Dragons

2022-06-17T15:45:18Z

108.162.245.240: /* Other fiction */ Corrected spelling error ("breath" to "breathe").

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{{sources}}
{{race infobox
| name=Dragons
| image=[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Dragon.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Dragon" by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
| pronun=
| othernames="Great worms"
| origin=Morphed by [[Morgoth]] in [[Angband]]
| location=[[Angband]], [[Nargothrond]], [[Grey Mountains]], [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], [[Withered Heath]], [[Northern Waste]]
| affiliation=[[Morgoth]]
| rivalry=
| language=Various Mannish and Elvish tongues<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Letter to Leila Keene and Pat Kirke]]" ([[Letters not published in "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien"|letter]]); quoted in {{PM|II}}, "Note on an unpublished letter", pp. 72-73</ref>
| people=[[Fire-drakes]], [[Cold-drakes]], [[Long-worms]]
| members=[[Glaurung]], [[Ancalagon]], [[Scatha]], [[Smaug]],
| lifespan="Long and slow"<ref>{{S|13}}</ref>
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}
<center>{{quote|Never laugh at live dragons.|[[Bilbo Baggins]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[Inside Information]]"}}</center>

'''Dragons''' also known as the '''Great Worms''' were evil creatures seen mostly in the northern [[Middle-earth]]. They were greedy, cunning, seductive and malicious, probably a corruption devised by [[Morgoth]] with the aid of fire and sorcery sometime in the [[First Age]].

==History==
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Scouring the Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|''Scouring the Mountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
===Origin and early history===
Seeing the strength of the [[Noldor]] in battle, Melkor realized that [[orcs]] alone were not sufficient to defeat his enemies. He therefore began to breed a new race of monsters: the dragons.<ref>{{GA|115}}</ref><ref group=note>How this was done is unclear.</ref>

The Father of Dragons was [[Glaurung]], a mighty wyrm with a fearful intelligence and a powerful hypnotic gaze. Glaurung played an integral part in the fate of the Children of [[Húrin]]. Among his many crimes were the destruction of the Elf-realm of [[Nargothrond]] and a spell cast upon [[Nienor]] which stripped her of her memory. This eventually led her to a disastrous reunion and marriage to her long-lost brother [[Túrin]]. When Nienor learned the truth of Glaurung's plot, she flung herself to her death. Glaurung was finally slain by Túrin, who afterward committed suicide in reaction to Glaurung's plot.

At the [[Fall of Gondolin]], Morgoth's foul host included dragons, "''many and terrible''".<ref>{{S|23}}</ref>

During the [[War of Wrath]], Morgoth unleashed a new terror upon Middle-earth – the winged dragons. Chief among these was [[Ancalagon]] the Black. Eventually slain by [[Eärendil]] the Mariner, Ancalagon's fall crushed the towers of [[Thangorodrim]]. Many of the dragons were destroyed in the War of Wrath but some fled and survived into the later [[Ages]].<ref>{{S|24}}</ref>

===After the First Age===
It would appear that they fled to the [[Northern Waste]], far from the lands of [[Men]] and [[Elves]]. At the height of his power [[Sauron]] was said to have assembled most of the holdovers of Morgoth's forces under his kingship, possibly some of the dragons as well, though no account of the [[Second Age]] makes any notable mention of any such servant. Over the centuries, the race of dragons continued to breed and repopulate, particularly in the [[Withered Heath]], an area in between two spurs of the [[Grey Mountains]].

In the late [[Third Age]] the dragons of the Withered Heath, stirred perhaps obliviously by the rebirth of all evil with Sauron's return, began to harass the [[Northmen]] and [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons|make war]] with the [[Dwarves]] around the year {{TA|2570}} ([[Dáin I]] and [[Frór]] of [[Durin's Folk]] were killed by a great cold-drake in {{TA|2589|n}}).<ref>{{App|B2}}</ref><ref name=Durin>{{App|A3}}</ref> It was perhaps in these wars that dragons swallowed four of the [[Seven Rings|Seven Dwarf-rings]].<ref name=Shadow>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

The most fearsome dragon of the Third Age was [[Smaug]], who laid waste to the Dwarf-realm of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] and the nearby town of [[Dale]]. This devastated the area and sent Durin's Folk into exile. Smaug remained in the abandoned halls of the Lonely Mountain for many years, much to the concern of the [[Istari|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] who feared the prospect of Sauron using the Dragon in his host. But that was
until the coming of [[Thorin and Company]] and their "burglar", the [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] [[Bilbo Baggins]]. This began a chain of events that led to Smaug's death at the hands of [[Bard]] the Bowman.

Although Smaug was the greatest of the dragons of his day,<ref name=Durin/> he seems not to have been the last of his kind as [[Gandalf]] told [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] that "''there is not now any dragon left on earth in which the old fire is hot enough'' [to melt the Rings of Power]",<ref name=Shadow/> indicating the presence of other, lesser dragons, weak enough for them to pose no significant threat should Sauron have meant to make use of them.<ref>{{L|144}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Dragons.jpg|thumb|Dragons by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
The dragons were huge and longeval, with their lives spanning centuries. They shared a greed of treasure (especially gold), subtle intelligence, immense cunning, great physical strength, and their eyes and words had a hypnotic power called "dragon-spell". Those clever enough to avoid the spell never give direct information, but talked vaguely in riddles, since plainly refusing an answer would invite an immediate attack.

Apparently, dragons came from eggs.<ref>{{UT|9b}}: [[Glóin]]: "dragonet new from the shell"</ref>

It may be that dragons could sport horns.<ref>{{FR|Earendil}} where [[Eärendil]] wielded a [[bows|bow]] "made of dragon-horn"</ref>

While dragons were armoured with iron scales, they had a soft spot underneath, in the region of the chest, which could be pierced by blades or darts.<ref>{{TT|Choices}}: "But Shelob was not as dragons are, no softer spot had she save only her eyes."</ref><ref>{{H|12}}: "dragons were softer underneath, especially in the region of the - er - chest".</ref>
===Means of locomotion===
Some dragons ([[Glaurung]]) crawled like snakes, yet had four legs, like a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrapodophis Tetrapodophis].<ref>{{CH|14}}</ref><ref>{{S|20}}'</ref> These must have been the most common type of dragons in the First Age, since the winged fire-dragons only first appeared during the [[War of Wrath]], while the winged [[Cold-drakes]] are only reported in ''[[Turambar and the Foalókë]]''. These (such as [[Ancalagon]] and [[Smaug]]) could both walk on four legs and fly using wings. Breeds of wingless dragons did survive into later Ages.

===Fire breathing===
The ''[[Urulóki]]'' (singular ''Urulokë'', Fire-drakes) could breathe fire. It is not entirely clear whether the term "Urulóki" referred only to the first dragons such as Glaurung that could breathe fire but were wingless, or to any dragon that could breathe fire, and thus include Smaug.

Dragon-fire (of the Urulóki) was hot enough to melt [[Rings of Power]]: four of the [[Seven Rings]] of the Dwarves were consumed by Dragon-fire, although it was not powerful enough to destroy the One Ring itself.<ref name=Shadow/>

The dragons who could not breathe fire were known as [[Cold-drakes]]. Those were found mainly in [[Ered Mithrin]].

== Individual dragons ==
[[Image:John Howe - Smaug.jpg|thumb|''Smaug'' by [[John Howe]]]]
* [[Glaurung]] — Father of Dragons, slain by [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]. First of the Uruloki, the Fire-drakes of Angband. He had four legs and could breathe fire, but didn't have wings.
* [[Ancalagon]] the Black — first and mightiest of the Winged-dragons, slain by [[Eärendil]] in the [[War of Wrath]].
* [[Scatha]] — Slain by Fram of the [[Éothéod]]. Apparently a cold-drake. Described as a "long-worm", although this imprecise term seems to be more of an expression rather than a separate taxonomic group.
* [[Smaug]] — the last great dragon of [[Middle-earth]], slain by [[Bard]] of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]]. A winged Urulokë.
* [[Gostir]] — was one of the Dragons of Morgoth only known by name.
* An unnamed dragon appears in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] verse, said to have had red eyes, black wings and teeth like knives.<ref>{{AB|Hoard}}</ref>

==Etymology==
''Dragon'' is derived from French; ''drake'' is an English word, from [[Old English]] ''draca'' (derived from Latin).<ref>{{HM|LT2}}, "Short Glossary of Obsolete, Archaic, and Rare Words", p. 350</ref>

Words denoting "dragon" in [[Quenya]] are ''[[lókë]]'' and ''[[angulóke]]''. [[Sindarin]] has ''[[lhûg]]'' and ''[[amlug]]''.

In [[Gnomish]], "dragon" is ''fuithlug'' ("a dragon who guards treasure"), ''lingwir'' or ''ulug'' (plural ''ulûgin''; "she dragon" is ''uluch'', ''uluchnir'' or ''ulugwin'').<ref>{{PE|11}}, pp. 36, 54, 74</ref>

==Other names==
The dragons were known by many different names:

'''Worms''' referred to the race of dragons, especially wingless kinds{{fact}}. It was used to refer to [[Glaurung]]<ref>{{CH|16}}</ref> as well as [[Smaug]].<ref>{{H|1}}</ref> In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, "worm" is ''gwem''.<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 45</ref> ''Worm'' is also an actual old word for dragon,<ref>{{HM|OFS}}, p. 108</ref> derived from [[Old English]] ''[[wikipedia:European dragon|wyrm]]'', [[Old Norse]] ''ormr'' ("[[serpents|serpent]]").

'''Long-worms''' referred to at least some dragons, although the only named example is related to [[Scatha]]:
{{blockquote|[[Frumgar]], they say, was the name of the chieftain who led his people to [[Éothéod]]. Of his son, [[Fram]], they tell that he slew [[Scatha]], the great dragon of [[Grey Mountains|Ered Mithrin]], and the land had peace from the long-worms afterwards.|{{App|Eorl}}}}

'''[[Serpents]]''' was used for dragons (properly great serpents),<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 370, entry "[[LOK|LOK-]]"</ref> as well as ordinary snakes.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the early [[The Book of Lost Tales|Lost Tale]] of "[[Turambar and the Foalókë]]", a legend among [[Men]] exists concerning dragons. Whoever tastes the heart of a dragon and can withstand its poisonous blood "would know all tongues of Gods or Men, of birds or beasts, and his ears would catch whispers of the Valar or of Melko".<ref>{{LT2|II}}, p. 85</ref>

In the "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|Fall of Gondolin]]" it is told that Melko forged mechanical [[Iron Dragons]] to carry the armies of [[Orcs]] into the city.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|169}} However, along the battle there are many mentions of fire-drakes and beasts of unclear nature that resemble actual dragons, like the creature of fire with [[Balrogs]] in its back.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|181}}

==Other fiction==
A dragon named [[Chrysophylax]] appears in [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s story ''[[Farmer Giles of Ham]]''.

In the story ''[[Roverandom]]'', white dragons are among the creatures living on the moon. A dragon, called the Great White Dragon, attacks Rover and the moon-dog, and is said to be the origin of all white dragons. In Merlin's time, this dragon had been to the earth, and fought with the Red Dragon in Caerdragon. The Great White Dragon has wings and can breathe fire.<ref>{{HM|R}}, "[Chapter] 2"</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<center><gallery perrow=4>
File:SBG - Cave Drake.png|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]''
File:Jeff Murchie - Dragon.png|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery></center>
===Portrayal in games===
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Apart from the type of dragons created by Tolkien, additional races include ''Rain-drakes'', ''Light-drakes'', ''Ash Drakes'' and several others.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref>

'''2001-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:The ''Dragon'', which can have the ability to breathe fire and fly, is a powerful enemy of the Good players.<ref>[http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1080191 Dragon] at [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/home.jsp Games-Workshop.com] (accessed 23 September 2011)</ref> The game also includes the subterranean ''Cave Drake'', a large but agile monster and natural enemy of the Dwarves.<ref>''[[White Dwarf]]'', issue 371 (November 2010), p. 42</ref>

'''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:''Dragon-kind'' includes several varieties: ''Cold-'', ''Fire-'' and ''Shadow-drakes'', ''Fire-worms'', ''Rock-worms'', and many more. Related beasts include the ''salamander'', a weaker and simpler breed of dragons, the pygmy-sized ''dragonet'', and the turtle-like ''avanc''.<ref>"[http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Category:Dragon-kind Dragon-kind]" at [http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Lorebook_home Lord of the Rings Online: Lorebook] (accessed 28 October 2010)</ref>

==See also==
* [[Fell beasts]]

==External links==
*[http://cogitemusaccurate.blogspot.com/2013/02/concerning-origin-of-dragons.html Concerning the Origin of Dragons] by Randall Johnson
*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2014/04/15/what-happened-to-the-other-dragons-of-middle-earth/ What Happened to the Other Dragons of Middle-earth?] by [[Michael Martinez]]
*[http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/dragon-scale-why-its-impossible-to-size-up-tolkiens-middle-earth/ Dragon scale: Why it’s impossible to size up Tolkien’s Middle-earth] by [[John Garth]]
{{references|note}}

[[Category:Dragons|*]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[de:Drachen]]
[[fr:encyclo:biologie:faune:dragons]]
[[fi:Lohikäärmeet]]

Talk:Seven Rings

2022-06-01T02:39:13Z

108.162.245.240:

Where is it specified exactly in "Of The Rings of Power and the Third Age" that the dwarven rings did not confer invisibility? It only says that it does not turn them into shadows:

"The chief power (of all the rings alike) was the prevention or slowing
of decay (i.e. ‘change’ viewed as a regrettable thing), the preservation of
what is desired or loved, or its semblance – this is more or less an Elvish
motive. But also they enhanced the natural powers of a possessor – thus
approaching ‘magic’, a motive easily corruptible into evil, a lust for
domination. And finally they had other powers, more directly derived
from Sauron (‘the Necromancer’: so he is called as he casts a fleeting
shadow and presage on the pages of The Hobbit): such as rendering
invisible the material body, and making things of the invisible world
visible. The Elves of Eregion made Three supremely beautiful and powerful
rings, almost solely of their own imagination, and directed to the
preservation of beauty: they did not confer invisibility." [...]
"Seven rings he gave to the Dwarves; but to Men he
gave nine, for Men proved in this matter as in others the readiest to his
will. And all those rings that he governed he perverted, the more easily
since he had a part in their making, and they were accursed, and they
betrayed in the end all those that used them. The Dwarves indeed proved
tough and hard to tame; they ill endure the domination of others, and the
thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to
shadows. They used their rings only for the getting of wealth; but wrath
and an overmastering greed of gold were kindled in their hearts, of which
evil enough after came to the profit of Sauron. It is said that the
foundation of each of the Seven Hoards of the Dwarf-kings of old was a
golden ring; but all those hoards long ago were plundered and the Dragons
devoured them, and of the Seven Rings some were consumed in fire and
some Sauron recovered." (JRRT, The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)

The two reclaimed by Sauron are pity and fame. Thraíns ring is luck. Two of the lost ones are ardor and splendor.

Where is it said that exactly four of the rings were destroyed by fire and only three retrieved? The only thing I found in Silmarillion is that "some" of them were destroyed by dragons, but no specific number is given.
:In <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> (Book I, Ch. 2, "The Shadow of the Past"), quite soon after having read the runes of the One Ring at Bag End, Gandalf says to Frodo: "Seven the Dwarf-kings possessed, but three he has recovered, and the others the dragons have consumed." --Tik 22:22, 28 November 2013 (UTC)

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Dragons

Talk:Seven Rings