Grey Havens or Mithlond was an Elvish port city on the Gulf of Lune in the Elven realm of Lindon in Middle-earth.
Description
The Havens was built on the eastern end of the Gulf of Lune.[2]
Because of its cultural and spiritual importance to the Elves, the Grey Havens in time became the primary Elven settlement west of the Misty Mountains prior to the establishment of Eregion and, later, Rivendell. Even after the death of Gil-galad and as the Elves dwindled in numbers by the year, the Grey Havens remained a focal point of the history in the northern part of Middle-earth.
Despite being a major port, the Grey Havens had sparse population, like Rivendell and northeastern Mirkwood.[3]
History
Second Age
The Grey Havens was founded at the beginning of the Second Age by the surviving Elves of Beleriand, those who chose to remain on Middle-earth after the wars against Morgoth.
It was frequently visited by the Númenoreans. On SA 1700, Tar-Minastir sent great fleets from Númenor to the Havens in assistance in the war against Sauron.[4]
It was also one of the main sources for the Elven fleet of ships that sailed back and forth between and Eldamar in Aman.
Third Age
In TA 1000, the Istari arrived in Middle-earth, and it was here where Círdan gave Narya, the Elven Ring of Fire, to Gandalf.[5]
During the War of the Ring, Galdor of the Havens was among the members of the Council of Elrond.[6]
After the defeat of Sauron and the coronation of Aragorn II Elessar, Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond left for Valinor from the Grey Havens. The Ring-bearers Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins accompanied them to Valinor.[7] Years later, Samwise Gamgee did likewise, himself being a Ring-bearer (albeit briefly).[8]
Fate
The Grey Havens still existed into the Fourth Age under Círdan but its population declined as did the elven presence in Middle-earth. It is unclear just what the Fate of the Elves of Middle-earth was in the early Fourth Age and how long Círdan or his remaining folk dwelled at the Havens and continued to build the great ships that carried the Elves to the Blessed Realm.
Etymology
Mithlond means "Grey Havens", from the Sindarin mith ("grey") and lond ("haven, harbour").[9]
Portrayal in adaptations
Film
In the film adaption of The Return of the King, the Grey Havens makes an appearance towards the end of the film. The port city is built on a large natural bay, and its design is quite different to that of Rivendell and Lothlorien, but it is still recognisably Elvish. Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo and the other hobbits arrive at the city and encounter the high elves. Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel bid farewell to them and board the last ship. As Bilbo joins Elrond, Gandalf and Frodo then say their goodbyes to the remaining hobbits. The two of them board the ship and depart from Middle-Earth, returning to the Undying Lands.
Video games
- While Grey Havens was never actually attacked, it would likely have been by Sauron as a result of hatred if not a strategic plan. The Campaigns of The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II features Grey Havens as a potential battleground between the Elves and Goblins. In the Good campaign, Glorfindel and Gloin heroically lead an army of Elves to fend off the Corsairs of Umbar and Goblins invading the shoreline, with help from the Dwarves later on. This signals the end of any significant Goblin attacks. The Evil Campaign features Gorkil the Goblin King with his army of Goblins and Corsairs destroying Mithlond once and for all.
Translations around the World
Foreign Language | Translated name |
---|---|
Afrikaans | Grys Hawens |
Albanian | Strehë Gri |
Arabic | رمادي الملاذات |
Armenian | Գրեյ Հավենս |
Basque | Gris Paradisuetan |
Belarusian Cyrillic | Сівыя Завані |
Bengali | ধূসর স্বর্গ ? |
Bosnian | Siva Rajevima |
Bulgarian Cyrillic | Сивите убежища |
Cambodian | ជម្រកប្រផេះ |
Catalan | Rades Grises |
Chinese (Hong Kong) | 灰海岸 |
Cornish | Harbers Glas ? |
Croatian | Siva Utočišta |
Czech | Šedé Přístavy |
Danish | Gråhavne |
Dutch | De Grijze Havens |
Esperanto | Grizaj Havenoj |
Estonian | Hallid Sadamad |
Finnish | Harmaat Satamat |
French | Les Havres Gris |
Galician | Portos Grises |
Georgian | ნაცრისფერი თავშესაფრები |
German | Die Grauen Anfurten |
Greek | Γκρι παράδεισοι |
Gujarati | ગ્રેય હવેન્સ |
Haitian Creole | Refij Gri ? |
Hawaiian | Oho Naawamaikai |
Hebrew | הנמלים האפורים |
Hindi | ग्रे वाले देश |
Hungarian | Szürkerév |
Icelandic | Grá Griðastaðir |
Irish Gaelic | Tearmainn Liath |
Italian | Porti Grigi |
Japanese | グレーヘブンス |
Kannada | ಗ್ರೇ ಹ್ಯಾವೆನ್ಸ್ |
Kazakh Cyrillic | Сұр баспана |
Korean | 회색 항구 |
Kurdish | عرهی حاڤهنس ? (Arabic script) Behiştên Gewr (Latin) |
Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Грэй Hавэнс |
Latvian | Pelēks Paradīzes |
Lithuanian | Pilka Rojus |
Luxembourgish | Groen Steieroasen |
Macedonian Cyrillic | Греy Хавенс |
Maltese | Rifuġji Griż |
Maori | Hina Kokoru |
Marathi | राखाडी आश्रयस्थाने |
Mongolian Cyrillic | саарал хоргодох |
Norwegian | Gråhavnene |
Occitan | Barcarés Gris ? |
Pashto | خړ پټنځایونو |
Persian | خاکستری پناهگاه ? |
Polish | Szara Przystań |
Portuguese | Portos Cinzentos |
Punjabi | ਸਲੇਟੀ ਸਵਰਗ ? |
Romanian | Paradisurile Gri |
Russian | Митлонд |
Samoan | Lanu efuefu Ava Matagofie |
Scottish Gaelic | Glas Chalaidhean |
Serbian | Греи Хавенс (Cyrillic) Grei Havens (Latin) |
Shona | Vachena Pakanaka |
Sinhalese | අලු ක්ෂේමභූමි |
Slovak | Sivá Raje |
Slovenian | Sivi Oaz |
Somalian | Meelo Cirro |
Swedish | Grå Tillflyktsorter |
Tajik Cyrillic | Греy Ҳавенс |
Tamil | சாம்பல் புகலிடங்களை |
Telugu | గ్రే హావెన్స్ |
Thai | เฮเวนส์สีเทา |
Turkish | Gri Limanlar |
Turkmen | Çal Halas ? |
Ukrainian Cyrillic | сірі Гавані |
Urdu | گرے پناہ گاہیں |
Uyghur | غرەي خاۋەنس |
Uzbek | Грей Ҳавенс (Cyrillic) Kulrang Bandargohlar (Latin) |
Vietnamese | Nơi trú ẩn màu xám |
Welsh | Hafanau Llwyd |
Yiddish | גריי האַווענס |
Yucatec Maya | Gris le Paraísos |
Places of Middle-earth and Arda
Middle-earth Locations:
Provinces/Regions: Arnor | Dunland | Ettenmoors | Forochel | Forodwaith | Gondor | Harad | Ithilien | Khand | Lindon | Minhiriath | Mordor | Rhovanion | Rhûn | Rivendell | Rohan | The Shire Forests & Mountains: Amon Dîn | Amon Hen | Amon Lhaw | Caradhras | Emyn Muil | Erebor | Fangorn Forest | High Pass | Iron Hills | Lórien | Mirkwood | Mount Doom | Mount Gundabad | Old Forest | Orod-na-Thôn | Tower Hills | Weathertop Hill City/Fortifications: Angband | Barad-dûr | Bree | Caras Galadhon | Dol Guldur | Fornost Erain | Hornburg | Isengard | Minas Morgul | Minas Tirith | Last Homely House | Tower of Amon Sûl | Tower of Orthanc | Osgiliath | Umbar | Utumno Miscellaneous: Argonath | Astulat | Buckland | Cair Andros | Dagorlad | Dead Marshes | Enedwaith | Fords of Isen | Gap of Rohan | Grey Havens The rest of Arda:
Aman | Burnt Land of the Sun | Dark Land | Empty Lands | Neldoreth | New lands | Númenor | Tol Eressëa |
References
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands), "The Second Age"
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, The Second Age, "Refugee Relocation"
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, Thematic Maps, "Population"
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, The Second Age, "Voyages of the Númenóreans"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands), "The Third Age"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter II: "The Council of Elrond"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter IX: "The Grey Havens"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands), "Later Events concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
- ↑ Parma Eldalamberon, Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
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