S. Cirith Ninniach loc. “Rainbow Cleft”
The pass that led Tuor to the sea, translated “Rainbow Cleft” (S/238). This name is a combination of cirith “cleft” and ninniach “rainbow”.
Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this pass was first called G. Cris a Teld Quing Ilon “Gully of the Rainbow Roof” (LT2A/Teld Quing Ilon), revised to G. Cris Ilbranteloth (same translation) in the narratives (LT2/150, 202). In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, the name was changed again to N. Cris-Ilfing >> Cirith Helvin “Rainbow Cleft” (SM/141, 146). The name Cirith Ninniach emerged in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/256, 299).
References ✧ LT2I/Cirith Ninniach, Cris Ilbranteloth; S/238; SA/kir; SI/Cirith Ninniach; SMI/Cirith Ninniach, Cris Ilbranteloth, Glorfalc, Kirith Helvin; UTI/Cirith Ninniach; WJ/299; WJI/Cirith Ninniach
Glosses
Variations
Elements
| cirith | “cleft, ravine, defile” | ✧ S/238; SA/kir |
| ninniach | “rainbow” | ✧ S/238 |
N. Cirith Helvin loc. “Rainbow Cleft”
Precursor to S. Cirith Ninniach from the Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/146). Its first element is cirith “cleft” and presumably its second element means “rainbow”, though it appears nowhere else.
See S. Cirith Ninniach for further discussion.
References ✧ SM/146; SMI/Cirith Ninniach, Cris-Ilfing, Kirith Helvin
Glosses
Variations
Changes
Elements
| cirith | “cleft, pass” |
| ? |
N. Cris-Ilfing loc. “Rainbow Cleft”
Precursor to S. Cirith Ninniach from the Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/141). Its first element is criss “cleft” and presumably its second element means “rainbow”, though it appears nowhere else.
See S. Cirith Ninniach for further discussion.
References ✧ SM/141, 146; SMI/Cris-Ilfing, Kirith Helvin
Glosses
Changes
Elements
| criss | “cleft, cut, slash; pass” |
| ? |
G. Cris Ilbranteloth loc. “Gully of the Rainbow Roof”
References ✧ GL/50; LT2/150, 202; LT2A/Cris Ilbranteloth, Teld Quing Ilon; LT2I/Cris Ilbranteloth, Ilbranteloth, Teld Quing Ilon; PE15/21; SMI/Cris Ilbranteloth
Glosses
Variations
Changes
Elements
| cris(s) | “cleft, gash, gully, ravine” | ✧ LT2A/Cris Ilbranteloth (criss); PE15/21 (Cris) |
| ilbrant | “rainbow” | ✧ GL/50; LT1A/Ilwë |
| teloth | “roofing, canopy, shelter” | ✧ LT1A/Teleri |
Cognates
G. Cris a Teld Quing Ilon loc. “Gully of the Rainbow Roof”
References ✧ LT2/202; LT2A/Teld Quing Ilon; LT2I/Teld Quing Ilon; PE13/101; PE15/21
Glosses
Variations
Changes
Elements
| cris(s) | “cleft, gash, gully, ravine” | ✧ LT2A/Cris Ilbranteloth (criss) |
| a(n) | “of” | ✧ LT2A/Teld Quing Ilon (a) |
| telm | “roof; sky” | ✧ LT1A/Teleri |
| cwing | “bow” | ✧ LT2A/Teld Quing Ilon |
| ilon | “sky” | ✧ LT2A/Teld Quing Ilon |
Cognates