rhovanion

place name. Wilderland

The wild lands of the East (LotR/1046), translated “Wilderland” (RC/779, PE17/78), a combination of rhovan “wilderness” and -ion “-land” (PE17/78).

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor to this name, rhofannor “Wilderness” appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s (EtyAC/RAB), but with its final element being dôr; its gloss was capitalized, but the name was not. In draft maps for the Lord of the Rings from the 1940s, this name was N. Rhovanion (TI/296) and Rhovannion with two n’s (TI/318). At one point in the drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, it appeared as Róvannion with an initial R- instead of Rh- and a long ó (PM/214). In later writings, the form Rhóvannion with two n’s reappeared in Tolkien’s “Unfinished Index” of The Lord of the Rings (RC/14).

Changes

• Róvannion → Rhovan(n)ion ✧ PMI/Rhovan(n)ion

Derivations

• ✶Srāban-yānā “Wilderland”
• ✶Droban-yon “*Wilderland” ✧ PE17/099

Elements

Word	Gloss
rhovan	“wilderness; wild beast”
-ion	“-region, -land”

Variations

• Rhovan(n)ion ✧ PMI/Rhovan(n)ion
• Róvannion ✧ PMI/Rhovan(n)ion (Róvannion)
• Rhóvannion ✧ RC/014

Rhovanion

Wilderland

topon. Wilderland. >> rhaw

Rhovanion

Rhovanion

Rhovanion is Sindarin for "wilderland" and contains rhovan, with the place-name ending -ion. Tolkien made Wilderland based on wilderness but with a side-reference to the verbs wilder, "wander astray" and bewilder.

Rhovanion

Wilderland

Rhovanion is Sindarin for "wilderland" and contains rhovan, with the place-name ending -ion.