Arwen Means "Noble Maiden" In Sindarin, From Ara- ("noble") And Gwenn ("maiden"). Tolkien Remarked That

Arwen means "Noble Maiden" in Sindarin, from ara- ("noble") and gwenn ("maiden"). Tolkien remarked that it also means "greatly blessed" in Welsh.

The Quenya form of her name is not entirely certain, but in his Quenya greeting, Aragorn refers to her again as "Arwen" (Arwen vanimelda, namárië!). This suggests that the form Arwen itself is also coincidentally a valid, or at least understandable, Quenya calque (using ar-, stem Arwend-).

Other names:

Her epessë, Undómiel, means "Evenstar", from Undómë ("evening twilight") and el ("star").

She is also given the names Elrenniel and Elerondiel, both meaning "Daughter of Elrond" in Sindarin and Quenya respectively.

On this day - 14th December 1476

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Death of Vlad Țepeș - Vlad the Impaler

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Vlad the Impaler was born - and died - in Romania.

However, where and how his death happened, and where Vlad’s body was laid to rest, is cloaked in mystery.

One such place accepted as Vlad's final resting place, is Snagov Monastery.

Snagov Monastery, sits on a small island in the middle of Snagov Lake, about 30 kilometers north of Bucharest.

Access is from the tiny village of Silestru.

The mystery surrounding Snagov Monastery begins with its origins.

Some experts claim it was founded by the grandfather of Vlad Țepeș.

Some say Țepeș ordered its construction himself.

Other historians suggest that it dates from around 1408, meaning that neither Vlad nor his grandfather was the likely founder.

Vlad’s death continues the mystery.

Scholars generally agree that he was killed on 14th December 1476, but whether he died in battle against the Turks, or was assassinated by political enemies from his own country, has not been established conclusively.

Being an ill-tempered, bloodthirsty leader, Vlad had a LOT of enemies!!

Scholars generally believe that Vlad was decapitated, and that his head was taken to the Ottoman rulers in Constantinople.

But what about his body?

Its suggested that Vlad may have died not far from Lake Snagov, and that logically, this was the favoured location for interment of his body.

Vlad’s followers did not want to see their leader’s body defiled, or used for propaganda purposes.

So they buried him in this remote, inaccessible setting, with an additional precaution.

They buried his body deep beneath the church floor.

Above his tomb they created a false grave and filled it with animal bones.

When researchers dug under the church in 1933 and only found animal bones, the reaction by academics was -

“This can’t be the right grave.”

Reaction by the superstitious was,

“The vampire has flown away.”

The reaction from loyalists was,

“He is still safe down there.” ~

The Doors of Durin, also called the West-gate or the West-door, formed the western entrance to Moria. When shut, the gates were invisible and impossible to open by physical means. They were however decorated with designs engraved in ithildin made by the elf-Lord Celebrimbor of Eregion and the dwarf Narvi from mithril mined in Moria. The designs included the emblems of Durin, the two trees of the High Elves, and the Star of the House of Fëanor. Tolkien's drawing of the designs on the Doors of Durin was the only illustration in The Lord of the Rings during his lifetime (other than cover-art and calligraphy). In moonlight, a password made the designs visible. The designs contained a second password to open the doors. When the Fellowship entered, the Watcher in the Water, the aquatic guardian of the gates, slammed the doors shut with its tentacles, plunging the Fellowship into darkness.

The inscription was in the Elvish language of Sindarin, using the Tengwar script: Gandalf translates it as "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs". Scholars have commented that "Moria", an unfriendly Elvish description meaning "The Black Pit", was hardly how a ruler of Khazad-Dûm would choose to describe his realm; and that since the name was not used until the Balrog was awakened in the Third Age, it was also anachronistic. Possible resolutions have been proposed: that Celebrimbor had foresight of the name; that the magic lettering reshaped itself; or that Gandalf indeed saw the Sindarin name "Hadhodrond" on the door, and read it out as "Moria" for the benefit of those listening (and in the same way, he must have seen "Eregion" and read out "Hollin").

Do not stand

By my grave, and weep.

I am not there,

I do not sleep—

I am the thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints in snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle, autumn rain.

As you awake with morning’s hush,

I am the swift, up-flinging rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight,

I am the day transcending night.

Do not stand

By my grave, and cry—

I am not there,

I did not die.

— Clare Harner, The Gypsy, December 1934

The poem is often attributed to anonymous or incorrect sources, such as the Hopi and Navajo tribes. The most notable claimant was Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905–2004), who often handed out xeroxed copies of the poem with her name attached. She was first wrongly cited as the author of the poem in 1983. In her obituary, she asserted that her authorship was "undisputed" and confirmed by Dear Abby. However, Pauline Phillips and her daughter Jeanne Phillips, writing as Abigail van Buren, repeatedly confessed to their readers that they could not confirm who had written the popular poem.

“Goddammit everybody in the world wants an explanation for your acts and for your very being.”

— Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Language is a virus from outer space...

Happy birthday William...