Places in Middle-earth
Amon Dîn
Type: Mountains, Hills, Promontories
Region: Gondor
Meaning: the silent hill
Other Names
Dîn
Location: A conspicuous foothill of the White Mountains on the edge of the Drúadan Forest, holding the first and oldest of the seven beacons of Gondor.
Description:
'The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid.... See, there is the fire on Amon Dîn, and flame on Eilenach; and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan.'
Map of Anórien, showing Amon Dîn in the Drúadan Forest.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith
[It] is stated that "Amon Dîn 'the silent hill' was perhaps the oldest, with the original function of a fortified outpost of Minas Tirith, from which its beacon could be seen, to keep watch over the passage into North Ithilien from Dagorlad and any attempt by enemies to cross the Anduin at or near Cair Andros. Why it was given this name is not recorded. Probably because it was distinctive, a rocky and barren hill standing out and isolated from the heavily wooded hills of the Drúadan Forest (Tawar-in-Drúedain), little visited by men, beasts or birds."
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 2, Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan: Notes, Note 51
They were less than a day's ride from the out-walls of Minas Tirith.... Scouts... hastening back had reported that the road was held in force against them. A host of the enemy was encamped upon it, three miles west of Amon Dîn....
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 5, The Ride of the Rohirrim
[It] had taken time for the Riders... to find paths... down into the hidden Stonewain Valley. It was late in the afternoon when the leaders came to wide grey thickets stretching beyond the eastward side of Amon Dîn, and masking a great gap in the line of hills that from Nardol to Dîn ran east and west. Through the gap the forgotten wain-road long ago had run down, back into the main horse-way from the City through Anórien....
Ibid.
[As the Riders] behind filed up out of the trough of the Stonewain Valley they spread out and passed to camping-places [in the Grey Wood]....
'Wild Men say many things,' [Ghân] said. 'First, be wary! Still many men in camp beyond Dîn, an hour's walk yonder,' he waved his arm west towards the black beacon.
Ibid.
Without haste and at peace they passed into Anórien, and they came to the Grey Wood under Amon Dîn....
Ibid., LoTR Book 6, Ch 5, Many Partings
In Anórien many people still dwelt and had the task of guarding the northern approaches, either out of Calenardhon or across the Anduin at Cair Andros. For communication with them the three oldest beacons (Amon Dîn, Eilenach, and Min-Rimmon) were built and maintained....
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 2, Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan: Cirion and Eorl
Eilenach was the highest point of the Drúadan Forest. It could be seen far to the West, and its function in the days of the beacons was to transmit the warning of Amon Dîn....
Ibid., Note 51
Etymology
amon 'hill', a Sindarin word occurring as the first element of many names; plural emyn in Emyn Beraid.
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
The... first element in the name Amroth is the same Elvish word as Quenya amba "up," found also in Sindarin amon, a hill or mountain with steep sides....
Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 4, The History of Galadriel and Celeborn: Notes, Note 16
dîn 'silent' in Dor Dínen; cf. Rath Dínen, the Silent Street in Minas Tirith, and Amon Dîn, one of the beacon-hills of Gondor.
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
Contributors:
Lyllyn 12Feb04
Elena Tiriel 9Aug10
