MovieChat Forums > The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Discussion > The Oliphonts and their ''Eastern'' Maho...

The Oliphonts and their ''Eastern'' Mahouts- basis?

posted 3 years ago by Hybrid66 (1516)
9 replies | jump to latest

Who or what did Jackson and/or Tolkien base the Oliphont mahouts and rider-crews on? Masked, often semi-naked and heavily tattooed.

I think they were clearly inspired by historical Middle eastern warriors. This or similar theories has been rebuffed by many PC people across the internet. But what else could a British writer penning the stories in the 1950's be describing?

Neither Tolkien or Jackson are guilty of intentional (or otherwise) racism, in my view, but the imagery is still striking in it's stark contrast to the rather 'Nordic' (Sorry, Tolkien, I know you hated that phrase) riders of Rohan and other Old English/Norse based mythology in the books and movies?

Tolkien despised racism and vocally opposed Hitler's nazis, was proud to have jewish friends and said of Apartheid in S.Africa "The treatment of colour nearly always horrifies anyone going out from Britain.", the symbolism in RotK is undeniably an overt depiction, if not straight lift, of Eastern-style warriors?

[–] Ace_Spade (9609) 3 years ago

I think Hannibal almost certainly sprang to mind while Tolkien was developing elephant cavalry, sure.

It has been my observation that PC people tend to say that the Easterlings and Haradrim are inspired by the Middle East and/or African, or other non-white areas, mostly to say that Tolkien was a racist (and/or Peter Jackson) and to say that this is a big problem with LotR.

I don't think this was Tolkien trying to say that other cultures were bad or that other races were inferior. You rightly point out his animosity towards racism. I just think it's possible for Tolkien to base something on a culture without it being a racist statement.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 3 years ago

This, precisely.

[–] CrabgrassWilly (1616) 3 years ago

He did love it when a plan came together.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 3 years ago

He's on the jazz, he's on the jazz!

[–] Snator (125) 3 years ago

OliphAnt...

[–] KingsRule (981) 3 years ago

Calm down.

[–] willjbeau (744) 3 years ago

Nope. Oliphaunt. http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Oliphaunts

[–] Snator (125) 3 years ago

I stand corrected.. In D&D it`s spelled oliphant though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters_in_Dungeons_%26_Dragons#Monster_types

[–] papamihel (1616) 3 years ago

The Haradrim are dark skinned tribes from the South East of the Middle-Earth. Some worship Sauron\Morgoth but there is very little known about them.
Could be a great idea of a TV show.