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Dates
Destroyed at the end of the First Age
Location
Flowing southwards out of the Crissaegrim, forming the eastern boundary of Dimbar
Source
In the eastern Crissaegrim, southeast of Gondolin
Tributaries
One, unnamed
Outflow
Into Sirion at the southern angle of Dimbar, near the western borders of Doriath
Pronunciation
mi'ndeb
Meaning
Uncertain1

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About this entry:

  • Updated 10 December 2015
  • This entry is complete

River Mindeb

A lesser tributary of the Sirion

Map of the river Mindeb

A lesser river of northern Beleriand that rose in the mountainous regions southwestward of Dorthonion, and flowed southward for some seventy miles to meet the great river Sirion on the borders of Brethil. It formed the eastern border of the land of Dimbar, separating that land from the perilous valley of Nan Dungortheb to the east.

The dangers of Nan Dungortheb arose from the creatures of spider form, the spawn of Ungoliant, that haunted the valleys of Ered Gorgoroth along its northern flanks. In more peaceful times, before Ungoliant returned to Middle-earth with Melkor, a road had been made that passed from west to east across Beleriand, crossing Mindeb some halfway along its course. In later times the terrors of Nan Dungortheb meant that the Mindeb river-crossing was rarely used.

In the years following their victory in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Orcs of Morgoth found their way through the northern mountains, travelling down through the Pass of Anach past the springs of Mindeb. These upper reaches of the river were said to form a dangerous and difficult path down from the heights, but the Orcs nonetheless made the journey in large numbers. Following the stream of Mindeb southwards, they infested the land of Dimbar to the river's west.


Notes

1

This river's name is never explained, but the element min- seems to suggest that it means something like 'first' or 'foremost' river. It is not easy to see why such a name would be relevant; Mindeb was by no means one of the major rivers of Beleriand. It wasn't even the first tributary of Sirion: three other watercourses emptied into that river before Mindeb (though one of those was dry in the later First Age). Perhaps the name conveys that it was Sirion's first significant tributary in Beleriand, or perhaps it derives from some other more obscure source entirely.

See also...

Anach, Dimbar

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 December 2015
  • This entry is complete

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