S. Cirith Thoronath loc. “Eagles’ Cleft”

S. Cirith Thoronath, loc. “Eagles’ Cleft”

A pass through the mountains surrounding Gondolin, translated “Eagles’ Cleft” (S/243). This name is a combination of cirith “cleft, ravine” and the class plural of thoron “eagle” (SA/kir, thoron).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this pass was called G. Cristhorn (LT2/191), a combination of G. cris(s) “cleft” and G. thorn “eagle” (GL/27, 73). In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, the name generally appeared as N. Cristhorn (SM/308, LR/142), but in the period Tolkien also considered various alternatives such as N. Cristhoron with N. thoron “eagle” (Ety/KIRIS), Cilthoron(dor) with N. cîl “cleft” (Ety/KIL) and in one place an early appearance of its later name Kirith-thoronath (SM/146).

The name was revised to Cirith Thoronath in the texts used for the published version of The Silmarillion, but the earlier form (Cristhorn) appeared in a late essay on Glorfindel (PM/379), so perhaps Tolkien had ongoing uncertainty about this name.

References ✧ LT2I/Cirith Thoronath, Cristhorn; PMI/Cristhorn; S/243; SA/kir, thoron; SI/Cirith Thoronath; SMI/Cristhorn, Kirith-thoronath

Glosses

Variations

Elements

cirith “cleft, ravine, defile” ✧ SA/kir
thoron “eagle” class-plural ✧ SA/thoron (Thoronath)

N. Cristhorn loc. “Eagle’s Cleft”

See S. Cirith Thoronath for discussion.

References ✧ Ety/KIRIS; EtyAC/KIR; LR/142, 405; LRI/Cristhorn, Cristhoron; PM/379; SM/145-146, 308; SMI/Cristhorn, Kirith-thoronath

Glosses

Variations

Related

Changes

Elements

criss “cleft, cut, slash; pass” ✧ Ety/KIRIS; EtyAC/KIR (criss)
thoron “eagle” ✧ Ety/KIRIS

ᴱN. Cristhorn loc. “Eagles’ Cleft”

See S. Cirith Thoronath for discussion.

References ✧ LB/142; LBI; SM/37

Glosses


G. Cristhorn loc. “Eagles’ Cleft”

See S. Cirith Thoronath for discussion.

References ✧ LT2/174, 191; LT2A/Cristhorn; LT2I; PE13/105; PE15/21; PMI

Glosses

Variations

Changes

Elements

cris(s) “cleft, gash, gully, ravine” ✧ LT2A/Cris Ilbranteloth (criss); LT2A/Cris Ilbranteloth (criss); PE15/21 (Cris)
thorn “eagle” ✧ LT1A/Sorontur; LT1A/Sorontur

Cognates