The Rivers and Beacon-Hills of Gondor
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The Rivers and Beacon-Hills of Gondor
is a historical-etymological essay written by J. R. R. Tolkien
sometime after June 1969.
This essay has never been published in its entirety, although parts of it were published in Unfinished Tales
, and the remaining parts were published in the periodical Vinyar Tengwar, issue number 42 in 2001. The Vinyar Tengwar article was based on a version which was intended for publication by Christopher Tolkien
in The Peoples of Middle-earth
but was not included owing to space constraints, although it was mentioned in the book.
According to Christopher Tolkien, the essay's germ was a letter by a certain Paul Bibire
to Tolkien on June 16, 1969 inquiring whether the river Glanduin is the same as that of the Swanfleet. Tolkien replied on June 30, stating that the Swanfleet is the same river as the Glanduin, although the former is applied to the upper course of the river. It is from the answer of this query that Tolkien decided to embark on a comprehensive essay of not only the Rivers of Gondor, but also of the Beacon-hills of Gondor
, as mentioned in The Return of the King
.
However, as with many of his late works, Tolkien never got to finish the essay, abandoning it while in the middle of the discussion of the beacon-hill Halifirien. However, based on what can be gleaned from this, it seems it is at this point that Tolkien decided to introduce the idea of having the tomb of Elendil
in Halifirien, which became an essential element in the work Cirion and Eorl. Therefore from Paul Bibire's query arose the history of Halifirien and Elendil's tomb.
The essay is likewise notable for presenting a discussion of the Eldarin numerals.
Gondor
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth by the end of the Third Age. The third volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, is concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with...
is a historical-etymological essay written by J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
sometime after June 1969.
This essay has never been published in its entirety, although parts of it were published in Unfinished Tales
Unfinished Tales
Unfinished Tales is a collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien that were never completed during his lifetime, but were edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and published in 1980.Unlike The Silmarillion, for which the narrative fragments were modified to connect into a consistent and...
, and the remaining parts were published in the periodical Vinyar Tengwar, issue number 42 in 2001. The Vinyar Tengwar article was based on a version which was intended for publication by Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Reuel Tolkien is the third and youngest son of the author J. R. R. Tolkien , and is best known as the editor of much of his father's posthumously published work. He drew the original maps for his father's The Lord of the Rings, which he signed C. J. R. T. The J...
in The Peoples of Middle-earth
The Peoples of Middle-earth
The Peoples of Middle-earth is the 12th and final volume of The History of Middle-earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien from the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien. Some characters only appear here...
but was not included owing to space constraints, although it was mentioned in the book.
According to Christopher Tolkien, the essay's germ was a letter by a certain Paul Bibire
Paul Bibire
Paul Bibire is an author and former lecturer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and Cambridge University. His area is Anglo Saxon and Old Norse and he has written many articles on these and related subjects. Bibire is also a keen enthusiast of the author J. R. R...
to Tolkien on June 16, 1969 inquiring whether the river Glanduin is the same as that of the Swanfleet. Tolkien replied on June 30, stating that the Swanfleet is the same river as the Glanduin, although the former is applied to the upper course of the river. It is from the answer of this query that Tolkien decided to embark on a comprehensive essay of not only the Rivers of Gondor, but also of the Beacon-hills of Gondor
Warning beacons of Gondor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the warning beacons of Gondor were an alarm system for the realm of Gondor.Situated on top of several hills on both sides of the White Mountains, the beacons were great fire-places permanently manned by men of Gondor...
, as mentioned in The Return of the King
The Return of the King
The Return of the King is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.-Title:...
.
However, as with many of his late works, Tolkien never got to finish the essay, abandoning it while in the middle of the discussion of the beacon-hill Halifirien. However, based on what can be gleaned from this, it seems it is at this point that Tolkien decided to introduce the idea of having the tomb of Elendil
Elendil
Elendil is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
in Halifirien, which became an essential element in the work Cirion and Eorl. Therefore from Paul Bibire's query arose the history of Halifirien and Elendil's tomb.
The essay is likewise notable for presenting a discussion of the Eldarin numerals.