One of the six rivers that flowed down out of the Blue Mountains and ran westward into Gelion. Duilwen (whose name apparently means 'green river') was the second-to-last of these six rivers to join Gelion, following Brilthor to the north, and followed in turn by Adurant, the last of the six tributaries.
From its springs in the eastern mountains, like all of its fellow rivers, Duilwen was a rapid, turbulent stream. From the steep slopes of Ered Luin, it rushed down and onto the wide lands of Ossiriand, through lands occupied by the Green-elves. After a journey of some two hundred miles, it reached Gelion opposite the eastern eaves of the dark forest of Taur-im-Duinath. From there, its waters were carried away by the wide river Gelion to reach the Great Sea far to the south.
Notes
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Elvish duil- means 'river' (from the same root as -duin in names like Anduin). The ending -wen has various possible meanings (it derives from a root word that can mean 'fresh', 'green' or 'young') but based on context in the name Duilwen it seems to derive from gwên, 'green'. The reason for the name is not explained; perhaps the river was literally green in colour, or perhaps its name relates it to the Green-elves who lived in the lands through which it flowed.
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- Updated 30 May 2023
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