The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Extant during the War of the Ring, III 3019
Location
Race
Division
Culture
Pronunciation
gha'n
Meaning
Uncertain1
Other names
Known in full as Ghân-buri-Ghân
Titles
Described himself as 'great headman' of the Wild Men

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 1 May 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

Ghân

A name for the headman of the Drúedain

"At that old Ghân made a curious gurgling noise, and it seemed that he was laughing."
The Return of the King V 5
The Ride of the Rohirrim

A rare abbreviated name for the chieftain of the Drúedain who aided Théoden and the Rohirrim during the War of the Ring, by guiding them to the forgotten Stonewain Valley that led toward Minas Tirith. The full, and much more common, form of his name was Ghân-buri-Ghân.


Notes

1

Ghân's name came from the mysterious language of the Drúedain, and so a definite interpretation is not possible. It does however bear a striking resemblance to an Elvish root word for 'Man', Ʒan-, which opens the possibility that the Drúedain learned their speech originally from the Elves. That is entirely plausible (we know that other Mannish languages were influenced by Elvish), but on the other hand the resemblance may be entirely coincidental.

See also...

Water

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 1 May 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

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