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” |