What are the wights of Barrow-Downs?

[Celebaglar]

It is something that i thought about when i first read the LoTR. Some questions I thought of were "What exactly are the wights, are they like wraiths?" and how they came upon the treasures placed upon the hobbits. If anyone could look at this thread and give me answers i would be very pleased. Thanks ahead of time.

[Elianna]

From The Tolkien Companion, under Barrow Downs:

There, the early Men had buried the noble among their dead. Their descendants, in the Dúnedain kingdoms of Arnor and Arthedain, therefore revered the mounds (which they knew as Tyrn Gorthad), and later princes of Arthedain and Cardolan inhumed their own royal dead there in similar months. But after the final fall of the North-kingdom, evil spirits from faraway Angmar entered the mounds and animated the long-dead corpses. These Barrow-wights walked in the hollow places among the stone-rings and the Downs became a place of dread in nearby lands.

In case you don't know, Arthedain and Cardolan are names of two of the three kingdoms into which Arnor was split after a dispute among the sons of Arnor's king Eärendur. Since these were burial mounds for the noble and royal, it makes sense (well, kinda) to be buried with some of their riches.

The Unfinished Tales says that the wights were sent to the Downs by the Witch-King. This would imply some relation to the Wraiths, though how these people became spirits is not known, while the Wraiths obviously became such from the evil powers of Sauron.

[Celebaglar]

thank you for your reply, but do you mean that the wights were once held under the sway of the witch king, but Sauron was disinterested in their use, or were merely forgotten by sauron? Are the wights guardians of the treasures under the mounds, perhaps for the witch king's later use, or do they guard something of more importance to the witch king perhaps? Also, why would the wights take the treasures from the graves and clad their victims with them?

[Elianna]

Tom Bombadil, as part of his song to battle the wight which captured Frodo and Co., says "Vanish in the sunlight!" so perhaps the Barrow-wights were stuck in their hills, and therefore couldn't be used by Sauron in his war.

The Nazgûl, when telling the Dwarves of Erebor they would be reimbursed for information about the whereabouts of "Baggins," could have been thinking of using the riches in the Downs. Otherwise, I can think of no reason to hording the gold and such. Perhaps it's related to dragons hording riches; they too will never use it, but have an insatiable lust for it.

It's also possible that the Wights stayed in the Downs as guardians of their master's fallen realm, just in case he ever came back.

I have no idea of the purpose of clothing the Hobbits in their finery. The purpose of sacrificing the Hobbits, I don't know. Don't even know who they were being sacrificed to, though that's probably just up to speculation.

[Celebaglar]

Originally Posted by Elianna

I have no idea of the purpose of clothing the Hobbits in their finery. The purpose of sacrificing the Hobbits, I don't know. Don't even know who they were being sacrificed to, though that's probably just up to speculation.

Ibelieve that they perhaps might have been sacrificing them, to create more bodies for other unanimated spirits, intersting point. But this is merely my oppinion and is up to speculation by anyone.

[Celebuial]

Ibelieve that they perhaps might have been sacrificing them, to create more bodies for other unanimated spirits, intersting point. But this is merely my oppinion and is up to speculation by anyone.

I always wondered about this, I think that this is probaly the best reason I've heard, not that I've heard many mind you. It seems to make sense and fit nicely.