S. Methedras loc. “Last Peak”

S. Methedras, loc. “Last Peak”

Last peak of the Mist Mountains (LotR/429), explictly translated “Last Peak” in Tolkien’s “Unfinished Index” of The Lord of the Rings (RC/366). This name is a combination of methed “end” and rass “horn”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Methen Amon (TI/391), later revised to N. Methendol and finally N. Methedras (TI/404). These earlier forms clearly included the Noldorin adjective N. methen “end, final” (Ety/MET). It is possible that this is true of the initial appearance of N. Methedras as well (as suggested by Roman Rausch, EE/2.63), since phonetically the combination [nr] became [ðr], and Tolkien often represented [ð] as “d” in the Lord of the Rings drafts. For example, N. Caradras >> S. Caradhras underwent the same development.

Unlike Caradhras, however, Tolkien never revised this form to **Methedhras. This could have been an oversight, or Tolkien could have reconceived of the initial element as the noun methed “end” seen in Methed-en-Glad, as suggested above (and by David Salo, GS/384).

References ✧ LotR/429; LotRI/Last Mountain, Methedras; RC/366; SA/ras; TII; WRI

Glosses

Elements

methed “end”
rass “horn” ✧ SA/ras (ras)

N. Methedras loc. “Last Peak”

See S. Methedras for discussion.

Reference ✧ TI/404

Elements

methen “end, final”
rhas “horn [of both animals and mountains]”

N. Methendol loc.

Earlier name of Methedras in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/404), a combination of methen “final” and dôl “hill”.

See S. Methedras for further discussion.

References ✧ TI/404; TII/Methedras

Changes

Elements

methen “end, final”
dôl “head, hill”

N. Methen Amon loc.

Earliest name of Methedras in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/404), a combination of methen “final” and amon “hill”.

See S. Methedras for further discussion.

References ✧ TI/391, 404; TII/Methedras

Changes

Elements

methen “end, final”
amon “hill”