Places in Middle-earth
Echoriath
Type: Mountains, Hills, Promontories
Region: Beleriand & North
Other Names the Encircling Mountains
Location: The mountains encircling Tumladen, the high plain of Gondolin; the southern part of the circle is also called the Crissaegrim.
Description:
[The] hidden vale of Tumladen ... lay east of the upper waters of Sirion, in a ring of mountains tall and sheer, and no living thing came there save the eagles of Thorondor.The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 15, Of the Noldor in Beleriand
[Húrin] descried far off amid the clouds the peaks of the Crissaegrim...; and he desired to come again to the hidden realm of Gondolin. ... [Crossing] over the Brithiach he passed into Dimbar, and came to the dark feet of the Echoriath. ... [He stood] at the foot of a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock-wall; and he knew not that this was all that was now left to see of the old Way of Escape: the Dry River was blocked, and the arched gate was buried. Then Húrin looked up to the grey sky, thinking that he might once more descry the eagles...; but he saw only ... clouds swirling about the inaccessible peaks, and he heard only the wind hissing over the stones.The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath
Then Tuor looked down upon the fair vale of Tumladen, set as a green jewel amid the encircling hills....The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 23, Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 10Jul06
