Places in Middle-earth
Dor Dínen
Type: Kingdoms, Realms, Lands
Region: Beleriand & North
Meaning:
The Silent Land
Location: The region between the upper courses of the rivers Esgalduin on the northwest and Aros on the west, bounded on the south by the northern border of Doriath.
Description:
[The] Noldor would pass through Nan Dungortheb only at great need, by paths near to the borders of Doriath and furthest from the haunted hills.... [If] one fared upon [that way] he came eastwards to Esgalduin, where still there stood in the days of the Siege the stone bridge of Iant Iaur. Thence he passed through Dor Dínen, the Silent Land, and crossing the Arossiach (which signifies the Fords of Aros) came to the north marches of Beleriand....
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
Southward lay the guarded woods of Doriath, abode of Thingol the Hidden King....
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
Etymology
dôr 'land' (i.e. dry land as opposed to sea) was derived from ndor; it occurs in many Sindarin names, as Doriath, Dorthonion, Eriador, Gondor, Mordor, etc. In Quenya the stem was blended and confused with a quite distinct word nórë meaning 'people'; in origin Valinórë was strictly 'the people of the Valar', but Valandor 'the land of the Valar', and similarly Númen(n)órë 'people of the West', but Númendor 'land of the West'. Quenya Endor 'Middle-earth' was from ened 'middle' and ndor; this in Sindarin became Ennor (cf. ennorath 'middle lands' in the chant A Elbereth Gilthoniel).
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
dîn 'silent' in Dor Dínen; cf. Rath Dínen, the Silent Street in Minas Tirith, and Amon Dîn, one of the beacon-hills of Gondor.
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 23Aug08
