The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum


Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page

Go Back   The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum > Middle-Earth Discussions > The Books
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-16-2018, 06:37 PM   #1
Rhun charioteer
Wight
 
Rhun charioteer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 118
Rhun charioteer has just left Hobbiton.
Gondorian or Numenorian settlements/ports at Tolfalas

So there was an island in the bay of Belfalas known as Tolfalas. My question is was it inhabited by numenorians or gondorians and if so was it important and if not why not? Why would a strategically located island between Gondor and Umbar be left uninhabited.

Thoughts?
Rhun charioteer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2018, 11:10 PM   #2
Rhun charioteer
Wight
 
Rhun charioteer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 118
Rhun charioteer has just left Hobbiton.
Anyone?
Rhun charioteer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 05:49 PM   #3
Inziladun
Gruesome Spectre
 
Inziladun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,058
Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
I know of no mention of Tol Falas in the published LOTR.
The HOME volume The Treason of Isengard has an outlined plot potential which states:

Quote:
The fierce dark men of the South...have come in many ships and fill the Bay of Belfalas, and [have] taken the isle of Tolfalas.
Since the Southrons "took" the isle, it must have been in the hands of Gondor previously, and that would seem logical.

As to its number of inhabitants and strategic importance, it's all guesswork. Fisher-folk, maybe, and a garrison of troops and small ships, for the purpose of watching the seas for invaders?
__________________
Music alone proves the existence of God.
Inziladun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2018, 11:51 PM   #4
Huinesoron
Overshadowed Eagle
 
Huinesoron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea
Posts: 3,778
Huinesoron is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.Huinesoron is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
HoME XII provides this, in the Tale of Years of the Second Age:

Quote:
They were much changed in the tumult of the winds and seas that followed the Downfall [of Numenor]; for in some places the sea rode in upon the land, and in others it piled up new coasts. Thus while Lindon suffered great losses, the Bay of Belfalas was much filled at the east and south, so that Pelargir which had been only a few miles from the sea was left far inland, and Anduin carved a new path by many mouths to the Bay. But the Isle of Tolfalas was almost destroyed, and was left at last like a barren and lonely mountain in the water not far from the issue of the River.
There's an attached note saying that, other than the one Inziladun found, this appears to be the only reference to the island in any text.

The word 'barren' in particular means that there could be no farming on the Rock, not even subsistence farming. Are there people who subsist entirely on fish? Assuming not, the most likely occupation would be purely military, though perhaps small fishing settlements could have sprung up to support the garrison. Basically the same as Inzil's answer, but coming at it from the far side.

hS
Huinesoron is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:14 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.