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The Ford of Brithiach was a means of crossing the river Sirion, with the empty land of Dimbar to the east and the Forest of Brethil to the south.[1]

History[]

After Aredhel Ar-Feiniel made the decision to leave Gondolin and her brother Turgon, it was at the Ford of Brithiach that she sent away the three lords that Turgon had assigned to travel with her. She soon afterwards returned that way after being denied passage through the realm of Thingol, in order to search for the land of Celegorm. Later, when Maeglin and Aredhel fled from Eöl, it was at the ford they abandoned their horses and yet were betrayed by the noise of their steeds, and Eöl marked which way they traveled.[2]

The people of Lady Haleth also passed the ford in their journey to the Forest of Brethil, though many regretted it.[3]

During Tuor and Voronwë's journey to Gondolin commanded by Ulmo, they were able to pass the ford during the day without fear of attack from Oorcs due to the help of the Great Eagles.[1]

Húrin later passed over the ford into Dimbar on his journey to once again come to Gondolin and see its lord, Turgon. Not long after, he returned that way searching for Morwen along the eaves of Brethil.[4]

Afterwards the fords are not mentioned further, but were destroyed along with all Beleriand at the ending of the First Age.

Description[]

The ford was shallow across the width of the Sirion, and able to easily be crossed on foot. Its water was clear and very cold, and in some places the water froze for at least part of the year. The Sirion, however, could never freeze in its entirety, not even during the Fell Winter of Nargothrond.[1]

Etymology[]

The word Brithiach contains the element brith "gravel", as in 'Brithon' and the haven of 'Brithombar'.[5]

Translations[]

Foreign Language Translated name
Afrikaans Drif van Brithiach
Albanian Va e Brithiach
Alemannisch Furt am Brithiach
Breton Roudouz Brithiach
Catalan Gual de Brithiach
Czech Brod z Brithiach
Danish Brithiach ("Vadestedet over Sirion")
Dutch De Voorde van Brithiach
Estonian Brithiach koolmekoht
Finnish Brithiachin kahlaamo
French Gué de Brithiach
Frisian Furde fan Brithiach (Western)
German Furt von Brithiach
Hebrew מעברת בריתיאך
Hungarian Brithiach Gázlója
Icelandic Brithiachvað
Italian Guado del Brithiach
Latvian Brithiach brasls
Lithuanian Brithiach brasta
Manx Brithiach Aah
Norwegian Brithiachvad
Polish Bród na Brithiach
Portuguese Vau de Brithiach
Romanian Vadul de Brithiach
Scottish Gaelic Beul-àtha Brithiach
Sicilian Sguazzu di Brithiach
Slovak Brithiach Brod
Slovenian Brithiach Brod
Spanish Vado de Brithiach
Swedish Brithiachvaden
Turkish Brithiach Nehir geçidi
Turkmen Brithiach Güzer

References[]