Sewers/toilets in middle earth? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Inziladun · 08-26-2012, 05:17 PM

You know, this to me is just one of those "TMI" topics that I don't like associating with Middle-earth.
After all, if Minas Tirith followed 14th Century practice, they'd likely have been channeling their effluent into the Anduin. Not an image Tolkien would have been likely envisaging.

Since we're accepting talking trees, undead wraiths, and spiders that live for thousands of years, I can deal with just going with the idea that bodily waste in Arda just magically disappears, leaving a "sweet scent of flowers".

blantyr · 08-26-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Since we're accepting talking trees, undead wraiths, and spiders that live for thousands of years, I can deal with just going with the idea that bodily waste in Arda just magically disappears, leaving a "sweet scent of flowers".

Maybe the elves work that way. Can't see it that way for the Orcs. Not sure we want to work our way through Treebeard's long list assigning scents...

Morthoron · 08-26-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blantyr

Maybe the elves work that way.

Well, we all know the Elves were too noble to fart. I can't imagine Turgon committing a gaseous indiscretion on his throne in Gondolin. Now, the Hobbits, on the other hand, I can imagine them having actual contests in the Green Dragon. After all, they do refer to specific areas of The Shire as "Fartings".

Faramir Jones · 08-31-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

You know, this to me is just one of those "TMI" topics that I don't like associating with Middle-earth.
After all, if Minas Tirith followed 14th Century practice, they'd likely have been channeling their effluent into the Anduin. Not an image Tolkien would have been likely envisaging.

You got me thinking that those Orcs and Men in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields who were driven into the Anduin suffered a particularly smelly fate...

Inziladun · 08-31-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faramir Jones

You got me thinking that those Orcs and Men in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields who were driven into the Anduin suffered a particularly smelly fate...

That was when they really became "maggot-folk of Mordor".

Morthoron · 09-01-2012, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faramir Jones

You got me thinking that those Orcs and Men in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields who were driven into the Anduin suffered a particularly smelly fate...

The Men of Gondor, flushed with pride, drove the Orcs from their trenches.

Pervinca Took · 09-01-2012, 06:33 AM

I always thought the clearest reference to such things in the book was Sam's "It smells like ... well, I wouldn't like to say. Some beastly hole of the orcs, I'll reckon, with a hundred years of their filth in it."

Juicy-Sweet · 12-19-2012, 09:44 PM

I imagine the Elves being quite adverse to the smell of faeces, just doesnt seem right for them, so they must have invented plumbing as one of the first things.

For the humans, I imagine them being like "real humans" - Gondor probably quite clean, owing to the Elven influence.

I imagine Rohan and Bree as quite filthy, like historic Medieval cities.

The plumbing of Barad-Dur YEECH no wonder it was called the Black Tower

08-26-2012, 05:17 PM	#1
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,034	You know, this to me is just one of those "TMI" topics that I don't like associating with Middle-earth. After all, if Minas Tirith followed 14th Century practice, they'd likely have been channeling their effluent into the Anduin. Not an image Tolkien would have been likely envisaging. Since we're accepting talking trees, undead wraiths, and spiders that live for thousands of years, I can deal with just going with the idea that bodily waste in Arda just magically disappears, leaving a "sweet scent of flowers". __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

09-01-2012, 06:33 AM	#7
Pervinca Took Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Treetops, C/O Great Smials Posts: 5,035	I always thought the clearest reference to such things in the book was Sam's "It smells like ... well, I wouldn't like to say. Some beastly hole of the orcs, I'll reckon, with a hundred years of their filth in it." __________________ "Sit by the firelight's glow; tell us an old tale we know. Tell of adventures strange and rare; never to change, ever to share! Stories we tell will cast their spell, now and for always."

12-19-2012, 09:44 PM	#8
Juicy-Sweet Animated Skeleton Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 49	I imagine the Elves being quite adverse to the smell of faeces, just doesnt seem right for them, so they must have invented plumbing as one of the first things. For the humans, I imagine them being like "real humans" - Gondor probably quite clean, owing to the Elven influence. I imagine Rohan and Bree as quite filthy, like historic Medieval cities. The plumbing of Barad-Dur YEECH no wonder it was called the Black Tower