S. Annúminas loc. “Tower of the West”

S. Annúminas, loc. “Tower of the West”

The capital of Arnor (LotR/244). Christopher Tolkien translated it as “Tower of the West” (SI/Annúminas), a combination of annûn “west” and minas “tower” (SA/andúnë, minas).

Conceptual Development: When this city first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, it was named N. Torfirion “Westermanton” (TI/144). In an early version of the Tale of Years the city was called N. Dunhirion (PM/167). Both of these variants were eventually replaced by Annúminas.

References ✧ LotRI; PMI; SA/andúnë, minas; SDI1/Annúminas; SI; TI/145, 304; TII; UTI

Glosses

Elements

annûn “sunset, west; (lit.) going down” ✧ SA/andúnë
minas “tower, fort, city (with a citadel and central watch tower)” ✧ SA/minas

N. Dunhirion loc. “?West Lord Land”

Earlier name for Annúminas appearing in the drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices (PM/167). It may be a combination of dûn “west”, hîr “lord” and the suffix -ion² used in the names of lands.

References ✧ PM/167; PMI

Changes

Elements

dûn “west”
hîr “master, lord”
*-ion² “-region, -land”

Cognates


N. Torfirion loc. “Westermanton”

Earlier name for Annúminas appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s with the gloss “Westermanton” (TI/144, 304). It may be a combination of Torfir “High-man” and the suffix -ion² used in the names of lands, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.19).

References ✧ TI/144, 296, 304; TII

Glosses

Changes

Elements

Torfir “High-man”
*-ion² “-region, -land”

Cognates