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 05-26-2003, 08:36 PM   #1
Meoshi
Wight
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Atop the peak of Kalormė
Posts: 163
Meoshi has just left Hobbiton.
Sting Simbelwyne

Quote:
'Hither shall the flowers of simbelwyne come never unto world's end'
About the quote from Aragorn above; What does it mean? What or who are the simbelwyne? And is there any indication in any of the books as to what is behind the door in the Paths of The Dead? (I'm running an RPG right now whose purpose is to solve the door question)
Meoshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2003, 10:28 PM   #2
Legolas
A Northern Soul
 
Legolas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Valinor
Posts: 1,847
Legolas has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

Simbelmynė is a white flower. It means 'evermind,' literally, and is often found along gravesites because those buried there are 'ever (in the) mind(s)' of their loved ones.

Gandalf points them out in Edoras as they observe the tombs of Rohan's fallen kings:

Quote:
'Look!' said Gandalf. 'How fair are the bright eyes in the grass! Evermind they are called, simbelmynė in this land of Men, for they blossom in all the seasons of the year, and grow where dead men rest. Behold! we are come to the great barrows where the sires of Théoden sleep.'
'Seven mounds upon the left, and nine upon the right,' said Aragorn. 'Many long lives of men it is since the golden hall was built.'
This is why Aragorn says what he does later - note the part of the quote you left out, speaking of the 9 and 7 mounds:

Quote:
Aragorn did not touch him, but after gazing silently for a while he rose and sighed. ‘Hither shall the flowers of simbelmynė come never unto world’s end,’ he murmured. ‘Nine mounds and seven there are now green with grass, and through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could not unlock. Whither does it lead? Why would he pass? None shall ever know!
What Aragorn is saying is that the flowers will never grow there, meaning no one shall ever know his intent, mourn his loss, or keep him in memory (he being the body they find at the door); some are remembered (as the kings are) and some pass with no one's notice (the body Aragorn finds).

They're also mentioned in the appendices:

Quote:
'Helm was brought from the Hornburg and laid in the ninth mound. Ever after the white simbelmynė grew there most thickly, so that the mound seemed to be snow-clad. When Fréalįf died a new line of mounds was begun.'
__________________
...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art.
Legolas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2003, 03:52 PM   #3
Finwe
Deathless Sun
 
Finwe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos
Posts: 2,609
Finwe has just left Hobbiton.
Send a message via AIM to Finwe
Sting

I think that the simbelmynė flowers could represent the honor accorded to the kings of Rohan. On Helm Hammerhand's tomb, the flowers grew thickly, since he was one of the most famous kings. For Baldor (the skeleton in front of the Paths of the Dead), they never grew, since he was regarded as "that crazy guy" for claiming that he would pass through the Paths of the Dead (a drunken oath to be sure!).
__________________
But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fėanor, and there he slew Finwė King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwė alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.
Finwe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2003, 09:31 PM   #4
Meoshi
Wight
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Atop the peak of Kalormė
Posts: 163
Meoshi has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

And so, since he had no honor but that of his family, and he had accomplished nothing, the flowers of Simbelwyne would never come to honor him. *sniff*
Meoshi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2003, 06:18 PM   #5
Finwe
Deathless Sun
 
Finwe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos
Posts: 2,609
Finwe has just left Hobbiton.
Send a message via AIM to Finwe
Sting

I know, it is a sad story, but it also gives a physical example of the importance placed on practicality by Tolkien. I don't think he was the type who really liked people running off on foolish dares. In the words of Mercedes Lackey, "Glorious Destinies only get you Glorious Funerals." Baldor may have tried to do something "glorious", and he didn't even get a funeral to top it all off!
__________________
But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fėanor, and there he slew Finwė King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwė alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.
Finwe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2003, 07:51 PM   #6
The Saucepan Man
Corpus Cacophonous
 
The Saucepan Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A green and pleasant land
Posts: 8,390
The Saucepan Man has been trapped in the Barrow!
Boots

Quote:
And so, since he had no honor but that of his family, and he had accomplished nothing, the flowers of Simbelwyne would never come to honor him. *sniff*
Or it may just have been because his bones were lying in a cave. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
__________________
Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!
The Saucepan Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2003, 08:10 AM   #7
Birdland
Ghastly Neekerbreeker
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto
Posts: 1,751
Birdland has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

Quote:
Or it may just have been because his bones were lying in a cave.
(Birdie comes with extention cord, Gro-Lite, and a packet of seeds - in order to do homage to Baldor.) "SOB!"
Birdland 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 07:55 AM.



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