The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum


Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page

Go Back   The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum > Middle-Earth Discussions > The Books
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-17-2009, 07:06 PM   #1
Inziladun
Gruesome Spectre
 
Inziladun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,037
Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
All the Wight Reasons?

A casual viewer of book-related threads here might have seen an occasional question regarding the nature of Barrow-wights.
One issue I don't recall seeing before is why the wights were on the Downs.

Quote:
In the days of Argeleb II the plague came into Eriador from the South-east, and most of the people of Cardolan perished....It was at this time that an end came of the Dúnedain of Cardolan, and evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur entered into the deserted mounds and dwelt there.
ROTK Appendix A

Quote:
The Witch-king now had a clearer understanding of the matter. He had known something of the country long ago, in his wars with the Dúnedain, and especially of the Tyrn Gothad of Cardolan, whose evil wights had been sent there by himself.
UT The Hunt for the Ring

It seems pretty clear they were sent to Tyrn Gothad by the WK. But for what purpose? The Dúnedain of Cardolan were gone, dead or fled away. And if these spirits were the Witch-kings to command, wouldn't their services have been of more use somewhere else; specifically, Forcost, where he still had living enemies?
__________________
Music alone proves the existence of God.
Inziladun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2009, 08:45 PM   #2
Formendacil
Dead Serious
 
Formendacil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers.
Posts: 3,326
Formendacil is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Formendacil is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Formendacil is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Formendacil is lost in the dark paths of Moria.
Send a message via AIM to Formendacil Send a message via MSN to Formendacil
It's a good question.

The first thought that I have is that the Witch-king--for whatever reason, I can't think of one right now--couldn't send the Wights into the territory still held by the Dúnedain--meaning that the Shire was out, Fornost was out, and Bree was out.

Perhaps, in that case, the Barrow-downs were simply the best spot to put them--a way of hedging in Arthedain's southeastern frontier, and reinforcing the dread that the Dúnedain probably already felt for the scene of Cardolan's final defeat. Despair, after all, was one of the more potent weapons Angmar could wield, and as Arthedain became more isolated and their resolve broke down, that could be quite effective.

It also occurs to me that the Wights may not have been worth much as an offensive force. They seem unlikely to stand up in full sunlight in the midst of battle. Perhaps their presence was more effective on the edges than at the centre of things.

Of course, the Old Forest was already there, so one wonders about the duplication...
__________________
I prefer history, true or feigned.
Formendacil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2009, 11:55 AM   #3
Rumil
Sage & Onions
 
Rumil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Britain
Posts: 894
Rumil has been trapped in the Barrow!
Eye

Perhaps to stop any re-colonisation of Cardolan by Arthedain?
__________________
Rumil of Coedhirion
Rumil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2009, 08:00 PM   #4
Inziladun
Gruesome Spectre
 
Inziladun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,037
Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumil View Post
Perhaps to stop any re-colonisation of Cardolan by Arthedain?
Hmm. The problem with that is that the Downs themselves lay at the extreme northwest of Cardolan, the bounds of which were the Brandywine, the Road, and the Greyflood. Having spirits inhabit a grave site at the outliers of the realm wouldn't seem to accomplish that goal.
__________________
Music alone proves the existence of God.
Inziladun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2009, 09:43 PM   #5
CSteefel
Wight
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 204
CSteefel has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inziladun View Post
Hmm. The problem with that is that the Downs themselves lay at the extreme northwest of Cardolan, the bounds of which were the Brandywine, the Road, and the Greyflood. Having spirits inhabit a grave site at the outliers of the realm wouldn't seem to accomplish that goal.
Although there are suggestions that the northern regions of Arthedain, especially that region close to Fornost, were also haunted. The Rangers went there evidently some times, but they were about the only ones. The question comes up as to why so much of Eriador is deserted, and haunting seems to be the only possible explanation given how pleasant a country the Shire is.
__________________
`These are indeed strange days,' he muttered. `Dreams and legends spring to life out of the grass.'
CSteefel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2009, 10:49 PM   #6
Inziladun
Gruesome Spectre
 
Inziladun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,037
Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CSteefel View Post
Although there are suggestions that the northern regions of Arthedain, especially that region close to Fornost, were also haunted. The Rangers went there evidently some times, but they were about the only ones. The question comes up as to why so much of Eriador is deserted, and haunting seems to be the only possible explanation given how pleasant a country the Shire is.
My impression is that the reputation of Fornost (Deadman's Dike) was a holdover from the war in which the North-kingdom met its end. Fornost had become the dwelling place of the Witch-king after the death of Arvedui, and it seems natural that it would maintain a place in legend among the Bree-landers as a token of fear. That the Rangers would go there to me indicates that there was no truth to the rumours.
The comparitive emptiness of Eriador could be explained by the fact that there didn't appear to be any folk near it that needed more space for long years. All inhabitants seem to have been content where they were: Hobbits in the Shire, Hobbits and Men at Bree, Elves in Lindon and Rivendell, Dwarves in the Blue Mountains. The nearest settlements of Men outside those areas were in Dunland, and indeed some of them had apparently began to seek to colonize the North by the time of the War of the Ring, out of fear of Saruman and the coming war.
__________________
Music alone proves the existence of God.
Inziladun is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:01 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.