Henneth Annun Reseach Center

Places in Middle-earth

Esgalduin

Type: Rivers & Lakes

Region: Beleriand & North

Meaning: River under veil

Location: The river of Doriath, dividing the forests of Neldoreth and Region, and flowing into Sirion.

Description: (Location from: The Silmarillion, Index of Names)

"Southward lay the guarded woods of Doriath, abode of Thingol the Hidden King, into whose realm none passed save by his will. Its northern and lesser part, the Forest of Neldoreth, was bounded east and south by the dark river Esgalduin, which bent westward in the midst of the land; and between Aros and Esgalduin lay the denser and greater woods of Region. Upon the southern bank of Esgalduin, where it turned westward towards Sirion, were the Caves of Menegroth; and all Doriath lay east of Sirion save for a narrow region of woodland between the meeting of Teiglin and Sirion and the Meres of Twilight."
From The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and Its Realms

"Where the Esgalduin flowed down, and parted Neldoreth from Region, there rose in the midst of the forest a rocky hill, and the river ran at its feet. There they made the gates of the hall of Thingol, and they built a bridge of stone over the river, by which alone the gates could be entered. Beyond the gates wide passages ran down to high halls and chambers far below that were hewn in the living stone, so many and so great that that dwelling was named Menegroth, the Thousand Caves."
From The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 10, Of the Sindar


Also of note: Beren first laid eyes on Lúthien by the shores of the river Esgalduin. (The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 19, Of Beren and Lúthien)

Etymology:

esgal - 'screen, hiding' as in Esgalduin.
duin - '(long) river' as in Anduin, Baranduin, Esgalduin, Malduin, Taur-im-Duinath.

Contributors: docmon, 18 Sept 05

Related Library Entries

Places Search

   

Full Text Search


Character Bios

No related characters

Go to Character Bios

Things

No related things

Go to Things