Rushdown" it probably had a steep gradient.
The river-name is found as a pencilled addition by Tolkien on the map of Wilderland in one of his copies of The Hobbit.[1] It has been noted that Rhimdath (according to the map) seems to have been joined by another small mountain stream.[2]
The river-name is also a feature of the first map of The Lord of the Rings in The Treason of Isengard. On Map II, in square J-12, both "R.Rushdown" and "Rhimdad" are written next to the short Anduin tributary north of the Carrock.[3]
Etymology[edit]
The first element in Rhimdath is related to Noldorin rhib-, rhimp, rhimmo ("to flow like a [?torrent]"), derived from the stem RIP- ("rush, fly, fling"). Christopher Tolkien stated that the name Rhibdath or Rhimdath, given the meaning "Rushdown", was a hastily scribbled addition at the end of the R-stems.[4] In the index he noted that this name only appeared in The Etymologies but is the river described above.[5][note 1]
As the stem DAT- is glossed as "fall down",[6] it is possible that the second element in Rhimdath is a derivative of this stem.
Notes
- ↑ This was before the publication of The Return of the Shadow.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: XI. From Weathertop to the Ford, Note on the river of Rivendell", p. 205
- ↑ Rivers & Falls: Rushdown at The Thain's Book (accessed 29 April 2011)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XV. The First Map of The Lord of the Rings", "Map II", p. 305
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 384
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Index", p. 446
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 354
