Lessons

Appendix C: Measures, Directions, Army Ranks

Weights and Measures

Measure   Unit   Approx. equivalent
distance
fra
~ 0.198 m (1 foot ~ 0.65 British feet, orcs were smaller than humans according to Tolkien)
distance
glâd
~ 0.396 m (2 orcish feet, ~ 1.3 British feet)
distance
frak
~ 0.594 m (lit. 1 step = 3 orcish feet)
distance
fraum 
~ 5940 m (10000 orcish steps, ~ 3.2 sea miles, ~ 1.07 sea lieue (sea leagues), ~ 1.23 leagues)
weight
bur
~ 0.907 kg (2 pounds)
volume
parz
~ 0.426 l (1 ½ cups)

 

Directions

By Rob Eaglestone

North  
talân
South
latân
East
ghânsh
West
ânud

 

Orc Army Ranks

Original table, which can be found here, is awful for anybody who knows the army ranks despite his country. So there's mine below. Note: It's hard to give equivalents because modern army consists of approximately 100 000 soldiers but ancient and especially European middle-ages armies were much lesser (may be the only exception is The Roman Empire). In example, in Middle-Earth total orc population was about 100 000 soldiers, Rohan's army consisted of about 10 000 riders (after the battle at Helm's Deep). Aragorn tried to attack Mordor Gates with 6000 soldiers.

Rank Equivalent Commands Number of soldiers in command
pizurk Private
pizgal Corporal Squad 10
piztur Sergeant/Lieutenant Platoon 30 – 50
pizbûr Captain Company 100 – 200
pizdur Major/Lieutenant Colonel Battalion 500
mautor Colonel Regiment 1000
maugoth General Army 10,000
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