The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The name came into use in about III 1050; renamed Eryn Lasgalen in III 3019
Location
Rhovanion, to the east of the Vales of Anduin
Settlements
Dol Guldur, Rhosgobel, the Woodland Realm; various settlements of Woodmen especially along the forest's western edge
Source
Outflow
The Enchanted River emptied into the Forest River that flowed on into the Long Lake
Important peaks
Pronunciation
tow'r-noo-foo'in
Meaning
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 19 December 2017
  • This entry is complete

Taur-nu-Fuin

The Elves’ name for Mirkwood

Map of Taur-nu-Fuin (Mirkwood)

At the beginning of the second millennium of the Third Age, a mysterious being came to Amon Lanc in the south of Greenwood the Great, and there built the stronghold known as Dol Guldur. This was the magician known as the Necromancer, who was later revealed to be none other than Sauron himself, and from his fortress tower a Shadow of nightshade began to spread across the woodlands. From that time on, the Elves came to refer to the Greenwood as Taur-nu-Fuin, the Forest under Nightshade, rendered into the Mannish tongue as 'Mirkwood'.

The story of Sauron's darkening of Greenwood the Great mirrors events in the First Age, when he occupied the highland forests of Dorthonion, north of Beleriand. Like Mirkwood, that region had also fallen under dark enchantments, and for that reason had also been known as Taur-nu-Fuin.


Notes

1

The name Taur-nu-Fuin originated in the First Age, when it was used for the pine forests of Dorthonion after they fell under the power of Morgoth. The translation 'Forest under Nightshade' comes from that earlier dark place, whose name the Elves seem to have reused for Mirkwood after Dol Guldur was built there.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 19 December 2017
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2003, 2008, 2017. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Discus is a truly international DISC profile solution available in dozens of languages.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Menu
Homepage Search Latest Entries and Updates Random Entry