The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The North-South Road was constructed in the last years of the Second Age
Location
Running between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs on the Greenway southward of Bree
Race
The North-South Road was made by Men
Settlements
Bree lay directly to the north of the Andrath
Pronunciation
a'ndrath
Meaning
Literally 'Long climb'1

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About this entry:

  • Updated 20 July 2017
  • This entry is complete

Andrath

The Greenway south from Bree

Map of Andrath

In the lands southward from Bree, the Greenway ran through a narrow gorge between the Barrow-downs to the west, and the South Downs to the east. From this geography, no doubt, comes the name Andrath, which appears to mean 'long climb' or 'long road'. According to some sources, it was at Andrath that the Lord of the Nazgûl encamped for a time during his search for the Shire and 'Baggins'.


Notes

1

The Elvish word rath originally meant 'climb', used especially for a stretch of path or roadway climbing up into hills (for example, Cirith Forn en Andrath, 'northern pass of the long climb', was the Elvish name for the High Pass through the Misty Mountains). For historical reasons, the word came to be used by the Dúnedain for 'street' or 'roadway', so for example Rath Celerdain in Minas Tirith was the 'Lampwrights' Street', not the 'Lampwrights' Climb'). Either meaning might in principle apply to Andrath, but in practice 'long climb' seems to be the intended meaning, especially since the North-South Road ran through hilly country along this stretch of its length.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 20 July 2017
  • This entry is complete

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