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Barrow

A Royal Barrow on the Barrow-downs (MERP)

Tombs, including Crypts and Barrows, were ancient burial (technically: "immurement") sites built for guarding the bodies of deceased beings, as opposed to burial ("interment" or "inhumation") or cremation (the remains of which can also be deposited in tombs). Some tombs were places of necromancy and dark witchcraft, where black mages raised the dead to serve them, while others were hideouts for bandits and lawless men. Most of the tombs were ruined and nearly destroyed, and some were actually ancient cities that were destroyed or abandoned.

Many cultures placed belongings of the deceased and/or other precious items into a tomb along with the body. Some tombs had lots of burial urns, where the ancestors of the dead put gold into the urns. Hence, tomb-robbing was common, unless some form of security was used (guardians – living, constructed/mechanical, or undead – or traps, magical or mundane). Because of this, many robbers entered ancient tombs to loot the treasures. But many of these robbers were killed by the dangers of the tombs.

Tombs in Middle-earth[]

Dunland[]

  • Anktun - Located in a cliff in Dunland, unlike most tombs, this was a open tomb. A suicide summit was located at a waterfall at the top of the mountain.
  • Deadmen's Rest - located outside the Dunlending settlement of Frecasburg.
  • Dunlending's Hall - Abandoned by the elder Dunlendings, hideout to a gang of highwaymen.

Eriador[]

Gondor[]

  • Dead's Grave - A tomb located outside Minas Tirith, resting place to the dead Gondorians.
  • Frost Crypt - Located in the snowy mountains of Gondor, base of operations of a group of black mages known as The Rulers of Death.
  • Hall of Kings - Located at the Gondorian city of Minas Tirith, the kings of Gondor rest here.
  • Haudh-in-Gwanur - Barrow of the fallen Rohir brothers Fastred and Folcred.
  • Imram's Rest - A small tomb, located near Osgiliath. The Gondorian war-hero Imram was buried here.
  • Morgul Grave - Located in the Morgul Vale. Many Gondorians were buried here, but due to Sauron's domination on the valley, the grave was nothing but a forgotten ruin.
  • Paths of the Dead
  • White Mountain Tombs

Harad[]

  • Arig's Tomb
  • Tomb of Kathan
  • Tombs of Oran-Plaar
  • towering tombs of Khy
  • Valley of Tombs
  • Nevazar's Tomb

Inner Sea[]

  • Ts'ball Tombs

Misty Mountains[]

  • Balin's Tomb - In the Chamber of Mazarbul, Moria.
  • Glacial Tomb - A snowy tomb where the Dwarves of Gundabad were buried. Located east of Gundabad.
  • Tomb of Khazad-dûm - The great tomb where the dwarves of Khazad-dûm were buried. Located in the dwarven realm of Khazad-dûm.
  • Roldthaz - A Dwarven tomb built to cage the wicked Dwarves in the tomb.

Mordor[]

  • Ash Crypt - Located in the Ash Mountains, a group of half-orcs lived here.
  • Darkwater Crypt - A tomb located in the black waters of the Sea of Núrnen. Many undead skeletons lived here.
  • Gorgoroth's Grave - Dead Orcs were thrown here, this can be considered to be a cave, since most of it was destroyed.

Rhovanion[]

Rhûn[]

  • Adan Tombs
  • Grass Tombs
  • Malin's Tomb
  • Shenin Tomb
  • Mahladom Tombs
  • Tatagar tomb
  • Tombs of Ruuriik

Rohan[]

  • The royal Barrow-field outside Edoras.
  • Forest Grave - Located in Fangorn Forest, built by the elder ents, to seal huorns, ents and other beings.
  • Hall of the Dead - The tomb where the deceased Rohirrim were burried. Located outside Edoras.
  • Hill Grave - An burial-site underground Rohan, home to undead skeletons.
  • Isen Crypt - An completely destroyed tomb, flooded by the Isen River.

Underdeeps[]

  • Under-tombs

See also[]

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