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Dates
The Stone of Erech was placed here by Isildur in the late Second Age, probably in II 3320 or soon afterward
Location
Near the head of the Morthond Vale, a wide valley on the southern side of the White Mountains
Race
Men
Culture
Gondorians
Source
Erech stood below the source of the river Morthond
Pronunciation
e'rech ('ch' as in German 'Bach')
Meaning
A pre-Númenórean name of unknown meaning1
Other names
Hill of Erech

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 14 September 2018
  • Updates planned: 1

Erech

The hill at the head of the Blackroot Vale

Map of Erech

An ancient site at the feet of the White Mountains in Gondor, though it seems to have predated the foundation of that land. Erech was most famous for a huge Stone, said to have fallen from heaven (though in fact brought to Middle-earth by Isildur).


Notes

1

The meaning of the name Erech dated back to the time before the foundation of Gondor, and had long been forgotten by the end of the Third Age. Tolkien does note in his letters that he may have been influenced by the Elvish element er-, 'one, lone' in choosing the name, but the full meaning is lost to history. (See The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No. 297, dated 1967.)

See also...

Black Stone, Calembel, Duilin, Green Hills, Hill of Erech, King of the Mountains, Mornan, River Blackroot, Sleepless Dead, Stone of Erech, Tarlang’s Neck, Western Gondor, White Mountains

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 14 September 2018
  • Updates planned: 1

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