Barindur, frequently referred to as the Lost City of Barindur, was one of the four ancient kingdoms that predated the Tevinter Imperium. It disappeared mysteriously in -1610 Ancient.[1] Its precise location is unknown; sources indicate it was distant from Minrathous, located on the plains[2] of the southern coast of the Nocen Sea.[3]
History[]
In -1700 Ancient, the Neromenian tribes split into four, creating the kingdoms of Tevinter, Neromenian, Qarinus, and Barindur.[1] The city of Barindur was said to be one of the wonders of the ancient world, famed for its fountains which were said to grant eternal youth. Within ninety years of its founding as a kingdom, Barindur had disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
According to the legend, Barindur was destroyed by the Old God Dumat after his High Priest was turned away by Carinatus, High King of Barindur, during the celebration of the winter solstice. The High Priest asked that the king be punished for his offense; the Dragon-God of Silence answered. After months of silence, and ominous dreams, the priests of Razikale in Minrathous declared that Carinatus had suffered a dire fate. The legion of soldiers that the High King of Minrathous sent to investigate reported that the entire city had vanished: the road that led to it ended abruptly while the plain where it had been was nothing but barren rock, as if everything had been swept by the hand of an angry god. Brother Genitivi states that nothing of the city has ever been found.[2] However, Solas claims to have founds the ruins of Barindur buried deep beneath a barren wasteland by volcanic ash. He also reports to have found the remains of the city's inhabitants encased within the ashes, creating statue-like hollow molds.[4]
Barindur has been attributed to be the target of the constellation Fulmenos, also known as "the Thunderbolt," which depicts a bolt of lightning being thrown by an angry god.[5]
Barindur is also mentioned in the Chant of Light's Canticle of Silence, written by Archon Hessarian. He writes that after the Magisters Sidereal had breached the Golden City and been cast down, they fell across the sky like falling stars, their touch corrupting the earth beneath them. The Archon of the Imperium followed the path of fire they had left in their wake, until he reached the plain where Barindur had once stood. There, he faced the seven magisters and scattered them across Thedas by calling on the help of Fade spirits, then returned to Minrathous to prepare for the doom to come.[6]
Codex entries[]
Trivia[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 13
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Codex entry: The Lost City of Barindur
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 60
- ↑ According to dialogue with Solas when asked to share stories of the ruins he's explored.
- ↑ Codex entry: Constellation: Fulmenos
- ↑ Canticle of Silence 3:15-19
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 60-61