Places in Middle-earth
Anfauglith
Type: Forests, Fields, Plains
Region: Beleriand & North
Meaning: Land of Gasping Dust
Other Names Dor-nu-Fauglith.
Prior to the Battle of Sudden Flame this region was grassy and known as Ard-galen.
Location: Anfauglith describes the plain south of Thangorodrim and the Iron Mountains (Ered Engrin). It is bounded by the Ered Wethrin on the west, and the Ered Luin on the east. The forest of Dorthonion marks the southern edge of the plain.
Description: Then suddenly Morgoth sent forth great rivers of flame that ran down swifter than Balrogs from Thangorodrim, and poured over all the plain; and the Mountains of Iron belched forth fires of many poisonous hues, and the fume of them stank upon the air, and was deadly. Thus Ard-galen perished, and fire devoured its grasses; and it became a burned and desolate waste, full of a choking dust, barren and lifeless. Thereafter its name was changed, and it was called Anfauglith, the Gasping Dust. Many charred bones had there their roofless grave; for many of the Noldor perished in that burning, who were caught by the running flame and could not fly to the hills. The heights of Dorthonion and Ered Wethrin held back the fiery torrents, but their woods upon the slopes that looked towards Angband were all kindled, and the smoke wrought confusion among the defenders.
The Silmarillion, Ch 18, Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
Subsequently, several brief references to the area in The Silmarillion mention it being 'sandy,' 'desert,' or having 'barren dunes.'
Etymology of Ard-galen
calen (galen) the usual Sindarin word for 'green', in Ard-galen, Tol Galen, Calenardhon; also in Parth Galen ('Green Sward') beside Anduin and Pinnath Gelin ('Green Ridges') in Gondor. See kal-. ...
kal- (gal-) This root, meaning 'shine', appears in Calacirya, Calaquendi, Tar-Calion; galvorn, Gil-galad, Galadriel. ... calen (galen) 'green' is etymologically 'bright', and derives from this root....
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
Contributors: Lyllyn 27Jul03
Elena Tiriel 5Dec04, 5Jan05