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Dates
Founded some time before II 1098;1 ruined and abandoned III 2912
Location
On the river Gwathló, at the point where the North-South Road passed from Minhiriath into Enedwaith
Origins
Probably founded by Tar-Aldarion of Númenor
Race
Division
Pronunciation
tha'rbad
Meaning
From thara-pata meaning 'crossway'2

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About this entry:

  • Updated 22 September 2010
  • Updates planned: 1

Tharbad

The city at the crossings of Greyflood

Map of Tharbad

An ancient city of Men that grew up where the North-South Road crossed the River Gwathló (Greyflood). Tharbad was deserted in the late Third Age after it was devastated in the floods that followed the Fell Winter.


Notes

1

We have no record of the exact date of Tharbad's foundation, but it clearly dated back well into the early Second Age: an account exists of Aldarion of Númenor visiting the town and meeting Galadriel there. Aldarion was known to have founded at least one settlement in Middle-earth (at Lond Daer downriver from Tharbad) so it seems likely that he created Tharbad, too; he died in II 1098, hence the date shown above.

2

Tharbad stood at the crossing of two important routes through Middle-earth: the river Gwathló leading to the coast, and the North-South Road leading between Arnor and Gondor. Since neither Arnor nor Gondor existed at the time Tharbad was founded, it wouldn't actually have been a 'crossway' for much of its earlier history. It's therefore possible that the town originally had a different name (now lost), and only acquired the name Tharbad later in its history.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 22 September 2010
  • Updates planned: 1

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