
Remains of Dorthonion on Tol Fuin
Dorthonion (S. "Land of Pines"), or (later) Taur-nu-Fuin (S: "Forest-under-Nightshade") or Deldúwath (S: "Horror-[of]-night-shadow"), was the second most treacherous region of Tol Fuin, being a day-less wood, haunted by evil spirits, phantoms, and great spiders. Trolls, huorns, and other nameless horrors slumbered waiting for the scent of blood. Once it lay pristine and green, the home of Ents, before Evil fell upon it. The forest was mainly pine, with tall, dark trees (which shed their lower branches in ages past) blocking all natural light. Eerie lichens and glimmers shone in the gloom. Even keen-sighted Elves were easily lost here.
The country of Dorthonion was also called "Taur-na-Foen" (S: "Forest-of-long-sight") after its principal peak (probably Orod-na-Thôn[1]). The mountain rose above the treeline, perhaps alone of the peaks of the highlands. It was capped by a ruin of a fortress of the Noldor, rebuilt and extended by Sauron.
Stripped of her cloak, the evil spirit Thuringwethil hid in the forests of Dorthonion. Sometimes ghosts here took the form of wolves, with burning eyes, and evil walked the land when ill will waxed in Middle-earth.
Names[]
- Dor i Thuin (rejected gloss)
- Taur-na-Foen (S: "Forest-of-long-sight")
- Taur-nu-Fuin (S: "Forest-under-Nightshade")
- Deldúwath (S: "Horror-of-night-shadow")
- Forest under Night
Regions[]
Crissaegrim Drûn Ered Gorgoroth Gorge of Aglon Hills of Maedhros Ladros Labyrinths of Taur-nu-Fuin Nan Dungortheb Orc Road of Anach Pass of Anach Rivil Road of Haste Tarn Aeluin
Places of Note[]
Aegnor's Stronghold Anghabar Angrod's Stronghold Bar Beöra Barahir's Lair Barahir's Cairn Mount Foen House of Eilinel Orc-Camp Obel-na-Thôn Orod-na-Thôn Sauron's Abode Springs of Rivil Ungolianth's Cleft Western Forts
Inhabitants[]
1st Age[]
Adanel Aegnor Andreth Angrim Angrod Arachon Arminas Arthad Baragund Barahir Belegor Belegund Belemir Beleth Beren Ercharmion Beren son of Belemir Beril Boromir of Ladros Bregil Bregolas Bregor Dagnir Dairuin Emeldir Gelmir Gildor Gilwen Gorlim the Unhappy Hathaldir the Young Hiril of Dorthonion Hirwen Morwen Eledhwen Radhruin Ragnor Rían Sauron Urthel
References[]
- ↑ "Some sources give an alternative interpretation, suggesting that Orod-na-Thôn is simply another name for Dorthonion itself. This is a natural assumption based on the text of Treebeard's song, but in his unfinished detailed index to The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien is clear that the name refers to an individual mountain, rather than the entire land." Encyclopedia of Arda: Orod-na-Thôn.
- Jeff J. Erwin: A Traveler's Guide to Lindon