 | |
| Plain | |
| Erech | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Location | south of the White Mountains at the mouth of the Blackroot Vale |
| Type | Plain |
| Description | plain with a hill with a great black stone on its top |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Originally Men, later abandoned |
| Gallery | Images of Erech |
Erech was a plain[1][2] in Gondor situated at the mouth of the Blackroot Vale near to the southern entrance to the Paths of the Dead, far to the west of Minas Tirith.[3]. Upon it stood the Hill of Erech with a smooth black globe, the Stone of Erech on the top of the hill.[4]
History
Near the end of the Second Age, Isildur set a great black stone upon the Hill of Erech and made the local hill tribes swear an oath of loyalty over the stone. It was there that the King of the Mountains swore allegiance to Isildur's cause at the time of the Last Alliance. However, when he failed to fulfil his oath, he and his people were cursed to wander and haunt the plain of Erech as the Dead until they made good on their promise.[5]
The area near the Hill of Erech became a mysterious and eerie place, shunned by the people of the valley, who claimed that it was haunted by restless spirits.[4] During the time of King Arvedui of Arthedain, a prophecy was made regarding the arising of the dead during the War of the Ring. In this prophecy the Stone of Erech was mentioned:[6]
The Dead awaken; for the hour is come for the oathbreakers: at the Stone of Erech they shall stand again and hear there a horn in the hills ringing.
When the Grey Company came to Rohan, the sons of Elrond brought with them a reminder of these words from their father to Aragorn, who acted upon these words to brave the Paths of the Dead.[6]
After waiting through the long years of the Third Age, at midnight on 8 March T.A. 3019,[7] the heir of Isildur, Aragorn, came to Erech to hold the Dead to their oath again, promising that upon its fulfillment they would have peace.[8] The next day they left Erech for Calembel.[9] Indeed, on 13 March,[10] they held true to their oath and formed the Host of the Dead to help Aragorn defeat the Corsairs of Umbar at Pelargir. After the battle at Pelargir, Aragorn released them from their oath and they were allowed to rest.[11]
Etymology
The origin of the name Erech, like that of some other names in Gondor, was forgotten and from a time before the Númenóreans sailed to Middle-earth.[12]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Tarlang's Neck, "separated the plain of Erech from Lamedon", pp. 776-777
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 535-536
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company", p. 789
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company", p. 782
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company", p. 781
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 8, p. 1093
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company", pp. 787-789
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 13
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Last Debate", pp. 874-876
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Men", p. 1129