LOTR J.R.R Tolkien Characters, Landscapes & Monuments Illustrated by Mitch Weaver
CONTENTS
Gandalf The Shire Arwen Elrond Valinor Gollum Minas Tirith The Black Gate Orc
5-6 7-8 9 - 10 11 - 12 13 - 14 15 - 16 17 - 18 19 - 20 21 - 22
FORODWAITH
ARNOR
A
THE LOST REALM OF
Ered luin
Hithaeglir
Ettenm weather hills
FORLINDON
RHUD
Old Forest
Arthedain
The shire
Bree
Rivende
Blue mountains
Harlindon
ERIADOR Minhiriath
EREGION
Dunland
ISENGARD
Enedwaith
F
R
GOND
ANFAL
THE WEST OF
MIDDLE EARTH AT THE END OF THE THIRD AGE
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ANGMAR
MOUNT GUNDBAND
ERED MITHRIN IRON HILLS
EREBOR (THE LONELY MOUNTAIN)
moors
ERARETH ON THE LONG LAKE
RHUN
DAUR
MIRKWOOD
ell
EAST BIGHT
SEA OF RHUN DUR GULDUR
LORIEN
FANGORN
ROHAN
RHOVANION THE BROWN LANDS
HELMS DEEP
ERED LITHUI (ASH MOUNTAINS N JTHILIEN ORODRAIN
BARAD DUR
MORDOR
PLATEAU OF GORGOROTH
DOR
NURN
LAS LEBENNIN
S JTHILIEN
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GANDALF The Grey
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G
andalf was one of the most powerful Maiar, or lower angels. About one thousand years after the Third Age began, the Istari (wizards), who
were all Maiar, appeared from across the sea. There were five of them: Saruman, Gandalf, Radagast, Alatar, and Pallando. They came in the form of old men and were ranked according to their power, with white being the highest level. Most inhabitants of Middle-earth believed Saruman to be the most powerful, but when Cirdan the Ship-wright welcomed Gandalf at the Grey Havens, he saw that Gandalf was indeed the most powerful and gave him Narya, the Elven Ring of Fire. Gandalf chose a wandering life, helping those in need of aid, never living in one place for long. He was the only wizard who took a peculiar interest in hobbits, whom the others thought to be lazy and unimportant creatures.
G
andalf was part of the White Council, which was formed to combat Sauron. Saruman was the head of the Council, though Galadriel would have chosen Gandalf. Saruman insisted that the Ring had fallen into the Anduin river and now lay at the
bottom of the sea, but doubts assailed Gandalf as to the validity of this conclusion. He constantly studied old scrolls, searching for any solid information as to the fate of the Ring. Gandalf made two visits to Dol Guldur, where Sauron had hidden after his defeat at the end of the Second Age. The first visit took place in TA 2063; the second 787 years later. On the second visit, Gandalf discovered that the master of Dol Guldur was indeed Sauron (on the first visit, Gandalf had been unable to discover who Dol Guldur’s lord was), and encountered the imprisoned Thrain the Dwarf. Gandalf received the key of Erebor from Thrain, who died soon after.
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THE SHIRE
A
ccording to Tolkien, the Shire measured 40 leagues (193 km, 120 miles) from the Far Downs in the west to the Brandywine Bridge in the east, and 50 leagues (241 km,
150 miles) from the northern moors to the marshes in the south.[5] This is confirmed in an essay by Tolkien on translating The Lord of the Rings,[6] where he describes the Shire as having an area of 18,000 square miles (47,000 km2).The original territory of the Shire was bounded on the east by the Baranduin River, on the north by uplands rising to the old centre of Arnor, on the west by the White Downs, and on the south by marshland south of the River Shirebourne. After the original settlement, hobbits also expanded to the east into Buckland between the Baranduin and the Old Forest, and (much later) to the west into the Westmarch between the White Downs and the Tower Hills.
T
he Shire was originally divided into four Farthings. The outlying lands of Buckland and the Westmarch were formally added after the War of the Ring.Within the Farthings there
are some smaller unofficial clan homelands: the Tooks nearly all live in or near Tuckborough in Tookland, for instance. A Hobbit surname often indicates where the family came from: Samwise Gamgee’s last name derives from Gamwich, where the family originated. Buckland was named for the Oldbucks (later called the Brandybucks).The Shire is described as a small but beautiful, idyllic and fruitful land, beloved by its inhabitants. The Hobbits had an extensive agricultural system in the Shire but were not industrialised. The landscape included small pockets of forest (again similar to the English countryside). Various supplies were produced in the Shire, including cereals, fruit, wood and pipe-weed.
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A
rwen was said to resemble her foremother, Luthien Tinuviel, who was the most beautiful of the children
of Elves and Men and was the first high elf to marry a human and become mortal. Arwen lived in both Rivendell and Lothlorien in peace for many years. Her mother, Celebrian, was attacked and captured by orcs in TA 2510, and though Celebrian was rescued by Elladan and Elrohir and healed of her wounds by Elrond, she tired of Middle-earth and passed over the sea. Arwen stayed in Lothlorien for many years, but returned to Rivendell c. TA 2951. There she met Aragorn while walking in the woods at sunset. Aragorn immediately fell in love with her, although he told nobody but his mother, and Arwen seemed to give him no further notice. Twenty-nine years later, Arwen was living in Lothlorien when Aragorn came to those woods. Queen Galadriel, Arwen’s grandmother, clothed Aragorn as an Elf-lord, and when Arwen saw him after their long parting,
A
fter the War of the Ring, Arwen married Aragorn on Midyear’s Day, TA 3019. She lived blissfully as Queen of Elves and Men for 120 years, and it was not her lot to die until
her choice was made. The Peredhil (half-elves),
all that she had gained was lost. But in FO 120, the days of glory came
who were the descendants of Luthien, could
to an end and Arwen felt the bitterness of her choice: Aragorn felt the
choose to become mortal, but until that day,
approach of old age at last, and knew that his days were numbered.
Arwen had no cause to forsake her immortality.
He had the gift of a lifespan thrice that of Men of Middle-earth, but
She plighted her troth with Aragorn on the hill
he also had the grace to return his gift. He died on March 1st of that
of Cerin Amroth, and followed in the path of
year. Arwen said farewell to her children and all those whom she had
Luthien, although it meant a bitter parting with
loved, and passed into Lothlorien. All the Elves of Lorien were gone,
her father and the rest of her kin.
and the land was silent. When winter came, Arwen laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth, and of the passing of Evenstar no more is said.
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ARWEN Undomiel
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ELROND
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E
lrond was the grandson of Turgon, King of Gondolin, and the great-grandson of Beren and Luthien. Elwing, Elrond’s mother, lived in
Doriath with her parents, Dior and Nimloth, and brothers, Elured and Elurin. When the sons of Fëanor attacked Doriath to regain the Silmaril that Beren, Elwing’s grandfather, had taken from Morgoth’s iron crown, Elwing’s mother and father were killed; her brothers abandoned in the wilderness. Elwing herself escaped to Arvernien, taking the Silmaril with her. In Avernien, she met and mar-
and Elwing escaped with the Silmaril to the Undying
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Lands, Elrond and Elros were captured. They were be-
rescued by her twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and healed
friended by Maglor, one of Fëanor’s sons, and became
of her wounds by Elrond, but she grew weary of Middle-
less like captives and more like beloved guests as time
earth and departed over the sea.
ried Eärendil: they had two sons, Elrond and Elros. Fëanor’s sons attacked Arvernien, and although Eärendil
n TA 100, Elrond married Celebrian, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. More than two thousand years later (TA 2509), Celebrian was attacked by
orcs while journeying over a mountain pass. She was
passed. At the end of the First Age, Elrond and his brother were given the choice of the Half-elven: to be-
When Arathorn II died, his son Aragorn II was only two
come an immortal elf, or a mortal human. Elrond chose
years old, and Elrond took the child in as his foster-son.
the former; Elros the latter.
Aragorn met and fell in love with Elrond’s daughter, Arwen, eighteen years later, but Elrond forbid Aragorn
Elrond dwelt with Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor,
to marry any woman until Aragorn was found worthy. In
until SA 1695, when he was sent to the land of Eregion.
TA 3018, Frodo and his companions arrived at Rivendell.
When Eregion fell, Elrond fled and founded the refuge
Elrond presided over the Council to decide what was to
of Imladris (Rivendell). The Last Alliance of Elves and
be done with the Ring, and appointed the members of
Men was formed in SA 3430. Elrond became Gil-galad’s
the Fellowship. During the War of the Ring, Elrond pro-
herald, and before the battle, Gil-galad gave him the
vided much assistance, though he himself did not fight.
greatest of the Three Elven Rings, Vilya. After the High
At the end of the war, he gave Arwen’s hand in marriage
King fell, Elrond counselled Isildur to destroy the One
to Aragorn, and at the end of the Third Age, Elrond
Ring, but Isildur refused his advice.
departed over the sea.
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VALINOR
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V
alinor as explained was the home of the Valar, the Powers of Middle-earth. The sea to the west of the island was called Ekkaia, or the
Encircling Sea; it surrounded both Valinor and Middle-earth.Each of the Valar had their own region of the land where they resided and altered things to their desire. Yavanna, the Vala of nature, growth, and harvest, resided in the Pastures of Yavanna in the south of the island. Orome, the Vala of the hunt, lived in the Woods of Orome to the north-east of the pastures. The forest was home to many creatures which Orome could track and hunt. Nienna, the lonely Valier of sorrow and endurance lived cut off in the far west of the island in the Halls of Nienna where she spent her days crying, looking out to sea. Just south of the Halls of Nienna and to the north of the pastures there were the Halls of Mandos. Mandos, the brother of Nienna, was the Vala of the afterlife. All inhabitants of Middle-earth went to the Halls of Mandos should they happen to die, mortals and immortals alike (immortals could be killed although they did not die of old age) although it was said that in death as in life, they were separated. Also living in the Halls of Mandos was his spouse VairĂŤ the weaver, who wove the threads of time.
A
fter the destruction of NĂşmenor, the Undying Lands were removed from Arda so that Men could not reach them and only the Elves
could go there by the Straight Road and in ships capable of passing out of the Spheres of the earth. By special permission of the Valar, the Hobbits Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee were also permitted to go to Valinor, and Legolas the elf brought with him Gimli the Dwarf.
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GOLLUM
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S
méagol was one of the Stoors, a race of hobbits that, unlike most of their kind, lived near rivers and knew something of
the mud, the One Ring. Sméagol immediately
I
wanted the Ring, claiming that Déagol should
introduced himself, and the two played a riddle-
give it to him as a birthday present. Déagol
game: if Bilbo won, Gollum would show the
refused, and his treacherous cousin murdered
way out of the caves; if Gollum won, he would
boating, swimming, and fishing. One day, when Sméagol and his cousin, Déagol, were fishing, Déagol fell into the river, and found, buried in
n TA 2941, Bilbo Baggins, who was lost in the caves, chanced upon the Ring, which Gollum had accidentally dropped a few
days ago. Bilbo and Gollum met, Bilbo foolishly
him. Sméagol used the Ring’s power of making eat Bilbo. Bilbo won the game with the questhe wearer invisible to find out secrets and spy
tionable riddle “What have I got in my pocket?”
on his kin. The Stoors grew to distrust him, and The answer was “a ring,” but Gollum of course called him “Gollum” because of the gurgling
didn’t guess correctly--his three guesses were
noise he made in his throat. Sméagol grew to
“Handses,” “Knife”, and “String or nothing”
hate all light, both sun and moon, and leaving
(the last being two guesses combined into one,
his kinsfolk, went off to live in the caves under
although both were incorrect). He paddled to the
the mountains. He lived there for nearly 500
island where he lived, thinking to put on the Ring
years, constantly talking to the Ring and calling
and sneak up on Bilbo unawares, but the Ring
it his “precious.”
was gone. Now Gollum began to suspect what was really in Bilbo’s pocket, and ran after the terrified hobbit. Bilbo put on the Ring accidentally, and Gollum ran past the invisible “thief.”
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MINAS TIRITH
M
inas Tirith was the capital of Gondor in the Third Age and the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. Originally known as
Minas Anor (the “Tower of the Sun”), it replaced the city (later ruined city and stockade of Gondor) Osgiliath as the new capital of Gondor. When the Enemy began to take shape again, Minas Anor was renamed Minas Tirith, the “Tower of Guard.” The city was also called The White City, as the courtyard in the front of the city’s Citadel contained the White Tree, and also known as the City of Kings because of its connection with the kings and stewards of Gondor (who ruled the kingdom of Gondor from the Citadel of the city). Many important events took place in and in front of the city, such as the coronation of King Elessar, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the healing of Meriado Brandybuck and Éowyn by Aragorn after they had been poisoned after stabbing, and subsequently killing, the Witch-king of Angmar.
M
inas Tirith was surrounded by the Rammas Echor, a large ringwall encircling the city and the Pelennor
Fields. This wall was built after Minas Ithil fell and was renamed Minas Morgul. It was repaired by Ecthelion II during the time of the War of the Ring, but it had not the strength to defend the city from the Dark Lord Sauron’s legions of orcs from Mordor led by the Witch-king of Angmar. The city itself lay on a hill beneath Mount Mindolluin, which rose above the city’s citadel, by a length of a couple of thousand feet. Mount Mindolluin was where Aragorn found the seedling of the White Tree, aided by Gandalf.The city was divided into seven one-hundred-foot high levels, each surrounded by white walls, except the first walls which had the same kind of black stone as Orthanc as a face.
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THE BLACK GATE
T
he Black Gate was set in an impregnable black stone and iron wall that stretched from the Mountains of Ash in the north to
the Ephel Duath (Mountains of Shadow) in the west. The wall has been estimated to be 60 feet high and 250 feet long with each half of the great gate being 90 feet wide and set on large stone wheels. Behind the gate were gigantic circular stone ramparts, and when the gate needed to be opened, two pairs of Mountaintrolls who were tethered to gigantic beams pushed their way around their rampart’s track, gradually levering open the gate and allowing for the incoming or outgoing of Mordor’s armies. Inset within the wall were myriads of archers, spearmen, bowmen, ballistae, and hundreds of thousands of Orc troops ready to defend Mordor. The Gates themselves may have been made of the same indomitable stone that constitutes Orthanc, so hard that even the Ents could not dent it.
I
t was originally a gate built by Sauron the Dark Lord of Mordor in the Second Age, to protect and guard the northern entrance into Mordor
and to prevent invasion at the gap between the Ered Lithui (Ash Mountains) and the Ephel Duath (Mountains of Shadow). It was probably built with the help of the power of the One Ring, like the Barad-dûr. After Sauron’s fall after the Battle of Dagorlad, it became a garrison of the Men of Gondor. In Gondor’s early days, when it was building towers and cities such as Minas Ithil and Cirith Ungol close to Mordor’s border, it raised the two great Towers of the Teeth, Narchost and Carchost, which were built on either side of the wall and were tall enough to overlook it.
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ORC
T
olkien did not regard Orcs as evil in their own right, but only as tools of Morgoth and Sauron.Orcs were
their enemies. In the millennia after Melkor’s
I
defeat and banishment from Arda, they were
years. They first appeared in the Battle of Lham-
without a leader, and degenerated to small,
moth, where they were defeated by the Noldor.
quarrelsome tribes hiding in the Misty Moun-
When the House of Fëanor returned to Middle-
tains. Only when led by a Maia like Sauron did
earth, Morgoth sent a force of orcs against them
they begin to reclaim some of their old power
and although they outnumbered the exiles they
and become a real danger for Middle-earth.
were no match for the power and wrath of the
Many Orcs (along with fallen Maiar and other
Ñoldor, and were quickly and easily defeated.
evil servants of Melkor), survived in the deep
However, Fëanor could not defeat the power of
caves, pits, chambers, and tunnels of Melkor’s
Morgoth alone and he was killed leaving the orcs
great underground fortresses of Utumno and
to continue to breed under the Dark Lord. Years
Angband. They multiplied and later spread
later as the House of Fingolfin arrived in Middle-
dependent on the Dark Lord in various ways: after their leader was defeated, the Orcs were confused and dismayed, and easily scattered by
n the First Age, thousands of Orcs were first bred in Angband as the core force of Morgoth and were to participate in the
Battles of Beleriand which lasted a total of 587
through northern Middle-earth. They were first earth, orcs were sent against them as well but seen by the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains
were utterly defeated in the Battle of the Lam-
(Ered Luin) who reported them to King Thin-
moth.
gol, the High King of the Sindar causing them to need weapons of war for the first time. For over a millennium, the orcs were only a minor problem but when Melkor (Morgoth) returned with the Silmarils he took full charge of them.
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