The Grey Mountains, was a large mountain range in Middle-earth located between Rhovanion and Forodwaith.
History
The Grey Mountains had originally been part of the Iron Mountains, one of the most ancient mountain ranges in the north of Middle-earth.
The mountains were almost unaffected by the events of the First Age. At what would later become its western end, lay Mount Gundabad.
After the War of Wrath, the Iron Mountains were broken, leaving the Grey Mountains as a separate range and a "northern spur" of the newer Misty Mountains.
Led by king Thorin I, during the year TA 2210 the dwarves settled in the mountains. They found the mountains to be rich in gold and completely unexplored, however around the year TA 2510, the Dragons began to raid the Dwarves, killing Dáin I in TA 2589. His sons Thrór and Grór then abandoned the Grey Mountains, and fled to Erebor and the Iron Hills.
The mountains were almost unaffected by the events of the First Age. At what would later become its western end, lay Mount Gundabad.
After the War of Wrath, the Iron Mountains were broken, leaving the Grey Mountains as a separate range and a "northern spur" of the newer Misty Mountains.
Led by king Thorin I, during the year TA 2210 the dwarves settled in the mountains. They found the mountains to be rich in gold and completely unexplored, however around the year TA 2510, the Dragons began to raid the Dwarves, killing Dáin I in TA 2589. His sons Thrór and Grór then abandoned the Grey Mountains, and fled to Erebor and the Iron Hills.
Geography
The Grey Mountains were the last remnants of the Iron Mountains, which once stretched across the north of Middle-earth, but were broken at the end of the First Age after the War of Wrath.
North of the mountains lay the bitter region known as Forodwaith, a region of great cold, even in the First Age and earlier. South of the mountains lay Rhovanion and the realm of Dale.
At the western end of the mountains, lay Mount Gundabad. Halfway through its length, the mountains split, and formed a valley called the Withered Heath, which became a breeding ground for the dragons.
North of the mountains lay the bitter region known as Forodwaith, a region of great cold, even in the First Age and earlier. South of the mountains lay Rhovanion and the realm of Dale.
At the western end of the mountains, lay Mount Gundabad. Halfway through its length, the mountains split, and formed a valley called the Withered Heath, which became a breeding ground for the dragons.
Inhabitants
The Dwarves of Durin's Folk considered the Ered Mithrin to be a part of their land as far back as the reign of Durin I. Because of constant attacks made by both Orcs and Dragons, they were not heavily explored or settled until the Third Age. All Dwarven strongholds had been abandoned or raided by dragons at the end of the Third age. Tthe Grey Mountains now served only to divide Forodwaith from Wilderland. Durin's Folk may have reclaimed their halls in the Grey Mountains during the Fourth Age due to the destruction of many of the Orcs and Dragons.
Etymology
The Grey Mountains are also known as Ered Mithrin in Sindarin; from ered (mountains) + mithrin (grey).
Categories:
Mountain Ranges
