Places in Middle-earth
Iant Iaur
Type: Fords, Bridges, Crossings
Region: Beleriand & North
Meaning: The Old Bridge
Other Names the Bridge of Esgalduin
Location: The stone bridge over the River Esgalduin just north of the Girdle of Melian, between Nan Dungortheb and Dor Dínen.
Description:
[The] Noldor would pass through Nan Dungortheb only at great need, by paths near to the borders of Doriath and furthest from the haunted hills... [If] one fared upon [that way] he came eastwards to Esgalduin, where still there stood in the days of the Siege the stone bridge of Iant Iaur. Thence he passed through Dor Dínen, the Silent Land, and crossing the Arossiach (which signifies the Fords of Aros) came to the north marches of Beleriand, where dwelt the sons of Fëanor.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
[The] march-wardens said...: 'To the land of Celegorm... you must ride beyond the Girdle of Melian.... The speediest way is by the paths that lead east from the Brithiach through Dimbar and along the north-march of this kingdom, until you pass the Bridge of Esgalduin and the Fords of Aros, and come to the lands that lie behind the Hill of Himring... but the road is perilous.'
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 16, Of Maeglin
Etymology
iant 'bridge' in Iant Iaur....
iaur 'old' in Iant Iaur; cf. the Elvish name of Bombadil, Iarwain.
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 24Aug08, 19Nov09