The Standing Stone - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Priya · 08-22-2025, 10:48 PM

It is interesting to note that the Barrow-downs was a place of evil repute in hobbit lore:

“… the Barrow-downs had as sinister a reputation in hobbit-legend as the Forest itself.”  
– The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest

If Tolkien had modeled the location of the Barrow-downs crisis on Tara in Ireland, then it would tie-in a remarkably frank and puzzling statement:

“In a 1979 transcription of a discussion on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, George Sayer tells a remarkable story about Tolkien describing Ireland as ‘naturally evil.’ He could ‘feel,’ Sayer relates, ‘evil coming up from the earth, from the peat bogs, from the clumps of trees, even from the cliffs, and this evil was only held in check by the great*devotion of the southern Irish*to their religion.’ ”.  
– Perilous Realms, Two North’s and Their English Blend – pg. 19, M. Burns, 2005

One might wonder whether fellow Inkling’s member, Warren Lewis, expressed such a feeling about Ireland at a club meeting, and Tolkien took note:

“There is something wrong with this country – some sullen brooding presence over it, a vague sense of something mean and cruel and sinister: …”.  
– Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis, Diary entry: 9 August 1933 – pg. 111, Editors C. Kilby & M.L. Mead, 1982

Ireland too has its fair share of ancient stone rings - reputedly over 300. An example is shown below.

‘Drombeg Circle’ – County Cork, Ireland

Notably, the 5,000 year old neolithic barrow at Tara, nearby its famous standing stone, is also reminiscent of the Wight’s dwelling. Not just because it is known as ‘The Mound of the Hostages’ - which is curious enough; but because its entrance faces ‘east’. And by invoking the Sun’s energy at dawn as it rose in the east – the Wight was evicted from the Barrow:

“… Vanish in the sunlight!”
– The Fellowship of the Ring, Fog on the Barrow-downs

‘The Mound of the Hostages’, Tara

Now I don’t know why it’s known as the ‘Mound of the Hostages’. I haven’t dug deep enough - but readily available information on the Internet appears scant. From what I can tell, its naming dates back to medieval times. In any case, the idea is worth considering that Tolkien made use of the title to make it meaningful for his own tale - don’t you think?

08-22-2025, 10:48 PM	#7
Priya Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 18	It is interesting to note that the Barrow-downs was a place of evil repute in hobbit lore: “… the Barrow-downs had as sinister a reputation in hobbit-legend as the Forest itself.”   – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest If Tolkien had modeled the location of the Barrow-downs crisis on Tara in Ireland, then it would tie-in a remarkably frank and puzzling statement: “In a 1979 transcription of a discussion on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, George Sayer tells a remarkable story about Tolkien describing Ireland as ‘naturally evil.’ He could ‘feel,’ Sayer relates, ‘evil coming up from the earth, from the peat bogs, from the clumps of trees, even from the cliffs, and this evil was only held in check by the greatdevotion of the southern Irishto their religion.’ ”.   – Perilous Realms, Two North’s and Their English Blend – pg. 19, M. Burns, 2005 One might wonder whether fellow Inkling’s member, Warren Lewis, expressed such a feeling about Ireland at a club meeting, and Tolkien took note: “There is something wrong with this country – some sullen brooding presence over it, a vague sense of something mean and cruel and sinister: …”.   – Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis, Diary entry: 9 August 1933 – pg. 111, Editors C. Kilby & M.L. Mead, 1982 Ireland too has its fair share of ancient stone rings - reputedly over 300. An example is shown below. ‘Drombeg Circle’ – County Cork, Ireland Notably, the 5,000 year old neolithic barrow at Tara, nearby its famous standing stone, is also reminiscent of the Wight’s dwelling. Not just because it is known as ‘The Mound of the Hostages’ - which is curious enough; but because its entrance faces ‘east’. And by invoking the Sun’s energy at dawn as it rose in the east – the Wight was evicted from the Barrow: “… Vanish in the sunlight!” – The Fellowship of the Ring, Fog on the Barrow-downs ‘The Mound of the Hostages’, Tara Now I don’t know why it’s known as the ‘Mound of the Hostages’. I haven’t dug deep enough - but readily available information on the Internet appears scant. From what I can tell, its naming dates back to medieval times. In any case, the idea is worth considering that Tolkien made use of the title to make it meaningful for his own tale - don’t you think?