Boromir and his search for Rivendell

[Boromir88]

Aye, I am unsure if this info would have been available in Gondor Rivendell was in a valley and it was well hidden. Elrond established it as a refuge, and I don't think Sauron ever found it's location and I doubt many in Gondor (by this time) would have known.

Both Faramir and Boro went to Denethor about the dream they had to go to Imladris. Denethor was supposedly the wisest loreman in Gondor and it seemed he was only able to give a rough idea of the location. Add to that Boro lost his horse in Tharbad, and you get a long journey.

Edit:

I seem to remember reading that Arnor and Gondor were jointly responsible for the maintenance of the Great Road up till the middle of the Third Age. Surely that implies an interchange of knowledge ?~MoS

Not necessarily, joint maintenance of roads is not always pleasant let me tell you. If you ever wonder why County line roads in the U.S are some of the worst in shape, it's because the two counties always argue about who should do what - or some of the bridges over train tracks, I am always in arguments with train companies over who is responsible. And I don't want to go into the "communication" back-n-forth if you can even call it that.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Denethor was supposedly the wisest loreman in Gondor and it seemed he was only able to give a rough idea of the location.

Ah, perhaps the issue is the nature of higher learning in Tolkien.

Saruman also devoted himself to lore and succumbed to the rapacious effects of the knowledge he gained. Deep and extended study drove Denethor farther and farther into a sense of empowerment, with disasterous consequences.

There's a difference between great knowledge and wisdom in Middle-earth, and Rivendell was a place of wisdom. So that understanding terrain and geography and place is less a question of knowing the map and more a matter of having the right mind--that is, one which can approach a more elvish way of thinking.

I wasn't being flippant when I linked to Shangri La and Lost Horizons.

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

There's a difference between great knowledge and wisdom in Middle-earth, and Rivendell was a place of wisdom. So that understanding terrain and geography and place is less a question of knowing the map and more a matter of having the right mind--that is, one which can approach a more elvish way of thinking.

I wasn't being flippant when I linked to Shangri La and Lost Horizons.

But on the other hand, Boromir who wasn't particularly elvish in his thinking did get there.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

But on the other hand, Boromir who wasn't particularly elvish in his thinking did get there.

True enough, for he is like to Isildur. The Numemorians like all Men had their stubborn pride. However, consider the quest which brought him to Rivendell. He came not for war, but to seek counsel and "the unravelling of hard words" of a dream.

Faramir had the dream many times, but Boromir himself also had the prophetic dream. In our haste to castigate him for his pride and arrogance--which I admit I have oft been ready to do--it is well to remember that he too is capable of dreaming dreams that make Middle earth a magical place. Boromir heard the voice fortelling the forging of the sword and the finding of the Ring, which is not a particularly mannish night time activity.

If he was worthy of receiving the dream, he was worthy of finding the hidden realm.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

The problem with the Palantir is that you have to know where to look

Try this: my house is in the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA. Now, find it in Google Earth.

[Elmo]

My gosh, you live in hovel

[The Mouth of Sauron]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

The problem with the Palantir is that you have to know where to look

Try this: my house is in the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA. Now, find it in Google Earth.

Is that the house with the 9 horsemen peering at it from across the river ?

[Inziladun]

I don't think the Last Homely House or even the valley in which it lay were in sight of the Ford of Bruinen.

(Frodo) knew of nothing that would prevent (the Black Riders) from crossing as easily as he had done; and he felt that it was useless to try to escape over the long uncertain path from the Ford to the edge of Rivendell.

FOTR Flight To the Ford (emphasis added)

If Rivendell had been that near and in sight, surely Frodo would have made an effort to ride there on the horse, and why would not Elrond or Gandalf have sent more Elves to assist, or even come themselves?