Why do most dwarven city names in the Forgotten Realms have a suffix of -bar?
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I am running a 5e campaign based in the Silver Marches of Faerun of the Forgotten Realms universe. I noticed that some of the cities in and around the Silver Marches area have a suffix of -bar, and I wonder why that is. I did some searching in the Forgotten Realms Wiki, but couldn't find an answer to satisfy me.
For Example:
- Sundabar
- Mirabar
- Adbar
- Felbarr
All of these cities were established by dwarves. Does the -bar suffix have some specific meaning?
Thank you.
dnd-5e forgotten-realms lore languages
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am running a 5e campaign based in the Silver Marches of Faerun of the Forgotten Realms universe. I noticed that some of the cities in and around the Silver Marches area have a suffix of -bar, and I wonder why that is. I did some searching in the Forgotten Realms Wiki, but couldn't find an answer to satisfy me.
For Example:
- Sundabar
- Mirabar
- Adbar
- Felbarr
All of these cities were established by dwarves. Does the -bar suffix have some specific meaning?
Thank you.
dnd-5e forgotten-realms lore languages
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am running a 5e campaign based in the Silver Marches of Faerun of the Forgotten Realms universe. I noticed that some of the cities in and around the Silver Marches area have a suffix of -bar, and I wonder why that is. I did some searching in the Forgotten Realms Wiki, but couldn't find an answer to satisfy me.
For Example:
- Sundabar
- Mirabar
- Adbar
- Felbarr
All of these cities were established by dwarves. Does the -bar suffix have some specific meaning?
Thank you.
dnd-5e forgotten-realms lore languages
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
$endgroup$
I am running a 5e campaign based in the Silver Marches of Faerun of the Forgotten Realms universe. I noticed that some of the cities in and around the Silver Marches area have a suffix of -bar, and I wonder why that is. I did some searching in the Forgotten Realms Wiki, but couldn't find an answer to satisfy me.
For Example:
- Sundabar
- Mirabar
- Adbar
- Felbarr
All of these cities were established by dwarves. Does the -bar suffix have some specific meaning?
Thank you.
dnd-5e forgotten-realms lore languages
dnd-5e forgotten-realms lore languages
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
23.4k375148
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
asked Feb 10 at 18:45
EB MarshallEB Marshall
17827
17827
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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There is good support that it probably means "shield" or "barrier" or "gate" or the like
I agree with Miles Bedinger's answer noting that dwarven words relating to "shield" start with "bar", and that this may be a clue to the semantics. To wit:
- barak: "backbone, strength, shield"
- barakor: "those who shield"
There are further considerations that support this conclusion. Based on various sources from earlier versions of D&D materials, these places were all originally established for the sake of their being defensible positions that controlled folks passing through to somewhere:
- Sundabar (originally called Citadel of Sundabarr) is on the Silverymoon Pass, a narrow pass through the Nether Mountains. Sundabarr was thus deemed "the rampart of the north, keeping the realm's dangers beyond civilized land."1
- Mirabar was positioned to block hordes of orcs from following the road that would reach the gem-rich Spine of the World mountain range.
- There are miles and miles of corridors under the Ice Mountains, and the only direct way to get in is through Adbar (unless you want to come through the Underdark). It was originally called the Citadel of Adbar.
- The key structural focal point of Felbar (originally called the Citadel of Felbarr) was a gate entering the Rauvin mountains called "The Runegate".
Incidentally, the surname "Barr" in English etymologically is related to "gate", and its meaning goes back to the Middle Ages when, like many old surnames, it represented one's profession; it was short for "Barrier" who was a "maker of bars," i.e., city gates. This may or may not be relevant to how the designers fashioned the dwarven language, but it's an interesting coincidence to say the least.
- Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
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Citadel Adbar is named after a dwarven king.
Based on the dwarfish language, it likely refers to the shield dwarves who founded the cities, as Barakor and Barak both mean to shield.
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
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$begingroup$
There is good support that it probably means "shield" or "barrier" or "gate" or the like
I agree with Miles Bedinger's answer noting that dwarven words relating to "shield" start with "bar", and that this may be a clue to the semantics. To wit:
- barak: "backbone, strength, shield"
- barakor: "those who shield"
There are further considerations that support this conclusion. Based on various sources from earlier versions of D&D materials, these places were all originally established for the sake of their being defensible positions that controlled folks passing through to somewhere:
- Sundabar (originally called Citadel of Sundabarr) is on the Silverymoon Pass, a narrow pass through the Nether Mountains. Sundabarr was thus deemed "the rampart of the north, keeping the realm's dangers beyond civilized land."1
- Mirabar was positioned to block hordes of orcs from following the road that would reach the gem-rich Spine of the World mountain range.
- There are miles and miles of corridors under the Ice Mountains, and the only direct way to get in is through Adbar (unless you want to come through the Underdark). It was originally called the Citadel of Adbar.
- The key structural focal point of Felbar (originally called the Citadel of Felbarr) was a gate entering the Rauvin mountains called "The Runegate".
Incidentally, the surname "Barr" in English etymologically is related to "gate", and its meaning goes back to the Middle Ages when, like many old surnames, it represented one's profession; it was short for "Barrier" who was a "maker of bars," i.e., city gates. This may or may not be relevant to how the designers fashioned the dwarven language, but it's an interesting coincidence to say the least.
- Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There is good support that it probably means "shield" or "barrier" or "gate" or the like
I agree with Miles Bedinger's answer noting that dwarven words relating to "shield" start with "bar", and that this may be a clue to the semantics. To wit:
- barak: "backbone, strength, shield"
- barakor: "those who shield"
There are further considerations that support this conclusion. Based on various sources from earlier versions of D&D materials, these places were all originally established for the sake of their being defensible positions that controlled folks passing through to somewhere:
- Sundabar (originally called Citadel of Sundabarr) is on the Silverymoon Pass, a narrow pass through the Nether Mountains. Sundabarr was thus deemed "the rampart of the north, keeping the realm's dangers beyond civilized land."1
- Mirabar was positioned to block hordes of orcs from following the road that would reach the gem-rich Spine of the World mountain range.
- There are miles and miles of corridors under the Ice Mountains, and the only direct way to get in is through Adbar (unless you want to come through the Underdark). It was originally called the Citadel of Adbar.
- The key structural focal point of Felbar (originally called the Citadel of Felbarr) was a gate entering the Rauvin mountains called "The Runegate".
Incidentally, the surname "Barr" in English etymologically is related to "gate", and its meaning goes back to the Middle Ages when, like many old surnames, it represented one's profession; it was short for "Barrier" who was a "maker of bars," i.e., city gates. This may or may not be relevant to how the designers fashioned the dwarven language, but it's an interesting coincidence to say the least.
- Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There is good support that it probably means "shield" or "barrier" or "gate" or the like
I agree with Miles Bedinger's answer noting that dwarven words relating to "shield" start with "bar", and that this may be a clue to the semantics. To wit:
- barak: "backbone, strength, shield"
- barakor: "those who shield"
There are further considerations that support this conclusion. Based on various sources from earlier versions of D&D materials, these places were all originally established for the sake of their being defensible positions that controlled folks passing through to somewhere:
- Sundabar (originally called Citadel of Sundabarr) is on the Silverymoon Pass, a narrow pass through the Nether Mountains. Sundabarr was thus deemed "the rampart of the north, keeping the realm's dangers beyond civilized land."1
- Mirabar was positioned to block hordes of orcs from following the road that would reach the gem-rich Spine of the World mountain range.
- There are miles and miles of corridors under the Ice Mountains, and the only direct way to get in is through Adbar (unless you want to come through the Underdark). It was originally called the Citadel of Adbar.
- The key structural focal point of Felbar (originally called the Citadel of Felbarr) was a gate entering the Rauvin mountains called "The Runegate".
Incidentally, the surname "Barr" in English etymologically is related to "gate", and its meaning goes back to the Middle Ages when, like many old surnames, it represented one's profession; it was short for "Barrier" who was a "maker of bars," i.e., city gates. This may or may not be relevant to how the designers fashioned the dwarven language, but it's an interesting coincidence to say the least.
- Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
$endgroup$
There is good support that it probably means "shield" or "barrier" or "gate" or the like
I agree with Miles Bedinger's answer noting that dwarven words relating to "shield" start with "bar", and that this may be a clue to the semantics. To wit:
- barak: "backbone, strength, shield"
- barakor: "those who shield"
There are further considerations that support this conclusion. Based on various sources from earlier versions of D&D materials, these places were all originally established for the sake of their being defensible positions that controlled folks passing through to somewhere:
- Sundabar (originally called Citadel of Sundabarr) is on the Silverymoon Pass, a narrow pass through the Nether Mountains. Sundabarr was thus deemed "the rampart of the north, keeping the realm's dangers beyond civilized land."1
- Mirabar was positioned to block hordes of orcs from following the road that would reach the gem-rich Spine of the World mountain range.
- There are miles and miles of corridors under the Ice Mountains, and the only direct way to get in is through Adbar (unless you want to come through the Underdark). It was originally called the Citadel of Adbar.
- The key structural focal point of Felbar (originally called the Citadel of Felbarr) was a gate entering the Rauvin mountains called "The Runegate".
Incidentally, the surname "Barr" in English etymologically is related to "gate", and its meaning goes back to the Middle Ages when, like many old surnames, it represented one's profession; it was short for "Barrier" who was a "maker of bars," i.e., city gates. This may or may not be relevant to how the designers fashioned the dwarven language, but it's an interesting coincidence to say the least.
- Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
edited Feb 10 at 23:45
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
answered Feb 10 at 20:54
Valley LadValley Lad
3,3231238
3,3231238
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Citadel Adbar is named after a dwarven king.
Based on the dwarfish language, it likely refers to the shield dwarves who founded the cities, as Barakor and Barak both mean to shield.
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Citadel Adbar is named after a dwarven king.
Based on the dwarfish language, it likely refers to the shield dwarves who founded the cities, as Barakor and Barak both mean to shield.
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Citadel Adbar is named after a dwarven king.
Based on the dwarfish language, it likely refers to the shield dwarves who founded the cities, as Barakor and Barak both mean to shield.
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
$endgroup$
Citadel Adbar is named after a dwarven king.
Based on the dwarfish language, it likely refers to the shield dwarves who founded the cities, as Barakor and Barak both mean to shield.
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited Feb 10 at 22:47
V2Blast
23.4k375148
23.4k375148
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
answered Feb 10 at 19:38
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,834538
3,834538
add a comment |
add a comment |
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