Places in Middle-earth
Amon Ethir
Type: Mountains, Hills, Promontories
Region: Beleriand & North
Meaning: The Hill of Spies
Other Names
The Spyhill
Location: A great earthwork raised by Finrod Felagund three miles east of the entrance to Nargothrond; used as a lookout point.
Description:
And after three days' journeying [from the Meres of Twilight through Talath Dirnen] they came to Amon Ethir, the Hill of Spies....
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 21, Of Túrin Turambar
Now Amon Ethir was a mound as great as a hill that long ago Felagund had caused to be raised with great labour in the plain before his Doors, a league 1 east of Narog. It was tree-grown, save on the summit, whence a wide view might be had all ways of the roads that led to the great bridge of Nargothrond and of the lands round about. 2 To this hill they came late in the morning and climbed up from the east. Then looking out towards the High Faroth, brown and bare beyond the river, Mablung saw with elven-sight the terraces of Nargothrond on the steep west bank, and as a small black hole in the hill-wall the gaping Doors of Felagund.
The Children of Húrin, Ch 14, The Journey of Morwen and Niënor to Nargothrond
Notes
1 A league is approximately three miles.
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 1, The Disaster of the Gladden Fields: Appendix, Númenórean Linear Measures
2 Upon all [Talath Dirnen] the Elves of Nargothrond kept unceasing watch; and every hill upon its borders was crowned with hidden towers, and through all its woods and fields archers ranged secretly and with great craft. Their arrows were sure and deadly, and nothing crept there against their will.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 19, Of Beren and Lúthien
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 19Sep08, 21Sep08, 14Mar11