 | |
| Fields | |
| Poisoned Meads | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Location | Morgul Vale |
| Type | Fields |
| Description | Shadowy fields of white flowers |
| People and History | |
| Destroyed | 19 March, T.A. 3019 |
Luminous these were too, beautiful and yet horrible of shape, like the demented forms in an uneasy dream; and they gave forth a faint sickening charnel-smell; an odour of rottenness filled the air
The Poisoned Meads[1] were wide meadows on both sides of the Morgulduin in the Morgul Vale. The pale white flowers that grew in the meads were luminous and beautiful, though their shapes were horrific. They had a rotten odour and emitted noxious vapours which poisoned the river.[2]
History
On 10 March, T.A. 3019[3] as Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and Gollum were approaching the bridge over the Morgulduin, cold vapours issued from the river which sickened Frodo.[4]
On 19 March,[1] when the Host of the West came to and passed the Cross-roads, a vanguard led by Aragorn and Gandalf rode to the Morgul Vale and there destroyed the bridge and set fire to the Poisoned Meads[1].[5]
Inspiration
The flowers of the Poisoned Meads[1] may have been inspired by the Arum genus.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien (editor: William Cloud Hicklin), The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, p. 76
- ↑ LR 4.08.005Digital Tolkien Project Citation Systems, The Lord of the Rings, "The Two Towers", "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol", Paragraph 5
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 10, p. 1093
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol", p. 704
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Black Gate Opens"
- ↑ Walter S. Judd & Graham A. Judd (2017), Flora of Middle-Earth: Plants of J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium, Oxford University Press