Helm's Deep

Helm's Deep cuts into the White Mountains below the three peaks of the Thrihyrne, at the western end of Rohan's mountain wall, not far east of the Gap of Rohan. The Deeping-coomb runs up to it from the plain. At the mouth of the gorge stands the Hornburg on a spur of rock, with the Deeping Wall running across the valley from the fortress to the cliff on the other side, and the Deeping-stream flowing out through a culvert beneath it.

Gondor built the Hornburg, like Isengard, when its power reached this far north. Rohan inherited it. The name comes from Helm Hammerhand, ninth king of the Mark, who was driven into the Deep during the Long Winter of TA 2758 when Wulf and the Dunlendings took Edoras. Helm went out alone into the snow by night to kill his besiegers and was found frozen upright at the dike.

Behind the fortress lie the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, a system of lit halls and columns that the people of Westfold used as a refuge. Gimli saw them during the battle and afterward brought Dwarves from Erebor to settle there, becoming Lord of the Glittering Caves.

On the night of 3 to 4 March TA 3019 Saruman's army of Uruk-hai and Dunlendings attacked. They blasted the culvert and broke the Deeping Wall, but could not take the Hornburg. At dawn Théoden and Aragorn rode out of the gate, Gandalf arrived with Erkenbrand and the men of Westfold, and the fleeing Uruks ran into a forest of Huorns that had come up in the night. Almost none of them came out. Gimli and Legolas kept a count of their kills through the night, and Gimli won it by one.

Events at this place

1. TA 2758 · Appendices

   Helm Hammerhand besieged

   During the Long Winter, Helm took refuge in the Deep after Dunlendings seized Edoras. He died in the snow and the place kept his name.

2. TA 3019, March 3 · The Lord of the Rings

   Battle of the Hornburg

   Saruman's host stormed the Deeping Wall on the night of 3 March but failed to take the Hornburg before dawn.

3. TA 3019, March 4 · The Lord of the Rings

   The charge and the Huorns

   Théoden and Aragorn rode out at sunrise as Gandalf came with Erkenbrand. The retreating Uruk-hai were destroyed in the Huorn wood.

4. FoA 1 · Appendices

   Gimli settles Aglarond

   After the war Gimli led Dwarves from Erebor to the Glittering Caves and ruled there as Lord of Aglarond.

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