S. Ephel Dúath loc. “Mountains of Shadow; (lit.) Fence of Shadow”

S. Ephel Dúath, loc. “Mountains of Shadow; (lit.) Fence of Shadow”

The “Mountains of Shadow” west of Mordor (LotR/636), or more literally the “Fence of Shadow” (RC/457). This name is combination of ephel “fence” and dúath “night shadow” (SA/pel, dú, gwath; PE17/152).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, the earliest Elvish name these mountains was simply N. Duath (TI/309, TI/343), later revised to N. Hebel Dúath (WR/122) and finally Ephel Dúath (WR/180).

References ✧ LotR/636; LotRI/Ephel Dúath, Mountains of Shadow, Shadowy Mountains; PE17/152; RC/457; S/292; SA/dú, gwath, pel; SDI1/Ephel Dúath; SI/Ephel Dúath; TII/Ephel Dúath; UTI/Ephel Dúath; WR/122, 180; WRI/Ephel Dúath

Glosses

Variations

Elements

ephel “outer fence, surrounding ring” ✧ SA/pel
dúath “night shadow, dark/black shadow” ✧ PE17/152 (du(w)ath); SA/dú; SA/gwath

N. Hebel Dúath loc. “Mountains of Shadow”

Earlier name of the Mountains of Shadow in Morder in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/122, 180), a combination of hebel (“?fence”) and dú(w)ath “night-shade”.

See S. Haudh-en-Ndengin for further discussion.

References ✧ WR/122, 180; WRI/Ephel Dúath

Glosses

Changes

Elements

hebel “?fence”
dú(w)ath “night-shade”

N. Duath loc.

The earliest Elvish name of the Mountains of Shadow in Morder in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/309, TI/343), it is simply dú(w)ath “night-shade” used as a name.

See S. Ephel Dúath for further discussion.

References ✧ TI/343; TII/Ephel Dúath; WRI/Ephel Dúath

Elements

dú(w)ath “night-shade”