Riddles in the Downs - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Huinesoron · 03-18-2019, 03:33 PM

Go for it!

It was all one extended Sindarin joke. 'Ulfang' probably wasn't written to be Sindarin, but translates perfectly as 'hideous (=ugly) beard'. Similarly, Uldor, Ulfast, and Ulwarth come out as Ugly Land, Ugly Hair, and Ugly Betrayer. The idea behind the riddle is that this is how the Noldor would have interpreted the names.

Bor, as you said, is 'faithful', and Borlach, Borlad, and Borthand can be read as Faithful-Flame, -Lowland, and -Shield. The fact that the Faithful house remained loyal while the Ugly house rebelled... well, it was too much fun to miss.

Okay, enough out of me: go Urwen!

hS

03-18-2019, 03:33 PM	#1
Huinesoron Overshadowed Eagle Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea Posts: 3,959	Go for it! It was all one extended Sindarin joke. 'Ulfang' probably wasn't written to be Sindarin, but translates perfectly as 'hideous (=ugly) beard'. Similarly, Uldor, Ulfast, and Ulwarth come out as Ugly Land, Ugly Hair, and Ugly Betrayer. The idea behind the riddle is that this is how the Noldor would have interpreted the names. Bor, as you said, is 'faithful', and Borlach, Borlad, and Borthand can be read as Faithful-Flame, -Lowland, and -Shield. The fact that the Faithful house remained loyal while the Ugly house rebelled... well, it was too much fun to miss. Okay, enough out of me: go Urwen! hS