The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Founded before the rising of the Sun; overrun by Morgoth in I 473
Location
At the mouth of the river Nenning, on the western coast of Beleriand
Origins
A settlement of Teleri who remained behind when their fellows travelled to Aman
Race
Division
Culture
Pronunciation
e'glarest
Meaning
'Ravine of the Eglor'1
Note
This was one of the two Havens of the Falas, the other being Brithombar to the northwest

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About this entry:

  • Updated 11 June 2017
  • Updates planned: 1

Eglarest

The Haven at Nenning’s mouth

Map of Eglarest

Havens of the Falas

A haven at the mouth of the River Nenning. The southern of the two Havens of Círdan (the other being Brithombar) that stood in the Falas on the western coasts of Beleriand.


Notes

1

This curious derivation will bear some explanation. 'Eglor' was the original name of the river Tolkien later renamed the 'Nenning', but while the river's name changed, the name of the Haven at its mouth remained. (In terms of the history of Beleriand, we would have to assume that the Elves chose to rename their river, but wanted to keep the traditional name of their town). The river flowed through a narrow ravine at its mouth where Eglarest was built, hence the derivation 'Ravine of the Eglor'.

Actually the derivation of the name is more complicated than even this suggests, because the Tolkien changed his mind about the words involved, so in turn its meaning changed over time. For this reason, the name also has a connection with Eglath, 'the Forsaken', a term that at one time was particularly associated with the Falathrim who built Eglarest. Based on that phase of linguistic development, the name can be reinterpreted as the 'ravine of the Forsaken' (where the Forsaken were the Sindar left behind in Beleriand when their fellow Teleri passed across the Great Sea).

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 11 June 2017
  • Updates planned: 1

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