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Nauglamír

2025-02-10T23:06:36Z

Artlover87: Cleaned up the grammar and flow.

{{object infobox
| name=Nauglamír
| image = Ted Nasmith - The Nauglamir.jpg
| caption="The Nauglamír" by [[Ted Nasmith]]
| pronun={{respell|now|gla-mear}}
| othernames="Necklace of the Dwarves" ''Sigil Elu-naeth'' ([[Sindarin|S]])
| location=[[Nargothrond]], [[Doriath]], [[Mouths of Sirion]]
| owner=[[Finrod]], [[Thingol]], [[Lúthien]], [[Dior]], [[Elwing]]
| type=Jewellery
| appearance=Carcanet of gold, and set therein were gems uncounted from [[Valinor]]; later set with a [[Silmaril]]
| creator=[[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains|Craftsmen of Nogrod and Belegost]]
| created=
| createdlocation=[[Blue Mountains]]
| destroyer=
| destroyed=
| destroyedlocation=
| notablefor=Containing a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]]
| gallery=the Nauglamír
}}
The '''Nauglamír''' or '''Necklace of the Dwarves''' was a famed piece of jewellery. Crafted by [[Dwarves]] using gems brought from [[Valinor]], it was of great grace and beauty and bestowed these qualities upon its wearer. Despite being loaded with gems, it sat lightly on the neck.<ref name="return" />

It later incorporated the [[Silmaril]] retrieved by [[Beren]] from [[Morgoth]]'s [[Iron Crown]], which made it more beautiful than anything ever before seen in [[Arda]]. Because of the Silmaril it was coveted by the [[Sons of Fëanor]] and became entangled in the [[Doom of the Noldor]].

==History==
The Nauglamír was a golden necklace made for [[Finrod Felagund]] by the [[Dwarves]] of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]], in which were set countless gems that Finrod had brought from [[Valinor]].<ref name="return">{{S|Return}}</ref> Despite this, the carcanet weighed no more than if it was made of straw. It was Finrod's most prized treasure in [[Nargothrond]] and the most famed Dwarven work of the [[Elder Days]].<ref name="doriath">{{S|Doriath}}</ref>

[[File:Pete Amachree - Húrin finds the Nauglamír, in the ruins of Nargothrond.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Húrin finds the Nauglamír, in the ruins of Nargothrond'' by [[:Category:Images by Pete Amachree|Pete Amachree]]]]
After the [[Fall of Nargothrond]],<ref>{{S|Turin}}</ref> the Nauglamír remained forgotten in the hoard of [[Glaurung]]. [[Húrin|Húrin Thalion]] later found it and brought the famed treasure to the Kingdom of [[Doriath]]. He threw it on the floor before [[Thingol]], scornfully thanking the elven king for fostering [[Turin Turambar|Turin]], his son, and [[Morwen]], his wife. [[Melian|Queen Melian]] spoke to Húrin, seeking to calm his anger, and looking long into her eyes he at last perceived the truth of how Morgoth had twisted all that he had made him see to further his woe. Picking up the Nauglamír, he offered it to Thingol:

{{blockquote|‘Receive now, lord, the Necklace of the Dwarves, as a gift from one who has nothing, and as a memorial of Húrin of Dor-lómin. For now my fate is fulfilled, and the purpose of Morgoth achieved; but I am his thrall no longer.’|''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Ruin of Doriath]]"}}

After Húrin left Doriath, Thingol sought to have the treasure remade to include the [[Silmaril]] of [[Lúthien]] and [[Beren]] that he had grown to love fiercely, so that he may wear it day and night. For this he employed the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]] who had been invited to [[Menegroth]].<ref name="doriath" />

The Dwarves were enthralled by the beauty of the Nauglamír and the Silmaril, and desired to possess them for themselves but agreed to the task. After they completed their work, they refused to hand the treasure to Thingol, who had come alone into their smithy to receive it. They claimed that the Elven king had no right to the Nauglamír, since their fathers had made it for [[Finrod Felagund]] alone, and that it was stolen by Húrin from the halls of [[Nargothrond]]. Thingol understood well that they only wished to possess the Silmaril and answered with scorn:
{{blockquote|‘How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whose life began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?’|''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Ruin of Doriath]]"}}
After this, he called for them to leave Menegroth without payment. The Dwarves, enraged by his words, slew the king as he stood among them and took the Nauglamír for themselves, carrying it off towards their home in the mountains. Yet as they fled eastwards, they were pursued and killed by the avenging Elves, who returned the Nauglamír to Doriath. However, two of Thingol's murderers had managed to slip through the Elves' grasp and returned to [[Nogrod]], where they lied about the cause for the slaying of their kinsmen, saying that Thingol had ordered them killed to cheat them of their payment. This news roused the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]] to war, and they marched against Doriath, which now lay open to its enemies- the [[Girdle of Melian]] protected the realm no longer, for Melian had left Middle-Earth soon after Thingol's death and returned to the [[Undying Lands]]. As a result, the army of the Dwarves overwhelmed the Elves, and they ransacked Menegroth during a [[battle in the Thousand Caves]], stealing the entire treasure of Doriath, including the Nauglamír. Following their victory, the Dwarves were waylaid by [[Beren]] and a host of [[Green-elves]] of [[Ossiriand]] at [[Sarn Athrad]], who had been informed of what had befallen in Doriath by a messenger. The Dwarves were all [[Battle of Sarn Athrad|slain]], and the treasure was cast into the [[Ascar|River Ascar]], except for the Nauglamír, which Beren bore back to Lúthien at [[Tol Galen]].<ref name="doriath" />

[[File:Peter Xavier Price - The Request of Thingol.jpg|thumb|''The Request of Thingol'' by [[Peter Xavier Price]]]]
Lúthien wore the Nauglamír for the rest of her life, their combined beauty being the fairest sight east of Valinor. After her second death, a lord of the [[Green-elves]] brought it to Doriath to her son, [[Dior]]. When the [[Sons of Fëanor]] heard about its whereabouts, compelled by the [[Oath of Fëanor]], they demanded the [[Silmaril]] from Dior, who gave no answer; and so the [[Sons of Fëanor]] attacked Doriath, resulting in the [[Second Kinslaying]] and the death of Dior. But their attempt to reclaim the Silmaril failed, as Dior's daughter [[Elwing]] had fled beforehand to the [[Havens of Sirion]], carrying the Nauglamír with her.<ref name="doriath" />

The Sons of Fëanor continued their pursuit of the Silmaril and attacked the Mouths of Sirion, leading to the [[Third Kinslaying]], but Elwing cast herself into the sea to escape them, wearing the Nauglamír around her neck. While it is unknown what happened to the Nauglamír itself after this, Elwing and the Silmaril were saved by [[Ulmo]], who brought her in the form of a great white bird to her husband [[Eärendil]] aboard his ship, ''[[Vingilot]]'', in the middle of the night. Elwing was returned to her human form by morning, and together they sought the undying lands of [[Aman]]. Guided by the light of the Silmaril, which Eärendil bound to his brow, they pierced through the [[Shadowy Seas]], and found their way to [[Valinor]].<ref>{{S|24}}</ref>

==Etymology==
''Nauglamír'' is formed from the words ''[[naug]]'' ("dwarf") + ''[[mîr]]'' ("jewel").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''mîr'', ''naug''</ref>
In the [[The Etymologies|''Etymologies'']] the word ''nauglamîr'' is listed as [[Doriathrin]],<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 373, entry "[[MIR|MIR-]]")</ref> while the true [[Noldorin]] idiom is said to be ''Mîr na Nauglin'' or ''Nauglvir'' (-> ''Nauglavir'').<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 375, entry "NAUK-" (note that [[Christopher Tolkien]] uses the capitalized form of ''Mîr'' in the Index, cf. p. 442)</ref>

The necklace was also known as '''''Sigil Elu-naeth''''' ("Necklace of the Woe of Thingol").<ref>{{WJ|I}}, p. 258</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===Early legendarium===
====''The Book of Lost Tales'' and associated texts====
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the '''''Nauglafring''''' is made by the Dwarves directly for Thingol and specifically for the Silmaril, it is crafted from gold, which was given to Thingol by [[Úrin]] from the sacking of [[Rodothlim]].<ref>{{LT2}} pp. 114, 115, 227, 228</ref>
The Nauglamír more directly causes the death of Thingol as it gets caught behind a tree branch when Thingol is riding outside the [[Girdle of Melian]] and is attacked by the Dwarves. Thingol, unhorsed, is slain, after which Melian's protection is lifted and Doriath is sacked.<ref name="lt2iv">{{LT2|IV}}</ref>

In the ''[[Gnomish Lexicon]]'', the description is as follows: ''"Nauglafring = Fring na Nauglithon, the Necklace of the Dwarves. Made for Ellu by the Dwarves from the gold of Glorund that Mîm the fatherless cursed and that brought ruin on Beren Ermabwed and Damrod his son and was not appeased till it sank with Elwing beloved of Eârendel to the bottom of the sea."'' This is the only reference to the "appeasing" of [[Mîm]]'s curse.<ref name="LT2appendix" />

''Nauglafring'' is [[Gnomish]] for "Necklace of the Dwarves", from ''[[naugla]]'' ("of or belonging to the dwarves") + ''[[fring]]'' ("carcanet, necklace").<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Paul Strack]]|articleurl=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-3063461747.html|articlename=G. ''Nauglafring'' pn.|website=Eldamo|accessed=24 April 2024}}</ref> An alternative name for the necklace was '''''Fring na Nauglithon'''''.<ref name="LT2appendix">{{LT2|Appendix}}, entry "Nauglafring"</ref>

The [[Qenya]] cognate was '''''Firin Nautaron'''''.<ref>{{PE|15}}, p. 15</ref>

===Later legendarium===
====''[[Concerning ... 'The Hoard']]''====
{{stub}}

{{references}}
[[Category:Ilkorin names]]
[[Category:Rings and jewels]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Nauglamír]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/nauglamir]]
[[fi:Nauglamír]]

Anglachel

2023-04-25T23:16:39Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

__NOTOC__
{{object infobox
| name=Anglachel
| image=[[File:Elena Kukanova - Anglachel.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Eöl's Swords" by [[:Category:Images by María Lombide Ezpeleta|María Lombide Ezpeleta]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=[[Nan Elmoth]], [[Menegroth]]
| owner=[[Thingol]], [[Beleg]], [[Túrin]]
| type=Weapon
| appearance=A glowing black blade that could slice through iron; forged from a meteorite
| creator=[[Eöl]]
| created=[[First Age]]
| createdlocation=[[Nan Elmoth]]
| destroyer=
| destroyed=Reforged as [[Gurthang]]
| destroyedlocation=
| notablefor=killing of [[Beleg]] by [[Túrin]]
}}
{{Quote|[Anglachel] was a sword of great worth, and it was so named because it was made of iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star; it would cleave all earth-delved iron.|''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of Túrin Turambar]]"}}

'''Anglachel''' was one of two swords forged by [[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]] (its mate was [[Anguirel]]). Forged from a meteorite, the blade was black but also glowed with a 'pale fire', and was so hard that it could easily slice through iron. It was said that the sword was imbued with Eöl's malice and was apparently sentient.

==History==
Eöl gave Anglachel to his overlord, King [[Thingol]] of [[Doriath]], as payment for letting him dwell in the [[Nan Elmoth|Forest of Nan Elmoth]]. Thingol would not wield the sword, as his wife [[Melian]] warned him that there was malice in the blade, so it stayed in the armoury of [[Menegroth]].

In {{FA|487}}, Thingol allowed [[Beleg|Beleg Strongbow]] to take any weapon he desired in his search of his friend [[Túrin]], and Beleg took Anglachel. However, he would not return to Doriath after finding Túrin, and would fight by his side in the following years.

Once their emplacement was destroyed by [[Morgoth]]'s armies, Beleg tracked down the [[Orcs]] taking Túrin captive to [[Angband]]. In the dead of night, he sought to free Túrin in secret, but when he used Anglachel to cut Túrin's bonds, the spite of the blade's forger made it slip and pricked the unconscious body of Túrin. Awakening from his stupor, Túrin thought the Orcs had returned to torture him, and during the struggle he slew Beleg with the blade. After the fight, Anglachel's edges became dull and turned a dead black, ceasing to glow. This was attributed to its apparent sentience, as Anglachel was in a state of mourning over the slaying of Beleg.

Túrin later reforged the sword with the help of the smiths of [[Nargothrond]]. The blade remained black, however, and Túrin renamed it '''[[Gurthang]]''', meaning 'Iron of Death', and it would become his reknowned sword thereafter.<ref>{{S|Turin}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Christopher Tolkien]] notes that ''Anglachel'' contains the [[Sindarin]] elements ''[[ang]]'' ("iron") and ''[[lhach]]'' ("leaping flame").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''ang'', ''lhach''</ref> Given that the last element is clearly ''[[êl]]'' ("star"), [[Paul Strack]] glosses the name as "Iron of the flaming star".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Paul Strack]]|articleurl=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-3718423919.html|articlename=S. ''Anglachel'' pn. |website=Eldamo|accessed=6 December 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Gurthang]]

{{References}}

{{weapons}}
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[de:Gurthang]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/armes/anglachel]]
[[fi:Anglachel]]

Many Meetings (scene)

2023-01-12T22:14:24Z

Artlover87: Slight expansion of details.

{{stub}}
{{scene
|name=Many meetings
|number=23 (extended) 
19 (theatrical)
|duration=3:29 (extended) 
3:31 (theatrical)
|event=[[Frodo]] reunites with [[Samwise]] and the other Hobbits.
|film=[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]
|image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Rivendell.jpg|320px]]
|previous=[[Rivendell (scene)|Rivendell]]
|next=[[The Fate of the Ring|The Fate of the Ring]]
|characters=Frodo, [[Gandalf]], [[Elrond]], [[Sam]], [[Merry]], [[Pippin]], [[Bilbo]]
}}
'''Many Meetings''' is the nineteenth scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' and the twenty-third scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (extended edition)]].

==Synopsis==
As Frodo continues to recover from the wound inflicted by the [[Nazgul]]'s [[Morgul-knife]], he steps out onto a balcony and gets a proper view of [[Rivendell]] for the first time. As he and [[Sam]] walk along the tree-lined pathways, [[Merry]] and [[Pippin]] run up and embrace their recuperating friend.

Amidst the reunion, Frodo realizes that [[Bilbo]] is present and runs to greet him. Bilbo warmly returns the greeting and shows Frodo his completed [[Red Book of Westmarch|book]]. Bilbo says that he intended to return to the spots of his old journey ([[Mirkwood]], [[Lake Town]], and the [[Lonely Mountain]]), but soon found himself in Rivendell and declined to move on. Age has visibly affected Bilbo far more than when he had the Ring, and he admits to feeling it more keenly than before. When turning to a page in the book depicting a map of [[The Shire]], Frodo laments that he misses home, and admits that the adventure he's gone through was very different to the stories Bilbo told him as a child.

Later on, Frodo catches Sam packing his things. While Sam had earlier expressed a desire to see the elves in [[Rivendell]], he now thinks that that since they have delivered the Ring and Frodo is on the mend, it was time they began preparing to return to [[the Shire]]. Frodo agrees with Sam and expresses a desire to return home.

==Differences==
The scene is an abridgement of the same chapter from the book. The banquet Elrond hosts before his council is omitted. Bilbo seems to be somewhat older in the movie than he appears in the book, as in the book, Bilbo is able to return to [[Dale]] and [[Erebor]] during the time gap between chapters 1 and 2.
{{title}}
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring scenes|23]]

Dwarf Women (scene)

2023-01-05T15:29:33Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
{{disambig-two|the scene in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]|concept of the [[legendarium]]|[[Dwarf-women]]}}
'''Dwarf Women''' is the twenty-third scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' and the thirty-first scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]].

As the people of [[Edoras]] journey towards [[Helm's Deep]], [[Gimli]] talks to [[Éowyn]] about dwarf-women, and how they are often mistaken for male dwarves due to their similar appearances. Apparently this has propagated the belief that dwarves are exclusively male and spontaneously pop out of the earth, which makes Éowyn laugh and which Gimli dismisses as nonsense. When he accidentally causes his horse to gallop forwards, throwing him off the animal's back, Éowyn rushes to his aid with a smile on her face. Observing the scene, [[Théoden]] comments to [[Aragorn]] that it's been a long time since he's seen his niece smile. He tells Aragorn that Éowyn was only a girl when her father was killed by [[Orcs]] and she was handed over to [[Théoden]]'s keeping. He also laments that he wasn't the most affectionate guardian to her at the time and regrets not showing her more love.
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|31]]

Farewell to Lórien (scene)

2022-12-29T16:19:41Z

Artlover87: One of my favorite scenes. Hope I did it justice.

{{stub}}
'''Farewell to Lórien''' is the thirty-fifth -first scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' and the forty-first of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (extended edition)]]. The scene was significantly longer in the extended edition, and featured a number of cuts between the Fellowship boating down the [[Anduin]] and receiving their [[Gifts of Galadriel|gifts]] and supplies from the [[Elves of Lorien|elves]]. As such, the exact sequence of events is not entirely clear.
{{title}}
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring scenes|41]]

As [[Galadriel]] rides in her swan boat, [[Celeborn]] and a group of [[Elves of Lorien|elves]] garb the Fellowship in their specially-made [[Elven cloaks|cloaks]]. [[Celeborn]] claims that no outsiders have ever worn such garments, and prays that they will shield the wearers from "unfriendly eyes".

As the Fellowship loads their boats and prepares to leave, [[Legolas]] notices [[lembas]] among the supplies, and tells [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] that one bite can fill a grown man's stomach. When [[Legolas]] moves out of earshot, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], knowing [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] very well, asks how many [[lembas]] his friend had already eaten; [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] replies "four", followed by an audible belch.

Under the shelter of the trees, [[Celeborn]] warns [[Aragorn]] of the dangers ahead - including the appearance of "strange creatures bearing the mark of the white hand" ([[Saruman]]'s [[Uruk-hai]]) - and warns that the Fellowship is being tracked. He also gifts [[Aragorn]] with a large, elven-made hunting knife.

As they paddle down the [[Anduin]], the members of the Fellowship recall the gifts presented to them by [[Galadriel]]: [[Legolas]] received a beautifully crafted [[Bow of the Galadhrim|bow]]; [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] ancestral daggers; [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] a coil of [[Elven rope]], and [[Gimli]] - though it isn't clarified until later - three stands of [[Hair of Galadriel|Galadriel's hair]] to remember her by. [[Aragorn]] recalls the conversation he had with [[Galadriel]] regarding the choice currently before [[Arwen]]; to remain in Middle-Earth or take the ship to [[Valinor]]. While [[Galadriel]] doesn't fully voice her thoughts on the matter, she reminds [[Aragorn]] that his own destiny as [[King of Gondor]] still awaits his choice, and bids him farewell with his true name,"Elessar". Finally [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] recalls his gift of the [[Phial of Galadriel|phial]] containing the light from the [[Star of Earendil]], and sees [[Galadriel]] on the riverbank bidding them farewell.

Bows

2022-12-17T16:51:51Z

Artlover87:

[[File:John Howe - Elven Bow.jpg|thumb|''Elven Bow'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Bows''' were a common weapon in [[Arda]]. All peoples, Good and Evil, were known to have used them, most notably the [[Elves]], [[Númenóreans]], [[Rohirrim]], [[Orcs]], and even [[Hobbits]].<ref>[[Anthony Burdge]], [[Jessica Burke]], "Weapons, Named"; in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]'' (edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]])</ref>

==Overview==
Bows varied widely in shape, size and materials. While [[Elves|Elven]] flawless bows were made from wood, [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] bows were made of hollow steel, forged in armories.<ref name=Numenor>{{UT|Numenor}}, p. 170</ref> It is said in a poem that [[Eärendil]] wielded a bow "made of dragon-horn".<ref>{{FR|Earendil}}</ref>

==Bows by faction==
* Elves were the first race to develop and master the use of bows, and later passed their knowledge on to [[Men]].
** Among the [[Gondothlim| Elves of Gondolin]], the [[house of the Swallow]] and the [[house of the Heavenly Arch]] used bows as their primary weapons.
** The [[Elves]] of [[Doriath]] and [[Lothlórien]] used longbows which were, as their name suggests, longer bows which could shoot farther and higher than any other types of bows.
** Bows were a prominent weapon of the [[Elves of Mirkwood]]. Archers and spearmen formed the bulk of the [[Woodland Realm]]'s army during the [[Battle of the Five Armies]] near [[Erebor]].<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

* [[Númenóreans]] used the steel-bow, which as its name implies, was made of hollow steel. "In later days, in the wars upon Middle-Earth, it was the bows of the Númenóreans that were most greatly feared. 'The Men of the Sea,' it was said, 'send before them a great cloud, as of rain turned to serpents, or a black hail tipped with steel...'". It shot black-feathered arrows that were a full ell long from point to notch<ref name=Numenor/> and much feared by their enemies.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}, p. 273</ref>
** Among the royal heirlooms of the [[Kings of Númenor]] was the [[Bow of Bregor]].<ref>{{UT|3a}}, p. 171</ref> The Númenoreans were also the only known culture in Arda to have developed [[Cross-bows|crossbows]], used primarily for bird hunting. <ref>{{NM|P3xiii}}, p. 340</ref>

* The [[Gondorians|Gondorian]] army contains units of archers who use longbows. These bows are made of heartwood and reach about 68 inches tall. The arrows are about 28 inches long with four-inch steel tips, and accurate up to 200 yards. The longbowmen of the army wear their quiver (the case that holds the arrows) on their hips rather than on their backs like most archers. Bows were also the primary weapon of the [[Rangers of Ithilien]].<ref>{{HM|TT}}</ref>

* [[Rohirrim]] archers used shortbows; as they fought primarily from horseback, a longbow would be impractical. The shortbows were much less powerful than those used by other [[Men]], having a range of only 125 yards.

* The various [[Northmen]] nations, including the [[Men of Dale]] and [[Lake-men]], used bows for hunting and warfare alike.
** [[Bard the Bowman]] was a notable archer from Lake-town and played a key role in the slaying of the dragon [[Smaug]] with the [[Black Arrow]].<ref>{{H|14}}</ref>
** [[Beorn]], a skinchanger affiliated with the [[Beornings]], supplied Thorin and his company with a few hunting bows before they headed east towards Mirkwood.<ref>{{H|7}}</ref>
** The [[King of Rhovanion|Kings of Rhovanion]] from earlier centuries of the Third Age also employed mounted bowmen (a form of mounted infantry, rather than cavalry) as scouts within their realm. <ref>{{UT|8}}</ref>

* [[Hobbits]] also used bows. Hobbit archers fought for [[Arnor]] in the [[Battle of Fornost]],<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> and also participated in the [[Battle of Bywater]].<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

* [[Dwarves]] used bows less prominently than other races, but counted them among their military weapons. Dwarven bows were shortbows made of horn, or of a composite build using horn and wood. [[Thorin Oakenshield]] used a bow to threaten the [[Elves of Mirkwood|Mirkwood Elves]] and the [[Men of Dale]] when he was reluctant to part with the treasures of [[Erebor]].<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

* [[Orcs]] used bows for hunting, as well as weapons of war. Orc bows were made of horn, although the [[Uruk-hai]] of [[Isengard]] were known to use longer bows in the fashion of Men, which were made of yew.<ref>{{TT|Departure}}</ref>

==Notable bowmen==
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Numenorean steel-bows.jpg|thumb|''Númenórean steel-bows'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
* [[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]], a lord of [[Gondolin]], along with his [[House of the Swallow]].
* [[Beleg|Beleg Cúthalion]], who bore [[Belthronding]].
* [[Bard]], who slew the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] with his [[Black Arrow]].
* [[Legolas]], a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

==Other names==
*[[Quenya]]: ''quinga''
*[[Sindarin]]/[[Noldorin]]: ''ping'', ''cú''
*[[Nandorin]]: ''cogn''

The forms ''quinga'', ''ping'' are cognates deriving from the [[Primitive Quendian]] ''kwingā''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "KWIG" (in that source the first word is spelled ''qinga'', and the second is [[Noldorin]].</ref>

The form ''cogn'', is derived from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''kuȝnā'', itself representing the [[root]] KUȜ.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "KUȜ", p. 365</ref>

==Inspirations==
It is possible Tolkien's fascination with bows came from Red Indian stories:
{{blockquote|Red Indians were better: there were bows and arrows (I had and have a wholly unsatisfied desire to shoot well with a bow)|[[On Fairy-Stories]]}}

{{blockquote|But he [Tolkien] liked Red Indian stories and longed to shoot with a bow and arrow.|[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''}}

The idea of steel bows wielded by Númenorean military elites was likely inspired by historical steel bows from India, similarly expensive and rare archery weapons. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200805231657/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/sagi/artikel/steelbow/steelbow.html ''Steel Bows in India'']. Orig. publ. in ''Society of Archer-Antiquaries'', 1969. ''Sagittarius Twente'' University Archery Club website. Margo.student.utwente.nl (archived version, Archive.org)</ref> <ref>[http://myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.18939.html ''Indian Steel Bow'' discussion]. MyArmoury.com discussion forums, 13 February 2010.</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''[[2001]]-[[2003]]: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like [[Warren Mahy]], with aid from [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by [[Weta Workshop]] employees.<ref>''{{Fotree}}'', ''Weta Workshop'' featurette</ref> Races seen using bows include Men, Elves and Orcs. In ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'', the [[Uruk-hai]] use [[Cross-bows|crossbows]] in the beginning of the [[Battle of Helm's Deep]] (non-canonical to orcs). <ref>''{{Tttee}}, ''Weta Workshop'' featurette</ref>

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

:Bows are available to player characters as handheld ranged weapons.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Category:Bow_Items Category: Bow Items], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' Wiki</ref> There are also crossbows, less common.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Category:Crossbow_Items Category: Crossbow Items], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' Wiki</ref>

'''[[2012]]-[[2014]]: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like [[Warren Mahy]], with aid from [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by [[Weta Workshop]] employees.<ref>''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]], [[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]], [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'' Extended Editions, ''Weta Workshop'' featurettes</ref> Races seen using bows include Men, Elves, Dwarves and Orcs.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of bows|Images of bows]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Weapons]]

Bows

2022-12-17T16:51:13Z

Artlover87: Attempted to expand/reorganize.

[[File:John Howe - Elven Bow.jpg|thumb|''Elven Bow'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Bows''' were a common weapon in [[Arda]]. All peoples, Good and Evil, were known to have used them, most notably the [[Elves]], [[Númenóreans]], [[Rohirrim]], [[Orcs]], and even [[Hobbits]].<ref>[[Anthony Burdge]], [[Jessica Burke]], "Weapons, Named"; in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]'' (edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]])</ref>

==Overview==
Bows varied widely in shape, size and materials. While [[Elves|Elven]] flawless bows were made from wood, [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] bows were made of hollow steel, forged in armories.<ref name=Numenor>{{UT|Numenor}}, p. 170</ref> It is said in a poem that [[Eärendil]] wielded a bow "made of dragon-horn".<ref>{{FR|Earendil}}</ref>

==Bows by faction==
* Elves were the first race to develop and master the use of bows, and later passed their knowledge on to [[Men]].
** Among the [[Gondothlim| elves of Gondolin]], the [[house of the Swallow]] and the [[house of the Heavenly Arch]] used bows as their primary weapons.
** The [[Elves]] of [[Doriath]] and [[Lothlórien]] used longbows which were, as their name suggests, longer bows which could shoot farther and higher than any other types of bows.
** Bows were a prominent weapon of the [[Elves of Mirkwood]]. Archers and spearmen formed the bulk of the [[Woodland Realm]]'s army during the [[Battle of the Five Armies]] near [[Erebor]].<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

* [[Númenóreans]] used the steel-bow, which as its name implies, was made of hollow steel. "In later days, in the wars upon Middle-Earth, it was the bows of the Númenóreans that were most greatly feared. 'The Men of the Sea,' it was said, 'send before them a great cloud, as of rain turned to serpents, or a black hail tipped with steel...'". It shot black-feathered arrows that were a full ell long from point to notch<ref name=Numenor/> and much feared by their enemies.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}, p. 273</ref>
** Among the royal heirlooms of the [[Kings of Númenor]] was the [[Bow of Bregor]].<ref>{{UT|3a}}, p. 171</ref> The Númenoreans were also the only known culture in Arda to have developed [[Cross-bows|crossbows]], used primarily for bird hunting. <ref>{{NM|P3xiii}}, p. 340</ref>

* The [[Gondorians|Gondorian]] army contains units of archers who use longbows. These bows are made of heartwood and reach about 68 inches tall. The arrows are about 28 inches long with four-inch steel tips, and accurate up to 200 yards. The longbowmen of the army wear their quiver (the case that holds the arrows) on their hips rather than on their backs like most archers. Bows were also the primary weapon of the [[Rangers of Ithilien]].<ref>{{HM|TT}}</ref>

* [[Rohirrim]] archers used shortbows; as they fought primarily from horseback, a longbow would be impractical. The shortbows were much less powerful than those used by other [[Men]], having a range of only 125 yards.

* The various [[Northmen]] nations, including the [[Men of Dale]] and [[Lake-men]], used bows for hunting and warfare alike.
** [[Bard the Bowman]] was a notable archer from Lake-town and played a key role in the slaying of the dragon [[Smaug]] with the [[Black Arrow]].<ref>{{H|14}}</ref>
** [[Beorn]], a skinchanger affiliated with the [[Beornings]], supplied Thorin and his company with a few hunting bows before they headed east towards Mirkwood.<ref>{{H|7}}</ref>
** The [[King of Rhovanion|Kings of Rhovanion]] from earlier centuries of the Third Age also employed mounted bowmen (a form of mounted infantry, rather than cavalry) as scouts within their realm. <ref>{{UT|8}}</ref>

* [[Hobbits]] also used bows. Hobbit archers fought for [[Arnor]] in the [[Battle of Fornost]],<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> and also participated in the [[Battle of Bywater]].<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

* [[Dwarves]] used bows less prominently than other races, but counted them among their military weapons. Dwarven bows were shortbows made of horn, or of a composite build using horn and wood. [[Thorin Oakenshield]] used a bow to threaten the [[Elves of Mirkwood|Mirkwood Elves]] and the [[Men of Dale]] when he was reluctant to part with the treasures of [[Erebor]].<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

* [[Orcs]] used bows for hunting, as well as weapons of war. Orc bows were made of horn, although the [[Uruk-hai]] of [[Isengard]] were known to use longer bows in the fashion of Men, which were made of yew.<ref>{{TT|Departure}}</ref>

==Notable bowmen==
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Numenorean steel-bows.jpg|thumb|''Númenórean steel-bows'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
* [[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]], a lord of [[Gondolin]], along with his [[House of the Swallow]].
* [[Beleg|Beleg Cúthalion]], who bore [[Belthronding]].
* [[Bard]], who slew the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] with his [[Black Arrow]].
* [[Legolas]], a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

==Other names==
*[[Quenya]]: ''quinga''
*[[Sindarin]]/[[Noldorin]]: ''ping'', ''cú''
*[[Nandorin]]: ''cogn''

The forms ''quinga'', ''ping'' are cognates deriving from the [[Primitive Quendian]] ''kwingā''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "KWIG" (in that source the first word is spelled ''qinga'', and the second is [[Noldorin]].</ref>

The form ''cogn'', is derived from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''kuȝnā'', itself representing the [[root]] KUȜ.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "KUȜ", p. 365</ref>

==Inspirations==
It is possible Tolkien's fascination with bows came from Red Indian stories:
{{blockquote|Red Indians were better: there were bows and arrows (I had and have a wholly unsatisfied desire to shoot well with a bow)|[[On Fairy-Stories]]}}

{{blockquote|But he [Tolkien] liked Red Indian stories and longed to shoot with a bow and arrow.|[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''}}

The idea of steel bows wielded by Númenorean military elites was likely inspired by historical steel bows from India, similarly expensive and rare archery weapons. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200805231657/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/sagi/artikel/steelbow/steelbow.html ''Steel Bows in India'']. Orig. publ. in ''Society of Archer-Antiquaries'', 1969. ''Sagittarius Twente'' University Archery Club website. Margo.student.utwente.nl (archived version, Archive.org)</ref> <ref>[http://myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.18939.html ''Indian Steel Bow'' discussion]. MyArmoury.com discussion forums, 13 February 2010.</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''[[2001]]-[[2003]]: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like [[Warren Mahy]], with aid from [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by [[Weta Workshop]] employees.<ref>''{{Fotree}}'', ''Weta Workshop'' featurette</ref> Races seen using bows include Men, Elves and Orcs. In ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'', the [[Uruk-hai]] use [[Cross-bows|crossbows]] in the beginning of the [[Battle of Helm's Deep]] (non-canonical to orcs). <ref>''{{Tttee}}, ''Weta Workshop'' featurette</ref>

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

:Bows are available to player characters as handheld ranged weapons.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Category:Bow_Items Category: Bow Items], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' Wiki</ref> There are also crossbows, less common.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Category:Crossbow_Items Category: Crossbow Items], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' Wiki</ref>

'''[[2012]]-[[2014]]: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like [[Warren Mahy]], with aid from [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by [[Weta Workshop]] employees.<ref>''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]], [[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]], [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'' Extended Editions, ''Weta Workshop'' featurettes</ref> Races seen using bows include Men, Elves, Dwarves and Orcs.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of bows|Images of bows]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Weapons]]

Bows

2022-12-17T16:45:04Z

Artlover87: Attempted to expand/reorganize. Not seasoned enough yet to add appropriate references, but those who are feel free to do so.

[[File:John Howe - Elven Bow.jpg|thumb|''Elven Bow'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Bows''' were a common weapon in [[Arda]]. All peoples, Good and Evil, were known to have used them, most notably the [[Elves]], [[Númenóreans]], [[Rohirrim]], [[Orcs]], and even [[Hobbits]].<ref>[[Anthony Burdge]], [[Jessica Burke]], "Weapons, Named"; in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]'' (edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]])</ref>

==Overview==
Bows varied widely in shape, size and materials. While [[Elves|Elven]] flawless bows were made from wood, [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] bows were made of hollow steel, forged in armories.<ref name=Numenor>{{UT|Numenor}}, p. 170</ref> It is said in a poem that [[Eärendil]] wielded a bow "made of dragon-horn".<ref>{{FR|Earendil}}</ref>

==Bows by faction==
* Elves were the first race to develop and master the use of bows, and later passed their knowledge on to [[Men]].
** Among the [[Gondothlim| elves of Gondolin]], the [[house of the Swallow]] and the [[house of the Heavenly Arch]] used bows as their primary weapons.
** The [[Elves]] of [[Doriath]] and [[Lothlórien]] used longbows which were, as their name suggests, longer bows which could shoot farther and higher than any other types of bows.
** Bows were a prominent weapon of the [[Elves of Mirkwood]]. Archers and spearmen formed the bulk of the [[Woodland Realm]]'s army during the [[Battle of the Five Armies]] near [[Erebor]].<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

* [[Númenóreans]] used the steel-bow, which as its name implies, was made of hollow steel. "In later days, in the wars upon Middle-Earth, it was the bows of the Númenóreans that were most greatly feared. 'The Men of the Sea,' it was said, 'send before them a great cloud, as of rain turned to serpents, or a black hail tipped with steel...'". It shot black-feathered arrows that were a full ell long from point to notch<ref name=Numenor/> and much feared by their enemies.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}, p. 273</ref>
** Among the royal heirlooms of the [[Kings of Númenor]] was the [[Bow of Bregor]].<ref>{{UT|3a}}, p. 171</ref> The Númenoreans were also the only known culture in Arda to have developed [[Cross-bows|crossbows]], used primarily for bird hunting. <ref>{{NM|P3xiii}}, p. 340</ref>

* The [[Gondorians|Gondorian]] army contains units of archers who use longbows. These bows are made of heartwood and reach about 68 inches tall. The arrows are about 28 inches long with four-inch steel tips, and accurate up to 200 yards. The longbowmen of the army wear their quiver (the case that holds the arrows) on their hips rather than on their backs like most archers. Bows were also the primary weapon of the [[Rangers of Ithilien]].<ref>{{HM|TT}}</ref>

* [[Rohirrim]] archers used shortbows; as they fought primarily from horseback, a longbow would be impractical. The shortbows were much less powerful than those used by other [[Men]], having a range of only 125 yards.

* The various [[Northmen]] nations, including the [[Men of Dale]] and [[Lake-men]], used bows for hunting and warfare alike. [[Bard the Bowman]] was a notable archer from Lake-town and played a key role in the slaying of the dragon [[Smaug]] with the [[Black Arrow]].<ref>{{H|14}}</ref> [[Beorn]], a skinchanger affiliated with the [[Beornings|Beorning]] people, supplied Thorin and his company with a few hunting bows before they headed east towards Mirkwood.<ref>{{H|7}}</ref> The [[King of Rhovanion|Kings of Rhovanion]] from earlier centuries of the Third Age also employed mounted bowmen (a form of mounted infantry, rather than cavalry) as scouts within their realm. <ref>{{UT|8}}</ref>

*[[Hobbits]] also used bows. Hobbit archers fought for [[Arnor]] in the [[Battle of Fornost]],<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> and also participated in the [[Battle of Bywater]].<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

*[[Dwarves]] used bows less prominently than the other races, but had them among their military weapons. Dwarven bows were shortbows made of horn, or of a composite build, using horn and wood. [[Thorin Oakenshield]] used a bow to threaten the [[Elves of Mirkwood|Mirkwood Elves]] and the [[Men of Dale]] when he was reluctant to part with the treasures of [[Erebor]].<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

*[[Orcs]] used bows for hunting, as well as weapons of war. Orcs primarily used bows that were made of horn, although the [[Uruk-hai]] of [[Isengard]] were known to use longer bows in the fashion of Men, which were made of yew.<ref>{{TT|Departure}}</ref>

==Notable bowmen==
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Numenorean steel-bows.jpg|thumb|''Númenórean steel-bows'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
* [[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]], a lord of [[Gondolin]], along with his [[House of the Swallow]].
* [[Beleg|Beleg Cúthalion]], who bore [[Belthronding]].
* [[Bard]], who slew the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] with his [[Black Arrow]].
* [[Legolas]], a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

==Other names==
*[[Quenya]]: ''quinga''
*[[Sindarin]]/[[Noldorin]]: ''ping'', ''cú''
*[[Nandorin]]: ''cogn''

The forms ''quinga'', ''ping'' are cognates deriving from the [[Primitive Quendian]] ''kwingā''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "KWIG" (in that source the first word is spelled ''qinga'', and the second is [[Noldorin]].</ref>

The form ''cogn'', is derived from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''kuȝnā'', itself representing the [[root]] KUȜ.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "KUȜ", p. 365</ref>

==Inspirations==
It is possible Tolkien's fascination with bows came from Red Indian stories:
{{blockquote|Red Indians were better: there were bows and arrows (I had and have a wholly unsatisfied desire to shoot well with a bow)|[[On Fairy-Stories]]}}

{{blockquote|But he [Tolkien] liked Red Indian stories and longed to shoot with a bow and arrow.|[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''}}

The idea of steel bows wielded by Númenorean military elites was likely inspired by historical steel bows from India, similarly expensive and rare archery weapons. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200805231657/http://margo.student.utwente.nl/sagi/artikel/steelbow/steelbow.html ''Steel Bows in India'']. Orig. publ. in ''Society of Archer-Antiquaries'', 1969. ''Sagittarius Twente'' University Archery Club website. Margo.student.utwente.nl (archived version, Archive.org)</ref> <ref>[http://myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.18939.html ''Indian Steel Bow'' discussion]. MyArmoury.com discussion forums, 13 February 2010.</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''[[2001]]-[[2003]]: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like [[Warren Mahy]], with aid from [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by [[Weta Workshop]] employees.<ref>''{{Fotree}}'', ''Weta Workshop'' featurette</ref> Races seen using bows include Men, Elves and Orcs. In ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'', the [[Uruk-hai]] use [[Cross-bows|crossbows]] in the beginning of the [[Battle of Helm's Deep]] (non-canonical to orcs). <ref>''{{Tttee}}, ''Weta Workshop'' featurette</ref>

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

:Bows are available to player characters as handheld ranged weapons.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Category:Bow_Items Category: Bow Items], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' Wiki</ref> There are also crossbows, less common.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Category:Crossbow_Items Category: Crossbow Items], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' Wiki</ref>

'''[[2012]]-[[2014]]: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like [[Warren Mahy]], with aid from [[Alan Lee]] and [[John Howe]]. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by [[Weta Workshop]] employees.<ref>''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]], [[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]], [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'' Extended Editions, ''Weta Workshop'' featurettes</ref> Races seen using bows include Men, Elves, Dwarves and Orcs.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of bows|Images of bows]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Weapons]]

House of the King

2022-12-05T20:22:49Z

Artlover87:

__NOTOC__
{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the King
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the King.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the King
| founder=[[Turgon]]
| leader=[[King of Gondolin]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=White, gold, red
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|Mighty was the array of the house of the king.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the King''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The folk of this house were under the personal command of King [[Turgon]] of [[Gondolin]]. They dressed in white, gold and red, and their emblem combined the moon, the sun and the [[Scarlet Heart]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|172}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], Turgon watched most of the battle from [[Tower of the King|his tower]],<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|180}} while his folk were held in reserve in the [[Square of the Palace]], remaining fresh in order to defend the king.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|183}} There they remained untouched until the remnants of all the other kindreds gathered at the Square, but after [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]] was slain by [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]], the King came down and joined his folk against the [[Orcs]]. Their attack was so strong that they retook much of the Square and even slew two score [[Balrogs]]. They forced one of the terrible [[Fire-drakes]] into the [[Fountain of the King]], and there it perished, though the water did also. Yet many of them were killed by the heat, the serpents, the enemy, and one another, for the steam that rose from the fountain obscured their view. A body of them saved the king, and there was a rally beneath [[Glingol]] and [[Bansil]].<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|184}} Under those trees, Turgon proclaimed the fall of Gondolin and ordered the Gondothlim to follow his son-by-marriage, [[Tuor]], and evacuate the city. Tuor obeyed, but the men of the royal house said: ''"Here we will stay if Turgon goes not forth"''. They did not budge a foot, gathering around the base of the king's tower.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|185}} No more is said of this house, but they probably perished with Turgon when the tower was beset and knocked down.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|187}}

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the later version of the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', there is only a glimpse of Turgon's folk: here is mentioned "the defence of the tower of Turgon by the men of his household, until the tower was overthrown".<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 144</ref> Notice that this was the text used by [[Christopher Tolkien]] for the [[Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin|twenty-third chapter]] of his edition of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

==See also==
* [[Scarlet Heart]]
* [[House of Fingolfin]]

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Königs]]

House of the Harp

2022-12-05T20:06:06Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Harp
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Harp.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Host of the Harp
| founder=
| leader=[[Salgant]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Mole]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=Silver and gold tassels
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|On these men of the Harp unbidden fell with great eagerness and utterly redeemed the cravenhood of their lord.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Harp''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in the early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The house was led by [[Salgant]], and its people were brave warriors. Their garments were adorned with tassels of silver and gold, and a harp of silver shone in their blazonry upon a field of black, though Salgant himself bore one of gold.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

Salgant was allied with [[Meglin]], leader of the [[house of the Mole]], who had betrayed Gondolin to [[Melko]]. When the [[Fall of Gondolin|fall of the city]] began, Meglin gave Salgant the task of delaying [[Tuor]] and the [[house of the Wing]], while he assaulted Tuor's home. However, a terrified Salgant rode from battle, and his folk did not help the house of the Mole as planned.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177}}

Later in the battle, there was a terrible fight in the [[Great Market]] in the eastern part of the city; [[Orcs]], under the leadership of [[Balrogs]], fought against the [[house of the Golden Flower]], led by [[Glorfindel]]. Knowing this by messengers, King [[Turgon]] sent the house of the Harp to their aid, but Salgant concealed this information from his house and sent them to the [[Lesser Market]] in the southern part of the city, where he lived. They fretted about, and broke from their lord to come before the [[Square of the Palace|king's hall]], right in the moment that Glorfindel and his folk were chased by a press of foemen. There they redeemed the treason of their lord, as with their wrath they drove the enemy back into the market. But they were leaderless, and many of them were trapped, burned to death or poisoned by the breath of a [[dragon]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182-3}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Salum''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Salmar'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

In a later prose fragment, the [[Noldorin]] name '''''Tumglin''''' is given to a "folk of the Harp", but this is a Mannish house unrelated with Gondolin.<ref>{{SM|P1}}, pp. 4-5</ref>
{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Harfe]]

House of the Harp

2022-12-05T20:05:06Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Harp
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Harp.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Host of the Harp
| founder=
| leader=[[Salgant]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=Silver and gold tassels
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|On these men of the Harp unbidden fell with great eagerness and utterly redeemed the cravenhood of their lord.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Harp''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in the early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The house was led by [[Salgant]], and its people were brave warriors. Their garments were adorned with tassels of silver and gold, and a harp of silver shone in their blazonry upon a field of black, though Salgant himself bore one of gold.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

Salgant was allied with [[Meglin]], leader of the [[house of the Mole]], who had betrayed Gondolin to [[Melko]]. When the [[Fall of Gondolin|fall of the city]] began, Meglin gave Salgant the task of delaying [[Tuor]] and the [[house of the Wing]], while he assaulted Tuor's home. However, a terrified Salgant rode from battle, and his folk did not help the house of the Mole as planned.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177}}

Later in the battle, there was a terrible fight in the [[Great Market]] in the eastern part of the city; [[Orcs]], under the leadership of [[Balrogs]], fought against the [[house of the Golden Flower]], led by [[Glorfindel]]. Knowing this by messengers, King [[Turgon]] sent the house of the Harp to their aid, but Salgant concealed this information from his house and sent them to the [[Lesser Market]] in the southern part of the city, where he lived. They fretted about, and broke from their lord to come before the [[Square of the Palace|king's hall]], right in the moment that Glorfindel and his folk were chased by a press of foemen. There they redeemed the treason of their lord, as with their wrath they drove the enemy back into the market. But they were leaderless, and many of them were trapped, burned to death or poisoned by the breath of a [[dragon]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182-3}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Salum''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Salmar'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

In a later prose fragment, the [[Noldorin]] name '''''Tumglin''''' is given to a "folk of the Harp", but this is a Mannish house unrelated with Gondolin.<ref>{{SM|P1}}, pp. 4-5</ref>
{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Harfe]]

House of the Tree

2022-12-05T20:02:56Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Tree
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Tree.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Tree
| founder=
| leader=[[Galdor of the Tree]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=[[Legolas (elf of Gondolin)|Legolas]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=Green
| weapons=Clubs and slings
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|There were those of the Tree, and they were a great house, and their raiment was green.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Tree''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the Elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
This folk was under the leadership of [[Galdor of the Tree]]. Their garments were green, and they carried iron-studded clubs and slings.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

The [[Fall of Gondolin]] began with the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] leading his armies to the city's northern gate, where the folks of the Tree and [[House of the Hammer of Wrath|of the Hammer of Wrath]] were positioned with their lords. When the [[Iron Dragons]] knocked down the gate, [[Rog]], the leader of the Hammer, shouted his war-cry and both houses leapt at the foe, and "there the blows of their great hammers and the dint of their clubs rang to the [[Encircling Mountains]] and [[Orcs]] fell like leaves". From the walls, the [[House of the Swallow]] and the [[House of the Heavenly Arch]] rained arrows down on the invaders, but there was still great confusion.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|176}}

After the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath|folk of the Hammer]] were completely destroyed outside the walls, the folk of the Tree retreated to the [[Square of the Folkwell]], and guarded its western entrance by the [[Arch of Inwë]] against a horde of [[goblins]]. [[Tuor]] and his soldiers entered the Square from the north, Tuor carrying a wounded [[Ecthelion]]. Here Galdor was his salvation, as he rushed to kill the pursuers with his club. The guard of the Tree and many other houses were able to form a good battalion, which was led to the [[Square of the Palace]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|181-2}}

After the death of King [[Turgon]], Galdor and many others escaped, following Tuor through [[Idril's secret way]]. A member of this house, [[Legolas (elf of Gondolin)|Legolas]], led the [[Exiles of Gondolin]] through the plain of [[Tumladin]], as he knew it very well and was night-sighted.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|189}} When the survivors reached [[Cristhorn]], Galdor, Legolas and other men went ahead of the women and children,<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|191}} and they fought against an ambush of [[Orcs]] with the help of the [[Eagles]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|193}} Later they dwelt at the [[mouth of Sirion]], and when their lord went to [[Tol Eressëa]], still some of them named themselves as the People of Galdor.<ref name=names>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 215</ref>

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] names were '''''Nos Galdon'''''<ref name=names></ref> and '''''Thlim Galdon''''',<ref name=Names>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref> while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Aldar'''''.<ref name=Names></ref>

''Nos Galdon'' was later ammended to '''''Nos nan Alwen'''''.<ref name=names></ref>
{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Baumes]]

House of the Swallow

2022-12-05T20:01:15Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Swallow
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Swallow.png|250px]]
| othernames=Folk of the Swallow
| founder=
| leader=[[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Heavenly Arch]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=White, dark blue, purple, black
| weapons=Bow and arrows
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|And those of the Swallow and the Arch poured arrows like the dark rains of autumn.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Swallow''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in the early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
Their lord was [[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]], and the house was famed for their skill as archers: The emblem on their shields was that of an arrowhead, they wore a fan of feathers upon their helms, and were arrayed in white, dark blue, purple, and black. From this folk came the most numerous and best archers of [[Gondolin]], along with the [[folk of the Heavenly Arch]], so they were positioned in the broad places along the walls of the city.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] gathered his armies at the northern gate and knocked it down. The folks of the Arch and the Swallow defended the northern walls, pouring rains of arrows over the hosts of [[Orcs]] and helping the houses that fought below. As the enemy's attack grew, Duilin fell from the walls, smitten by a fiery bolt from outside of the city.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|176-8}}

When the northern gate was lost, [[goblins]] held a great part of the walls, so many elves of both the Arch and the Swallow were thrust to their doom. The [[house of the Fountain]] arrived to help, but a great gap was opened in the western wall, and bands of the Arch and the Swallow battled amid the wreck against oncoming enemies.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|179-80}} Slowly the battle in that part of the city was lost and they retreated towards the [[Square of the Folkwell]], where the guard of the Arch, the Swallow and others gathered together, forming a good battalion. Led by [[Tuor]], they marched to the [[Square of the King]]. There they met [[Egalmoth|Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch]], who had been on the south walls with some of his troops and folk of the Swallow. They later helped him to rescue captives and wandering soldiers.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182-3}}

Many of them likely survived as [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]], as while crossing [[Cristhorn]], one of them informed Tuor that [[Glorfindel]] was being attacked by a band of [[Orcs]] and a [[Balrog]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|193}}

==Other names==
They were known as '''''Nos Duilin''''' in [[Gnomish]], and '''''Nossë Tuilinda''''' in [[Qenya]].<ref>{{LT2|Appendix}}, entry "Duilin"</ref>

Another Gnomish name was '''''Thlim Duilin''''', while a simple Qenya name was '''''Tuilindor'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Schwalbe]]

House of the Heavenly Arch

2022-12-05T19:58:34Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Heavenly Arch
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Heavenly Arch.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Arch, of the Rainbow
| founder=
| leader=[[Egalmoth]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Swallow]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=Many bright colors
| weapons=Sword, bow and arrows
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|But they of the Heavenly Arch being a folk of uncounted wealth were arrayed in a glory of colors.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Heavenly Arch''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in the early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
Their leader was [[Egalmoth]], and they were a folk of "unaccounted wealth"; they arrayed themselves in many bright colours, for the "heavenly arch" referred to a rainbow, and their weapons were set with jewels that flamed in the light over the sky. Their shields were the blue of the heavens, and the boss of each one contained an arrangement of seven individual gems: rubies, amethysts, sapphires, emeralds, chrysoprases, topazes, and amber. An opal of great size was set in each of their helms. They were skilled swordsmen, but they also had the best archers of the twelve houses, along with the [[folk of the Swallow]], so they were positioned in the broad places along the walls of the city.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] gathered his armies at the northern gate and knocked it down. The folks of the Arch and the Swallow defended the northern walls, pouring rains of arrows over the hosts of [[Orcs]], helping the houses that fought below.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|176-7}} When the northern gate was lost, [[goblins]] held a great part of the walls, so many elves of both folks were thrust to their doom. The [[House of the Fountain]] arrived to help, but a great gap was opened in the western wall, and bands of the Arch and the Swallow battled amid the wreck against oncoming enemies.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|179-80}} Slowly the battle in that part of the city was lost and the elves retreated towards the [[Square of the Folkwell]], where the guard of the Arch, the Swallow and others gathered together, forming a good battalion. Led by [[Tuor]], they marched to the [[Square of the King]], where they met their lord Egalmoth. He had been in charge of the engines of the wall in the south part of the city, and when he saw they had to fight in the streets, he had taken some men of the Arch and of the Swallow and marched to the Square, rescuing captives and wandering troops on the way.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182-3}}

After the fall of the city, many of them probably survived as [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]], as it is said that their lord dwelt after in the [[Mouths of Sirion]].<ref>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 215</ref>

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Quing lion''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Ilqingi'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Himmlischen Bogens]]

House of the Mole

2022-12-02T18:51:40Z

Artlover87:

__NOTOC__
{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Mole
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Mole.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Mole
| founder=
| leader=[[Meglin]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[Melko]] [[House of the Harp]]
| rivalry=[[House of the Wing]]
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Two-handed axes
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|He found a press of the Mole-folk about his door, and these were the grimmest and least good-hearted of folk that Meglin might get in that city.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Mole''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The house was founded and led by [[Meglin]]. They bore black armour, without any emblem or design, but their round caps of steel were covered with moleskin. Most of its folk were quarrymen and ore delvers. In battle they wielded two-handed axes, like mattocks.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|165,172}}

Their lord Meglin had previously betrayed King [[Turgon]] and [[Gondolin]], allying with [[Melko]]. He knew of [[Idril's secret way]] and thought it led to the [[Way of Escape]], so before the battle he sent in secret some of his house to Melko, with instruction to set a guard about the outer side of that Way.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177}}

When armies arrived at the northern gate and the [[Fall of Gondolin]] began, Meglin led his folk to [[Tuor]]'s house in the south of the city. There he tried to kill [[Eärendel]], but Tuor soon arrived with his [[folk of the Wing]]. However, a press of the Mole-folk was in front of the house, and these were the grimmest Noldoli that Meglin could get, doing nothing to stop their lord's treachery. Then the folk of the Wing attacked and the folk of the Mole were stricken asunder, so Tuor ran upon Meglin and killed him. Loyal to their lord, those from the House of the Mole turned upon his killer, but though they were numerous, they could not stand against the folk of the Wing and Tuor's wrath. The fight ended when all of them were "smitten and driven to fly into what dark holes they might, or flung from the walls".<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177-8}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Doldrin''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Noldarer'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the later version of the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', there are only a few glimpses of Meglin's folk: It is told that he and "his secret following" were not happy with Eärendel's birth, that he was the master of the Gnomes who mined far from Gondolin, and that he went with few of his folk beyond the leaguer of the mountains.<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 143</ref> Notice that this was the text used by [[Christopher Tolkien]] for the [[Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin|twenty-third chapter]] of his edition of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[de:Haus des Maulwurfs]]

House of the Harp

2022-12-02T16:46:21Z

Artlover87: Attempted to expand/clarify.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Harp
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Harp.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Host of the Harp
| founder=
| leader=[[Salgant]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|On these men of the Harp unbidden fell with great eagerness and utterly redeemed the cravenhood of their lord.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Harp''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The house was led by [[Salgant]], and its people were brave warriors. Their garments were adorned with tassels of silver and gold, and a harp of silver shone in their blazonry upon a field of black, though Salgant himself bore one of gold.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

Salgant was allied with [[Meglin]], leader of the [[house of the Mole]], who had betrayed Gondolin to [[Morgoth]]. When the [[Fall of Gondolin| fall of the city]] began, Meglin gave Salgant the task of delaying [[Tuor]] and the [[house of the Wing]], while he assaulted Tuor's troops and led them into the deadliest of the fight. However, a terrified Salgant rode from battle, and his folk didn't help the house of the Mole as planned.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177}}

Later in the battle, there was a terrible fight in the [[Great Market]] in the eastern part of the city; [[Orcs]], under the leadership of [[Balrogs]], fought against the [[house of the Golden Flower]], led by [[Glorfindel]]. Knowing this by messengers, King [[Turgon]] sent the house of the Harp to their aid, but Salgant concealed this information from his house and sent them to the [[Lesser Market]] in the southern part of the city, where he lived. They fretted about, and broke from their lord to come before the [[Square of the Palace|king's hall]], right in the moment that Glorfindel and his folk were chased by a press of foemen. There they redeemed the treason of their lord, as with their wrath they drove the enemy back into the market. But they were leaderless, and many of them were trapped, burned to death or poisoned by the breath of a [[dragon]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182-3}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Salum''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Salmar'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

In a later prose fragment, the [[Noldorin]] name '''''Tumglin''''' is given to a "folk of the Harp", but this is a Mannish house unrelated with Gondolin.<ref>{{SM|P1}}, pp. 4-5</ref>
{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Harfe]]

House of the Mole

2022-11-29T00:34:51Z

Artlover87: Cleaned up the grammar and flow.

__NOTOC__
{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Mole
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Mole.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Mole
| founder=
| leader=[[Meglin]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[Melko]] [[House of the Harp]]
| rivalry=[[House of the Wing]]
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Two-handed axes
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|He found a press of the Mole-folk about his door, and these were the grimmest and least good-hearted of folk that Meglin might get in that city.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Mole''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The house was founded and led by [[Meglin]]. They bore black armour, without any emblem or design, but their round caps of steel were covered with moleskin. Most of its folk were quarrymen and ore delvers. In battle they wielded two-handed axes, like mattocks.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|165,172}}

Their lord Meglin had previously betrayed King [[Turgon]] and [[Gondolin]], allying with [[Morgoth]]. He knew of [[Idril's secret way]] and thought it led to the [[Way of Escape]], so before the battle he sent in secret some of his house to Morgoth, with instruction to set a guard about the outer side of that Way.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177}}

When armies arrived at the northern gate and the [[Fall of Gondolin]] began, Meglin led his folk to [[Tuor]]'s house in the south of the city. There he tried to kill [[Eärendel]], but Tuor soon arrived with his [[folk of the Wing]]. However, a press of the Mole-folk was in front of the house, and these were the grimmest Noldoli that Meglin could get, doing nothing to stop their lord's treachery. Then the folk of the Wing attacked and the folk of the Mole were stricken asunder, so Tuor ran upon Meglin and killed him. Loyal to their lord, those from the House of the Mole turned upon his killer, but though they were numerous, they could not stand against the folk of the Wing and Tuor's wrath. The fight ended when all of them were "smitten and driven to fly into what dark holes they might, or flung from the walls".<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177-8}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Doldrin''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Noldarer'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the later version of the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', there are only a few glimpses of Meglin's folk: It is told that he and "his secret following" were not happy with Eärendel's birth, that he was the master of the Gnomes who mined far from Gondolin, and that he went with few of his folk beyond the leaguer of the mountains.<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 143</ref> Notice that this was the text used by [[Christopher Tolkien]] for the [[Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin|twenty-third chapter]] of his edition of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[de:Haus des Maulwurfs]]

House of the Harp

2022-11-29T00:25:35Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Harp
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Harp.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Host of the Harp
| founder=
| leader=[[Salgant]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|On these men of the Harp unbidden fell with great eagerness and utterly redeemed the cravenhood of their lord.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Harp''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The house was led by [[Salgant]], and its people were brave warriors. Their garments were adorned with tassels of silver and gold, and a harp of silver shone in their blazonry upon a field of black, though Salgant bore one of gold.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

Salgant was allied with [[Meglin]], who had betrayed [[Gondolin]] to [[Morgoth]]. When the [[Fall of Gondolin| fall of the city]] began, Meglin gave Salgant the task of delaying the [[house of the Wing]], while he assaulted [[Tuor]]'s troops and led them into the deadliest of the fight. However, their terrified lord rode from battle, and his folk didn't help the [[house of the Mole]] as planned.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|177}}

Later in the battle, there was a terrible fight in the [[Great Market]] in the east of the city, between [[Orcs]] led by [[Balrogs]] and the [[house of the Golden Flower]], led by [[Glorfindel]]. Knowing this by messengers, King [[Turgon]] sent the house of the Harp to their aid, but Salgant concealed this from his house and sent them to the [[Lesser Market]] in the southern part of the city, where he lived. They fretted about, and broke from their lord to come before the [[Square of the Palace|king's hall]], right in the moment that Glorfindel and his folk were chased by a press of foemen. There they redeemed the treason of their lord, as with their wrath they drove the enemy back into the market. But they were leaderless, and many of them were trapped, burned to death or poisoned by the breath of a [[dragon]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182-3}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Salum''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Salmar'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

In a later prose fragment, the [[Noldorin]] name '''''Tumglin''''' is given to a "folk of the Harp", but this is a Mannish house unrelated with Gondolin.<ref>{{SM|P1}}, pp. 4-5</ref>
{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Harfe]]

House of the Fountain

2022-11-28T17:40:32Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Fountain
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Fountain.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Fountain People of the Fountain of the South
| founder=
| leader=[[Ecthelion]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Swords
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|Now marched these folk to a great playing of their flutes, and the crystal and silver of their array was most lovely to see amid the red light of the fires and the blackness of the ruins.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Fountain''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
Their lord was [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]], and they lived in the southern part of the city, near the [[Fountains of the South]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|181}} They were said to find delight in silver and diamonds, and their swords were long, bright, and pale. They went into battle accompanied by the sweet music of their flutes.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], they were held in reserve by King [[Turgon]], who watched the battle from [[Tower of the King|his tower]]. After the [[Balrogs]] made a breach in the wall and other houses had been defeated near the northern gate, the enemy sent messengers to its troops, informing them to hold what they had won. Then a sweet music sounded amid the host of the Gondothlim, as the people of the Fountain came to battle playing their flutes, led by their lord. The music ceased suddenly and the army attacked at the shout of Ecthelion.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|180}}

{{blockquote|'Tis said that Ecthelion's folk there slew more of the [[goblins]] than fell ever in all the battles of the [[Eldalië]] with that race, and that his name is a terror among them to this latest day, and a warcry to the Eldar.}}

[[Tuor]] and the [[house of the Wing]] joined the fight alongside them, and they harried the attacking Orcs until they almost reached the gate. However, some [[dragons]] opened a path from [[Amon Gwareth]] and knocked down walls and ward-towers, opening a gap in the walls of that part of the city. Tuor gathered bands of other houses to fight against the oncoming enemies, while on his right Ecthelion rallied his people. Tuor and Ecthelion killed many Balrogs and Orc captains, but the enemy outnumbered them; Ecthelion was injured and they had to retreat.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|180-1}}

Tuor carried Ecthelion to the [[Square of the Folkwell]], where the guard of the Fountain and other houses were scattered, forming a good battalion. They were led by Tuor to the [[Square of the King]], and there they resisted with the remnants of all the other kindreds (except of the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath|Hammer of Wrath]], who had been cut down in a charge outside the city).<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182}} After Ecthelion died defeating the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] at the [[Fountain of the King]], there is no mention of what happened to his house, who either were dispersed or joined the [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]].

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Ecthel''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Kapalindar'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Quelle]]

House of the Fountain

2022-11-24T00:13:58Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Fountain
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Fountain.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Fountain People of the Fountain of the South
| founder=
| leader=[[Ecthelion]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|Now marched these folk to a great playing of their flutes, and the crystal and silver of their array was most lovely to see amid the red light of the fires and the blackness of the ruins.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Fountain''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
Their lord was [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]], and they lived in the southern part of the city, near the [[Fountains of the South]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|181}} They were said to find delight in silver and diamonds, and their swords were long, bright, and pale. They went into battle accompanied by the sweet music of their flutes.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], they were held in reserve by King [[Turgon]], who watched the battle from [[Tower of the King|his tower]]. After the [[Balrogs]] made a breach in the wall and other houses had been defeated near the northern gate, the enemy sent messengers to its troops, informing them to hold what they had won. Then a sweet music sounded amid the host of the Gondothlim, as the people of the Fountain came to battle playing their flutes, led by their lord. The music ceased suddenly and the army attacked at the shout of Ecthelion.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|180}}

{{blockquote|'Tis said that Ecthelion's folk there slew more of the [[goblins]] than fell ever in all the battles of the [[Eldalië]] with that race, and that his name is a terror among them to this latest day, and a warcry to the Eldar.}}

[[Tuor]] and the [[house of the Wing]] joined the fight alongside them, and they harried the attacking Orcs until they almost reached the gate. However, some [[dragons]] opened a path from [[Amon Gwareth]] and knocked down walls and ward-towers, opening a gap in the walls of that part of the city. Tuor gathered bands of other houses to fight against the oncoming enemies, while on his right Ecthelion rallied his people. Tuor and Ecthelion killed many Balrogs and Orc captains, but the enemy outnumbered them; Ecthelion was injured and they had to retreat.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|180-1}}

Tuor carried Ecthelion to the [[Square of the Folkwell]], where the guard of the Fountain and other houses were scattered, forming a good battalion. They were led by Tuor to the [[Square of the King]], and there they resisted with the remnants of all the other kindreds (except of the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath|Hammer of Wrath]], who had been cut down in a charge outside the city).<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|182}} After Ecthelion died defeating the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] at the [[Fountain of the King]], there is no mention of what happened to his house, who either were dispersed or joined the [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]].

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Ecthel''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Kapalindar'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Quelle]]

House of the Tree

2022-11-14T18:51:34Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Tree
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Tree.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Tree
| founder=
| leader=[[Galdor of the Tree]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=[[Legolas (elf of Gondolin)|Legolas]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Clubs and slings
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|There were those of the Tree, and they were a great house, and their raiment was green.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Tree''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the Elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
This folk was under the leadership of [[Galdor of the Tree]]. Their garments were green, and they carried iron-studded clubs and slings.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

The [[Fall of Gondolin]] began with the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] leading his armies to the city's northern gate, where the folks of the Tree and [[House of the Hammer of Wrath|of the Hammer of Wrath]] were positioned with their lords. When the [[Iron Dragons]] knocked down the gate, [[Rog]], the leader of the Hammer, shouted his war-cry and both houses leapt at the foe, and "there the blows of their great hammers and the dint of their clubs rang to the [[Encircling Mountains]] and [[Orcs]] fell like leaves". From the walls, the [[House of the Swallow]] and the [[House of the Heavenly Arch]] rained arrows down on the invaders, but there was still great confusion.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|176}}

After the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath|folk of the Hammer]] were completely destroyed outside the walls, the folk of the Tree retreated to the [[Square of the Folkwell]], and guarded its western entrance by the [[Arch of Inwë]] against a horde of [[goblins]]. [[Tuor]] and his soldiers entered the Square from the north, Tuor carrying a wounded [[Ecthelion]]. Here Galdor was his salvation, as he rushed to kill the pursuers with his club. The guard of the Tree and many other houses were able to form a good battalion, which was led to the [[Square of the Palace]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|181-2}}

After the death of King [[Turgon]], Galdor and many others escaped, following Tuor through [[Idril's secret way]]. A member of this house, [[Legolas (elf of Gondolin)|Legolas]], led the [[Exiles of Gondolin]] through the plain of [[Tumladin]], as he knew it very well and was night-sighted.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|189}} When the survivors reached [[Cristhorn]], Galdor, Legolas and other men went ahead of the women and children,<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|191}} and they fought against an ambush of [[Orcs]] with the help of the [[Eagles]].<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|193}} Later they dwelt at the [[mouth of Sirion]], and when their lord went to [[Tol Eressëa]], still some of them named themselves as the People of Galdor.<ref name=names>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 215</ref>

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] names were '''''Nos Galdon'''''<ref name=names></ref> and '''''Thlim Galdon''''',<ref name=Names>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref> while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Aldar'''''.<ref name=Names></ref>

''Nos Galdon'' was later ammended to '''''Nos nan Alwen'''''.<ref name=names></ref>
{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Baumes]]

House of the Hammer of Wrath

2022-11-14T18:23:40Z

Artlover87: Cleaned up the grammar and flow.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Hammer of Wrath
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Hammer of Wrath.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Hammer of Wrath
| founder=
| leader=[[Rog]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Hammer and mace
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|And they won the greatest glory of all those fair houses in that struggle against doom.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Hammer of Wrath''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the Elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
[[File:Thomas Rouillard - House of the Hammer.jpg|200px|left|thumb|''House of the Hammer'' by [[:Category:Images by Thomas Rouillard|Thomas Rouillar]]]]
Their lord was [[Rog]], and they were much recruited by [[Noldoli]] that escaped from [[Melko]]'s mines, who nursed a deep hatred for him and his [[Balrogs]]. They were great smiths and craftsmen, and revered [[Aulë]] more than any other [[Ainu]]. In battle they carried great maces like hammers, and heavy shields, for they had strong arms. Their device was the Stricken Anvil, and a hammer that smote sparks about it; this was set upon their shields in red, gold, and black iron.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|174}}

When [[Melko]] sent his armies to [[Fall of Gondolin|attack]] the city, the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] led them to the northern gate, where the houses of the Hammer and [[House of the Tree|of the Tree]] were positioned. When the enemies opened a breach, both folks descended upon them.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|176}} But later a great number of Balrogs and [[Iron Dragons]] climbed into the city, and Rog encouraged his people in a great voice:

{{blockquote|Thereupon he lifted his mace, and its handle was long; and he made a way before him by the wrath of his onset even unto the fallen gate: but all the people of the Stricken Anvil ran behind him like a wedge, and sparks came from their eyes for the fury of their rage.}}

The Noldoli still sing how their charge slew a great number of the serpents and Balrogs, being the first of [[Elves]] and [[Men]] alike to slay a Balrog. Gothmog counterattacked by cutting off their withdrawal to the city, but Rog realized this and knew they were lost, so he kept up the attack. Therefore, the house harried their front enemies until they reached [[Tumladin]]. There a [[fire-drake]] was loosed upon them, but they kept fighting, until all of them perished, "and it is yet sung that each man of the Hammer of Wrath took the lives of seven foemen to pay for his own.<ref name=Gondolin/>{{rp|178-9}}

==Other names==
They were called '''''Thlim Gothodrum''''' in [[Gnomish]] and '''''Kosartami''''' in [[Qenya]].<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Hammers des Zorns]]

House of the King

2022-10-31T15:02:09Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

__NOTOC__
{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the King
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the King.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the King
| founder=[[Turgon]]
| leader=[[King of Gondolin]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=[[Noldoli]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|Mighty was the array of the house of the king.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the King''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
The folk of this house were under the personal command of King [[Turgon]] of [[Gondolin]]. They dressed in white, gold and red, and their emblem combined the moon, the sun and the [[Scarlet Heart]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|172}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], Turgon watched most of the battle from [[Tower of the King|his tower]],<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|180}} while his folk were held in reserve in the [[Square of the Palace]], remaining fresh in order to defend the king.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|183}} There they remained untouched until the remnants of all the other kindreds gathered at the Square, but after [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]] was slain by [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]], the King came down and joined his folk against the [[Orcs]]. Their attack was so strong that they retook much of the Square and even slew two score [[Balrogs]]. They forced one of the terrible [[Fire-drakes]] into the [[Fountain of the King]], and there it perished, though the water did also. Yet many of them were killed by the heat, the serpents, the enemy, and one another, for the steam that rose from the fountain obscured their view. A body of them saved the king, and there was a rally beneath [[Glingol]] and [[Bansil]].<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|184}} Under those trees, Turgon proclaimed the fall of Gondolin and ordered the Gondothlim to follow his son-by-marriage, [[Tuor]], and evacuate the city. Tuor obeyed, but the men of the royal house said: ''"Here we will stay if Turgon goes not forth"''. They did not budge a foot, gathering around the base of the king's tower.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|185}} No more is said of this house, but they probably perished with Turgon when the tower was beset and knocked down.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|187}}

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the later version of the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', there is only a glimpse of Turgon's folk: here is mentioned "the defence of the tower of Turgon by the men of his household, until the tower was overthrown".<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 144</ref> Notice that this was the text used by [[Christopher Tolkien]] for the [[Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin|twenty-third chapter]] of his edition of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

==See also==
* [[Scarlet Heart]]
* [[House of Fingolfin]]

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Königs]]

House of the Wing

2022-10-14T20:54:32Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Wing
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Wing.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Wing Bodyguard of Tuor
| founder=[[Tuor]]
| leader=
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=[[House of the Mole]]
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=[[Voronwë]], [[Hendor]]
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=[[Dramborleg]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Like a crush of tempest the guard of the Wing were amid the men of the Mole, and these were stricken asunder.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''House of the Wing''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] from ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
When [[Tuor]] came to [[Gondolin]], he introduced himself as a member of the [[house of the Swan]] (referring to a group of the Men of the North).<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|160}} He was accepted and loved by the [[Gondothlim]], and lived there for many years. When his wife [[Idril]], daughter of King [[Turgon]], felt that the city's ruin was near, she asked him to gather the most trustful among the Gondothlim and tell them about the [[Idril's secret way|secret way]] she had constructed. She would also ask her father to allow Tuor to have his own folk and become a proper lord.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|171}}

Idril's request was granted, "and the folk of the Wing was accounted the twelfth", in addition to the eleven extant houses of the Gondothlim. <ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|174}} They wore wings of [[swans]] or [[gulls]] upon their helms, and Tuor's emblem of the White Wing was upon their shields. Its people were the stoutest folk of Gondolin <ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|172}} and apparently was one of the smaller houses, for those from the [[house of the Mole]] outnumbered them when they came to arms during the [[Fall of Gondolin]].<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|178}}

When the siege of the city began, the first attack of the enemy was against the northern gate, so the treacherous [[Meglin]] led his folk of the Mole to Tuor's house in the southern part. Tuor and his soldiers reached the house, where Meglin was trying to kill [[Eärendel]], but both folks crashed together. Meglin was killed by Tuor, and the folk of the Wing rallied behind their lord against the folk of the Mole, scattering them despite being less in number. Then Tuor left [[Voronwë]] and some of his troops with [[Idril]] and took the rest to the battle in the north Gate.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|177-178}}

They joined the fight shortly after [[Ecthelion]] and his [[folk of the Fountain]] did, battling by their side. Their charge made the [[Orcs]] retreat almost back to the fallen gate, but suddenly the walls of that part of the city were cast down by dragons from outside. [[Iron Dragons]] came in, and a creature of fire with [[Balrogs]] upon it. Tuor stood against the beast, gathering his guard, and all of the [[House of the Heavenly Arch|Arch]] and the [[House of the Swallow|Swallow]] he could find. He and Ecthelion killed many Balrogs and Orc captains, but Ecthelion was wounded, so Tuor retreated, carrying him to the [[Square of the Folkwell]]. In that Square the guard of the Wing and other houses where scattered and regrouped to form a good battalion. Led by Tuor, all of them marched to the [[Square of the King]] to join the remnants of other houses.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|180-182}}

After the king ordered the [[Gondothlim]] to leave the city, Tuor and all who followed him went to his house to join the exiles and escape through [[Idril's secret way]]. There Tuor found Voronwë and knew that Idril had sent Eärendel ahead with most of her guard.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|187}} Crossing the secret tunnel and most of [[Tumladin]], Tuor finally saw the rest of his men, including [[Hendor]], who carried his son Eärendel in his back. But these men around Eärendel were being chased and slain by Orcs, so Tuor shouted to them to stand, and ran to save them.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|190}} Nothing more is told of the folk of the Wing, whose survivors had the same destiny as the other [[exiles of Gondolin]].

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Flügels]]

House of the Pillar

2022-10-07T21:11:08Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Pillar
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Pillar.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Pillar
| founder=
| leader=[[Penlod]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Tower of Snow]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
The '''house of the Pillar''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] from ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
This house is only briefly mentioned, as being united with the [[house of the Tower of Snow]] under [[Penlod]], tallest of the [[Gnomes]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], they were stationed in the northern part of the city, where the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] had led the main attack. When the [[house of the Hammer of Wrath]] was completely destroyed outside the walls, the elves of the Pillar and the Tower of Snow suffered the next wave of attacks, receding deeper into the city. Finally, "Penlod perished there in a lane with his back to the wall, and about him many of the men of the Pillar and many of the Tower of the Snow".<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|179}} There is no other mention of them, but later it is said that survivors of all the kindreds were reunited in the [[Square of the King]],<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|183}} so probably some of them survived as [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]] following the destruction of the city.

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Taul''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Tauler'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}

[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Säule]]

House of the Tower of Snow

2022-10-06T22:30:49Z

Artlover87:

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Tower of Snow
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Tower of Snow.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Tower of Snow
| founder=
| leader=[[Penlod]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Pillar]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=Completely [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
The '''house of the Tower of Snow''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] from ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
This house is only briefly mentioned in the legendarium, as being united with the [[house of the Pillar]] under [[Penlod]], tallest of the [[Gnomes]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], they were stationed in the northern part of the city, where the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] had led the main attack. When the [[house of the Hammer of Wrath]] was completely destroyed outside the walls, the elves of the Tower of Snow and the Pillar suffered the next wave of attacks, receding further into the city. Finally, "Penlod perished there in a lane with his back to the wall, and about him many of the men of the Pillar and many of the Tower of the Snow".<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|179}} There is no other mention of them, but later it is said that survivors of all the kindreds were reunited in the [[Square of the King]],<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|183}} so probably some of them survived as [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]] following the destruction of the city.

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Ith Mindon''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Issemindon'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Turms aus Schnee]]

The Funeral of Théodred

2022-10-04T19:16:17Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
'''The Funeral of Théodred''' is the twenty-first scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]]. This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''.

After [[Gandalf]] has released [[Theoden]] from the enchantment placed upon him by [[Saruman]] - and [[Saruman]]'s lackey [[Grima Wormtongue]] has been banished from [[Edoras]] - the king learns that his son [[Théodred]] has died. He leads the people of [[Edoras]], along with [[Gandalf]] and the members of the Fellowship, in a funeral procession outside the walls of the city. As [[Theodred]]'s body is lowered into its burial mound, [[Eowyn]] performs a lament in [[Rohirric]].

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|21]]

House of the Golden Flower

2022-10-03T18:19:07Z

Artlover87: Cleaned up the grammar and flow.

__NOTOC__
{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Golden Flower
| image=[[File:House of the Golden Flower.png|250px]]
| othernames=Folk of the Golden Flower
| founder=
| leader=[[Glorfindel]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|There stood the house of the Golden Flower who bare a rayed sun upon their shield...|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Golden Flower''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the eleven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] from ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
[[Glorfindel]] was the chief of this house, and upon their shields they bore the device of a rayed sun. Their garments and weapons are not described in great detail, but it is said that their lord wore a mantle embroidered with celandines in golden threads, and his weapons were damascened with gold.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] led [[Morgoth]]'s armies to the city's northern gate, which was soon knocked down.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|176}} The Golden Flower's strongest troops were stationed in the [[Great Market]], in the eastern part of the city, and at some point they decided to march to the fight about that gate. They marched there by a circuitous way with the idea of surprising the foe upon his left flank, but instead they were ambushed by a host of [[Orcs]] led by [[Balrogs]]. For hours they fought, until a [[Fire-drakes|fire-drake]] came and overwhelmed them, and they had cut their way out with great difficulty, as the dragon began to burn the entire market.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|182}}

Fortunately, Glorfindel had previously sent messengers to King [[Turgon]] explaining the urgency of the situation, so the [[house of the Harp]] was sent to aid the Golden Flower. However, [[Salgant]], the lord of the Harp, betrayed his men, sending them to the [[Lesser Market]] in the southern part of the city. The men of the Harp fretted thereat, and broke from their lord to come before the [[Square of the Palace|king's hall]] right in the moment that Glorfindel and his folk were chased by a press of enemies. The troops of the Harp saved them, driving the enemy back into the market, but there they were trapped, burned to death or poisoned by the breath of the [[dragon]].<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|182-183}}

Thus Glorfindel and the last of his soldiers, along with all the remaining houses, barricaded themselves in the [[Square of the King]]. After Turgon proclaimed the fall of the city and ordered the survivors to follow [[Tuor]], Glorfindel held the rear for those who retreated towards [[Idril's secret way]], and many more of the Golden Flower fell there.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|186}}

Further on, while crossing [[Cristhorn]], Glorfindel was behind the [[Exiles of Gondolin|Exiles]].<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|192}} The rearguard was attacked by a band of Orcs and a Balrog, and there happened the duel between Glorfindel and the Balrog, in which both fell into the abyss. After recovering the body of Glorfindel, Tuor let rise a cairn for him.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|194-195}}

{{blockquote|Yellow flowers have fared thither and blow ever now about that mound in those unkindly places; but the folk of the Golden Flower wept at its building and might not dry their tears.}}

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Losglóriol''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Lóter Kuluinai'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

''Los Glóriol'' was later emended to '''''Los'lóriol'''''.<ref>{{LT2|Appendix}}, entry ''Los'lóriol''</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
This is the only [[Twelve houses of the Gondothlim|house of the Gondothlim]] properly named in the legendarium following the Lost Tales: in the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', Glorfindel is mentioned as "chief of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin".<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 141</ref> This text was used by [[Christopher Tolkien]] for the [[Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin|twenty-third chapter]] of the published ''[[Silmarillion]]''.<ref>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 211</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Goldenen Blume]]
[[fi:Kultaisen kukan huone]]

Dwarf Women (scene)

2022-10-01T16:41:17Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
{{disambig-two|the scene in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]|concept of the [[legendarium]]|[[Dwarf-women]]}}
'''Dwarf Women''' is the twenty-third scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' and the thirty-first scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]].

As the people of [[Edoras]] journey towards [[Helm's Deep]], [[Gimli]] talks to [[Éowyn]] about dwarf-women, and how they are often mistaken for male dwarves due to their similar appearances. Apparently this has propagated the belief that dwarves are exclusively male and spontaneously pop out of the earth, which makes Éowyn laugh and which Gimli dismisses as nonsense. When he accidentally causes his horse to gallop forwards, throwing him off its back, Éowyn rushes to his aid with a smile on her face, and [[Théoden]] - observing the scene - comments to [[Aragorn]] that it's been a long time since he's seen his niece smile. He tells Aragorn that Éowyn was only a girl when her father was killed by [[Orc|orcs]] and she was handed over to Théoden's keeping. He also laments that he wasn't the most affectionate guardian to her at the time and regrets not showing her more love.
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|31]]

House of the Swallow

2022-10-01T16:34:32Z

Artlover87: Cleaned up the grammar and flow.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Swallow
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Swallow.png|250px]]
| othernames=Folk of the Swallow
| founder=
| leader=[[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Heavenly Arch]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Bow and arrows
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|And those of the Swallow and the Arch poured arrows like the dark rains of autumn.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Swallow''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] from ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
Their lord was [[Duilin (elf of Gondolin)|Duilin]], and the house was famed for their skill as archers: The emblem on their shields was that of an arrowhead, they wore a fan of feathers upon their helms, and were arrayed in white, dark blue, purple, and black. From this folk came the most numerous and best archers of [[Gondolin]], along with the [[folk of the Heavenly Arch]], so they were positioned in the broad places along the walls of the city.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] gathered his armies at the northern gate and knocked it down. The folks of the Arch and the Swallow defended the northern walls, pouring rains of arrows over the hosts of [[Orcs]] and helping the houses that fought below. As the enemy's attack grew, Duilin fell from the walls, smitten by a fiery bolt from outside of the city.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|176-178}}

When the northern gate was lost, [[goblins]] held a great part of the walls, so many elves of both the Arch and the Swallow were thrust to their doom. The [[house of the Fountain]] arrived to help, but a great gap was opened in the western wall, and bands of the Arch and the Swallow battled amid the wreck against oncoming enemies.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|179-180}} Slowly the battle in that part of the city was lost and they retreated towards the [[Square of the Folkwell]], where the guard of the Arch, the Swallow and others gathered together, forming a good battalion. Led by [[Tuor]], they marched to the [[Square of the King]]. There they met [[Egalmoth|Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch]], who had been on the south walls with some of his troops and folk of the Swallow. They later helped him to rescue captives and wandering soldiers.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|182-183}}

Many of them likely survived as [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]], as while crossing [[Cristhorn]], one of them informed Tuor that [[Glorfindel]] was being attacked by a band of [[Orcs]] and a [[Balrog]].<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|193}}

==Other names==
They were known as '''''Nos Duilin''''' in [[Gnomish]], and '''''Nossë Tuilinda''''' in [[Qenya]].<ref>{{LT2|Appendix}}, entry "Duilin"</ref>

Another Gnomish name was '''''Thlim Duilin''''', while a simple Qenya name was '''''Tuilindor'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus der Schwalbe]]

House of the Heavenly Arch

2022-10-01T16:15:48Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

{{Noble House infobox
| name=House of the Heavenly Arch
| image=[[File:Rondador - House of the Heavenly Arch.png|250px]]
| caption=
| othernames=Folk of the Arch, of the Rainbow
| founder=
| leader=[[Egalmoth]]
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=[[House of the Swallow]]
| rivalry=
| destroyed=
| language=
| members=
| race=
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Sword, bow and arrows
| heirlooms=
}}
<center>{{quote|But they of the Heavenly Arch being a folk of uncounted wealth were arrayed in a glory of colors.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}</center>

The '''house of the Heavenly Arch''' was one of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]], the kindreds of the elven city of [[Gondolin]]. Their story is recounted in an early version of the [[legendarium]] from ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''.

==History==
Their leader was [[Egalmoth]], and they were a folk of "unaccounted wealth"; they arrayed themselves in many bright colours, for the "heavenly arch" referred to a rainbow, and their weapons were set with jewels that flamed in the light over the sky. Their shields were the blue of the heavens, and the boss of each one contained an arrangement of seven individual gems: rubies, amethysts, sapphires, emeralds, chrysoprases, topazes, and amber. An opal of great size was set in each of their helms. They were skilled swordsmen, but they also had the best archers of the twelve houses, along with the [[folk of the Swallow]], so they were positioned in the broad places along the walls of the city.<ref name=Gondolin>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|173}}

During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], the balrog [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] gathered his armies at the northern gate and knocked it down. The folks of the Arch and the Swallow defended the northern walls, pouring rains of arrows over the hosts of [[Orcs]], helping the houses that fought below.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|176-177}} When the northern gate was lost, [[goblins]] held a great part of the walls, so many elves of both folks were thrust to their doom. The [[House of the Fountain]] arrived to help, but a great gap was opened in the western wall, and bands of the Arch and the Swallow battled amid the wreck against oncoming enemies.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|179-180}} Slowly the battle in that part of the city was lost and the elves retreated towards the [[Square of the Folkwell]], where the guard of the Arch, the Swallow and others gathered together, forming a good battalion. Led by [[Tuor]], they marched to the [[Square of the King]], where they met their lord Egalmoth. He had been in charge of the engines of the wall in the south part of the city, and when he saw they had to fight in the streets, he had taken some men of the Arch and of the Swallow and marched to the Square, rescuing captives and wandering troops on the way.<ref name=Gondolin></ref>{{rp|182-183}}

After the fall of the city, many of them probably survived as [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]], as it is said that their lord dwelt after in the [[Mouths of Sirion]].<ref>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 215</ref>

==Other names==
Their [[Gnomish]] name was '''''Thlim Quing lion''''', while in [[Qenya]] they were simply known as '''''Ilqingi'''''.<ref>{{PE|13}}, p. 104</ref>

{{references}}
{{HousesofGondolin}}
[[Category:Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
[[de:Haus des Himmlischen Bogens]]

The Funeral of Théodred

2022-09-29T18:59:37Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
'''The Funeral of Théodred''' is the twenty-first scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]]. This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''.

After [[Gandalf]] has released [[Theoden]] from the enchantment placed upon him by [[Saruman]], the king learns that his son [[Théodred]] has died. He leads the people of [[Edoras]], along with [[Gandalf]] and the members of the Fellowship, in a funeral procession outside the walls of the city. As [[Theodred]]'s body is lowered into its burial mound, [[Eowyn]] performs a lament in [[Rohirric]].

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|21]]

Gilraen's Memorial

2022-09-29T18:49:19Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
'''Gilraen's Memorial''' is the twenty-eighth scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (extended edition)]]. This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.

In the early morning, as The Fellowship of the Ring prepares to depart [[Rivendell]], [[Aragorn]] clears away some greenery from the white stone monument dedicated to his mother, [[Gilraen]]. [[Elrond]] comes up behind Aragorn, reminding him that his mother knew his ancestry would always put him at risk of danger, and left him in Rivendell for his own safety. Elrond also reminds Aragorn that, even if the elves can reforge the [[Narsil|the sword of Elendil]], he is the only one who can wield it and reclaim the legacy of [[Númenor]], despite his reluctance to take up the role.

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring scenes|28]]

Saruman the White (scene)

2022-09-19T22:36:05Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}{{scene
|name=Saruman the White
|film=[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]
|image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Saruman the White.jpg|318px]]
|number=9 (theatrical edition) 
12 (extended edition)
|duration=4:36
|characters=[[Gandalf]], [[Saruman]]
|event=[[Gandalf]] is captured in [[Orthanc]] by [[Saruman]].
|previous=[[The Passing of the Elves (scene)|The Passing of the Elves]]
|next=[[A Short Cut to Mushrooms (scene)|A Short Cut to Mushrooms]]
}}
'''Saruman the White''' is the ninth scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' and the twelfth scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (extended edition)]].

==Synopsis==

[[Gandalf]] arrives at [[Orthanc]] to speak with [[Saruman]], informing the head of his [[Istari|order]] of the discovery of the [[One Ring]]. While [[Saruman]] rebukes [[Gandalf]] for becoming so enamored with the ways of [[Hobbits]] (specifically their love of [[pipe-weed]]) that he failed to notice the truth about [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo's]] possession for years, he confirms Gandalf's findings. When [[Gandalf]] claims that there is still time to counter against [[Sauron]] if they act quickly, [[Saruman]] disagrees.

Entering into the tower of [[Orthanc]], Saruman informs Gandalf that [[Sauron]], despite having no physical form, can still use his [[Eye of Sauron|eye]] to search for the ring. When [[Gandalf]] asks [[Saruman]] how he knows this, [[Saruman]] then reveals his usage of a [[Palantir]] to [[Gandalf]], who is visibly disturbed. [[Saruman]] goes on to say that the [[Ringwraiths]] are alive and will seek the [[One Ring]] on [[Sauron|Sauron's]] behalf. Fearing for [[Frodo]], [[Gandalf]] tries to leave, but [[Saruman]] uses magic to seal the doors. He informs Gandalf that time is running out, that [[Sauron]] is unstoppable, and that they must join him if they wish to have victory. [[Gandalf]] rejects [[Saruman]] and the two of them fight for a brief period before [[Saruman]] takes [[Gandalf|Gandalf's]] staff and sends him hurtling to the pinnacle of [[Orthanc]].

==Differences==
*Saruman's usage of a Palantir is not revealed until the chapter [[The Voice of Saruman]].
*Saruman and Gandalf do not have a battle.
*Saruman does not seize Gandalf's staff.
*No mention of Saruman's titles of "Ring-maker" or "Many-Colors" is made in the films. In the books, these show Saruman's arrogance and presumption of replacing Sauron and the other wizards. In the movies, Saruman seems to be willing to take a subordinate role to Sauron.

{{title}}
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring scenes|12]]

Mithril

2022-09-17T20:50:33Z

Artlover87: Cleaned up the grammar and flow.

{{disambig-two|the precious metal of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[legendarium]]|the real-world producers of metal mintiatures|[[Mithril Miniatures]]}}

[[Image:John Howe - Mithril.jpg|thumb|''Mithril'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{quote| ''Mithril!'' All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of ''mithril'' did not tarnish or grow dim.|[[Gandalf]] in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]"}}

'''''Mithril''''' was a precious metal<ref name=South>{{FR|South}}, p. 277</ref> highly prized for its strength, light weight, and malleability. The [[Elves]] called this substance ''mithril'', but the [[Dwarves]] had their own, secret name for it. It was also known as '''Moria-silver''' or '''true-silver''' (though unlike silver, over time it did not tarnish or grow dim) and desired by all races.<ref name=Journey>{{FR|Journey}}, p. 317</ref>.

==History==
Mithril was found in the [[Misty Mountains]], in lodes leading north from the underground dwarven city of [[Moria]] towards [[Caradhras]] and down to darkness.<ref name=Journey/> It was also found on the island of [[Númenor]]<ref>{{UT|7a}}, note 31</ref> and probably in [[Aman]] as well.<ref name=Earendil>{{FR|Earendil}}, p. 236</ref>

The sole mithril-vein of the [[Misty Mountains]] made the [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]] of [[Moria]] wealthy.<ref name=Journey/> Some [[Noldor]] settled in [[Eregion]] near the West-gate of [[Moria]], because they had heard that mithril had been found<ref>{{App|SA}}, p. 1082</ref> and desired to use it in their crafts. Thanks to trade with the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|Dwarves of Moria]], the [[Elves]] created objects of mithril, perhaps the most notable being [[Nenya]], one of the [[Three Rings|Three Elven Rings]] [[Rings of Power|of Power]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}} p. 1028</ref> The [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]] also made an alloy out of mithril called ''[[ithildin]]'' ("star moon"),<ref name=Journey/> which was visible only by starlight or moonlight. This was used by the elven mastersmith [[Celebrimbor]] for the inlaid decorative designs and writings on the [[Doors of Durin]] on the West-gate of Moria.<ref>{{FR|Journey}}, p. 304</ref>
[[File:Lída Holubová - Expensive.jpg|thumb|''Expensive'' by [[Lída Holubová]]]]
King [[Tar-Telemmaitë]] of [[Númenor]] received his name, which means silver-handed,<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Tar-Telemmaitë''</ref> because he loved silver and always commanded his servants to search for mithril.<ref>{{UT|Kings}}, XV ''Tar-Telemmaitë''</ref>

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]] and the removal of physical [[Aman]] from the world near the end of the [[Second Age]], the mines of [[Moria]] were the only source of Mithril in the world. Mithril was worth ten times its weight in gold when it could still be mined by the Dwarves.<ref name=Journey/>

Over time, the Dwarves of [[Moria]] continued to delve deep into the darkness below [[Caradhras]] and in {{TA|1980}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1980, p. 1089</ref> they released a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] from the [[Elder Days]]. The [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] destroyed the kingdom<ref name=Durin>{{App|Durin}}, fourth paragraph, p. 954</ref> and caused the mining of mithril to stop when the surviving Dwarves<ref name=Durin/> fled in {{TA|1981}},<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1981, p. 1089</ref> after which mithril became priceless. The [[Orcs]] that inhabited [[Moria]] after the release of the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] did not dare to delve for mithril and gave all the mithril that the dwarves had already mined as tribute to [[Sauron]], who desired it.<ref name=Journey/>

After [[Gimli]] became [[Lord of the Glittering Caves]], he and his Dwarves forged great gates of ''mithril'' and steel to replace the [[Great Gate of Minas Tirith|Great Gate]] of [[Minas Tirith]] which was broken by the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]].<ref>{{App|Durin}}, p. 986</ref>

==Other mithril creations==
* [[Vingilótë]]: The ship of [[Eärendil]], which he sailed into the sky, making the gleam of truesilver visible to the world as the Evening and Morning Star, was, according to legend, built for him from mithril and from elven-glass.<ref name=Earendil/>
* The [[Star of Elendil]]: A gem set on mithril fillet that was an heirloom of the [[Lords of Andúnië]] of Númenor.<ref name=Gladden>{{UT|Gladden}}, ''The sources of the legend of Isildur's death'', fourth pargraph</ref>
** The second Star of Elendil was created by the smiths of [[Rivendell]] after the first one was lost with Isildur in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]].<ref name=Gladden/>
* The helmets of the [[Guards of the Citadel]] of [[Minas Tirith]], considered "heirlooms from the glory of old days".<ref name=MT>{{RK|MT}}, p. 753</ref>
* The [[mithril coat]] made by Dwarves and given to [[Bilbo Baggins]] as a gift by [[Thorin]].<ref>{{H|Home}}</ref>
* The embroidered [[Crown of Gondor|crown]] in the [[Standard of Elendil]], made by [[Arwen]] for [[Aragorn]] during the [[War of the Ring]], contained mithril.<ref>{{RK|Battle}}, p. 847</ref>

==Etymology==
The name ''mithril'' consists of the two [[Sindarin]] words ''[[mith]]'' ("grey, light grey") + ''[[ril]]'' ("brilliance").<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry '''mithril''', p. 47</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Mithril|Images of Mithril]]

==External links==
*"[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2013/03/06/where-did-all-the-mithril-go/ Where Did All the Mithril Go?]" by [[Michael Martinez]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Mithril]]
[[fr:encyclo/biologie/metaux/mithril]]
[[fi:Mithril]]

Gondolin

2022-09-12T17:25:32Z

Artlover87:

{{kingdom
| image=[[File:Alan Lee - Gondolin.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gondolin
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{respell|gone|doh-leen}}
| othernames=''Ondolindë'' ([[Quenya|Q]]) The Hidden City The Hidden Realm ''[[#The Seven Names|See below]]''
| location=North of [[Beleriand]]; in [[Tumladen]], surrounded by the [[Echoriad]]
| capital=
| towns=
| regions=
| population=[[Gondolindrim]]
| language=[[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| govern1=[[King of Gondolin]]
| govern2=
| govern3=
| currency=
| holiday=
| precededby=[[Nevrast]]
| event1=Constructed
| event1date={{FA|116}}
| event2=[[Fall of Gondolin|Destruction]]
| event2date={{FA|510}}
| event3=
| event3date=
| followedby=
}}
{{quote|Rejoice that ye have found it and rest from endless war for the seven-naméd city 'tis that stands upon the hill, where all who strive with Morgoth find hope and valour still.|''[[The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin]]''}}

'''Gondolin''' was a city founded by [[Turgon]] and became the home of his people for most of the [[First Age]].

Some years after the [[Exile of the Noldor]], Turgon was guided by [[Ulmo]] to the hidden valley of [[Tumladen]], and there he founded Gondolin. Turgon's people, who had previously dwelt in [[Nevrast]], travelled there secretly, becoming the '''[[Gondolindrim]]'''. Also known as the '''Hidden City''', it was concealed from friend and foe alike by the [[Echoriad|Encircling Mountains]], and guarded against trespassers by the [[Eagles]] of [[Thorondor]].

The city remained hidden for nearly four hundred years, becoming the last Elven realm to endure against [[Morgoth]], before it was finally discovered through the treachery of [[Maeglin]] and besieged. Turgon was lost in the [[Fall of Gondolin|Fall]] of the city, but some few escaped the destruction and dwelt as [[Exiles of Gondolin|Exiles]] at the [[Mouths of Sirion]].

==History==
===Building===
[[File:Mysilvergreen - Turgon and Finrod on the bank of Sirion.jpg|left|thumb|''Turgon and Finrod on the bank of Sirion'' by [[:Category:Images by Mysilvergreen|Mysilvergreen]]]]

The round valley of [[Tumladen]], within the [[Encircling Mountains]], had originally been a lake, and in its centre stood a hill that had once been an island: [[Amon Gwareth]].<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> The valley had been emptied a long time before through the [[Dry River]], creating the only entrance to the valley: the secret path of [[Orfalch Echor]].<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, pp. 44-46</ref>

In {{FA|50}},<ref>{{GA|74}}</ref> Turgon left [[Nevrast]] and travelled with his cousin [[Finrod]] southward through Beleriand. While they were resting in the [[Meres of Twilight]], [[Ulmo]] came to them and laid upon them a deep sleep and disturbing dreams. Neither told the other about his dreams, but both cousins began a search for hidden places in case [[Morgoth]] broke the [[Siege of Angband]]. Soon, Finrod found the place where he would build his realm: [[Nargothrond]]; but Turgon did not, so he came back to Nevrast. Three years later,<ref>{{GA|76}}</ref> the Lord of Waters appeared to Turgon upon the shores and commanded him to travel forth alone. Guided by the Vala, Turgon found the valley of Tumladen and decided to found his city upon Amon Gwareth, as a memorial to [[Tirion]] upon [[Túna]]. However, he came first back to Nevrast, where he planned the building of his city.<ref>{{S|13}}</ref>

After the [[Dagor Aglareb]], in {{FA|64}},<ref>{{GA|89}}</ref> Turgon felt unquiet again, and taking the most skilled of his people he went in secret to the hidden vale, and the first building of the city was begun. A watch was set around it, but the power of Ulmo also protected them. During the next fifty-two years, Turgon dwelt mostly in Nevrast, until the city was completed. Then he gave his city the name ''Ondolindë'' in [[Quenya]], the "Rock of the Music of Water", because of the fountains of [[Amon Gwareth]]. In [[Sindarin]] this was rendered ''Gondolin'', the "Hidden Rock".<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> In {{FA|116}},<ref>{{GA|112}}</ref> before leaving [[Vinyamar]], Ulmo appeared to Turgon once more and told him:
[[File:Marya Filatova - Turgon.jpg|thumb|''Turgon'' by [[Marya Filatova]]]]
{{blockquote|Now thou shalt go at last to Gondolin, Turgon; and I will maintain my power in the Vale of Sirion, and in all the waters therein, so that none shall mark thy going, nor shall any find there the hidden entrance against thy will. Longest of all the realms of the Eldalië shall Gondolin stand against Melkor. [...] Thus it may come to pass that the [[Doom of Mandos|curse of the Noldor]] shall find thee too ere the end, and treason awake within thy walls. Then they shall be in peril of fire. But if this peril draweth nigh indeed, then even from Nevrast one shall come to warn thee...}}

The people of Turgon were a third part of Fingolfin's followers and native Sindar of Nevrast, and they travelled from Nevrast and secretly entered the valley of Tumladen in discreet companies. After their arrival in the new city, the [[Gondolindrim]] continued to labour in its building, until it was said to rival even Tirion itself. Its walls stood high and white above the plain, and its most prominent feature was the great [[Tower of the King]], where, among the fountains, Turgon himself made [[Glingal and Belthil]], trees of gold and silver, in memory of the [[Two Trees of Valinor]].<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref>

===Coming of Maeglin ===
[[File:Sara M. Morello - Half Noldor.jpg|thumb|''Half Noldo'' by [[:Category:Images by Sara M. Morello|Sara M. Morello]]]]
There followed the two centuries of the [[Long Peace]]: Morgoth was [[Siege of Angband|besieged]] in the far north of the world, and the people of Gondolin lived undisturbed by the events outside their valley. However, a seed of discontent appeared: in {{FA|316}},<ref>{{GA|118}}</ref> Turgon's sister [[Aredhel]] became tired of her limited life in the valley and was determined to leave the city, much against Turgon's wishes, and journey into [[Beleriand]]. However, she was lost outside and Gondolin fell into sorrow for many years.<ref name=Maeglin>{{S|Maeglin}}</ref>

More than eighty years later, in {{FA|400}},<ref>{{GA|120}}</ref> suddenly Aredhel returned with [[Maeglin]], her son by [[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]]. Maeglin was enamoured of the city and Turgon welcomed him. But Eöl had followed his wife and son to Gondolin and was captured at the entranceway. He was brought before Turgon, and it was explained to him that the law of Gondolin did not allow any visitor to leave. Eöl refused to submit to Turgon's authority, and instead chose death for himself and his unwilling son. He threw a poisoned dart to slay Maeglin, but it instead struck Aredhel, who fell ill with the poison and died. The body of Eöl was thrown off the [[Caragdûr]] for this offense.

Maeglin, however, had taken no part in these evils, and Turgon accepted him into the city. With time Maeglin grew to be among the lords of the Gondolindrim. "Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown".<ref name=Maeglin>{{S|Maeglin}}</ref>

=== Two great battles ===
[[File:Alan Lee - Húrin and Huor are Carried to Gondolin.jpg|thumb|''Húrin and Huor are Carried to Gondolin'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
When Morgoth broke the [[Siege of Angband]] in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], the people of Gondolin did not take part in any of its conflicts. However, in {{FA|458}},<ref>{{GA|161}}</ref> they were drawn into the events of those years, when two young brothers of the race of [[Men]], Húrin and [[Huor]], were cut off from their army and became lost amid the feet of the [[Crissaegrim]]. Thorondor brought them to Turgon's city. At the bidding of Ulmo, Turgon accepted them, and they remained in Gondolin for almost a year. Although the law of Gondolin did not allow any visitor to leave, Turgon made an exception and allowed them to return to their homes. Both brothers kept the promise of not telling anyone where they had been, but other Men could deduce it, and soon a rumour was spread that reached Morgoth's servants.<ref name=Fingolfin>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref>

Some years later, [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] were saved by the Eagles, and flying south, Lúthien could see far below, as a white light starting from a green jewel, the radiance of Gondolin the fair. But Lúthien wept because her beloved was mortally wounded.<ref>{{S|Beren}}</ref>

{{blockquote|But it is said in song that her tears falling from on high as she passed came like silver raindrops on the plain, and there a fountain sprang to life: the Fountain of Tinúviel, [[Eithel Nínui]], most healing water until it withered in the flame.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, p. 301</ref>}}

===Encirclement===
As the Elves of [[Beleriand]] began to prepare for a counterstroke to the Dagor Bragollach, Turgon secretly began his own preparations and sent some forces to the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], where they were helped by the [[House of Hador]]. The only survivor thereof was Húrin, who was captured. Morgoth had great fear of Turgon, who was now [[High King of the Noldor]], and wished to destroy him more than any other enemy.<ref name=Nirnaeth>{{S|Nirnaeth}}</ref> Therefore, the Dark Lord tortured Húrin and offered him freedom, but he could not make him reveal the location of Gondolin.<ref>{{CH|3}}</ref>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Tuor Reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin.jpg|left|thumb|''Tuor reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
After returning from the Nirnaeth, Maeglin built the [[Gate of Steel]], the last of the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin]].<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, p. 49</ref>

In {{FA|495}},<ref>{{GA|299}}</ref> [[Ulmo]] appeared to [[Tuor]] and explained to him that the [[Curse of Mandos]] was coming to its fulfilment, but a chance still remained to avoid Doom upon Turgon and his people.<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, p. 29</ref> Thus, Tuor was guided to the Hidden City by [[Voronwë]], one of the mariners sent by Turgon to the West, who had survived a shipwreck. [[Ulmo's warning]] was that Turgon must abandon the city and seek the sea. Turgon, because of his pride and his love for his city, decided to ignore this warning. Tuor, however, was welcomed in the city by all save Maeglin. In later years, Tuor and [[Idril]], the King's daughter, married and had a son: [[Eärendil]].<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

Despite rejecting the warning, Turgon felt unrest, remembering the Doom of Mandos and fearing treason. So he ordered the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin|Gates]] of the Mountains to be closed and he forbade anyone to leave the city, be it for peace or war.<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>
[[File:Marya Filatova - Furry, feathered, hoofed - Thorondor.jpg|thumb|Thorondor and Turgon, art by [[Marya Filatova]]]]
The first great blow to the security of Gondolin came by accident. [[Húrin]], who had been held captive by Morgoth, was released to wander in the world. In {{FA|501}},<ref>{{WJ|Hurin}}, p. 254</ref> he came to the edge of the Encircling Mountains, hoping to find the secret way to Gondolin. But the [[Way of Escape]] was closed, the Dry River blocked and the doors buried. Thorondor himself informed Turgon of the presence of Húrin. The King saw it as a bad omen and, fearing what Morgoth might have done to Húrin, withheld rescue. On further consideration, Turgon changed his mind, but it was too late. Húrin, seeing nothing, cried out in a loud voice "''Turgon, Turgon, remember the [[Fen of Serech]]! O Turgon, will you not hear in your hidden halls?''". Thus Morgoth learned the general area in which Gondolin lay, for his spies were watching this. Húrin turned away, broken and bitter.<ref name=Doriath>{{S|Doriath}}</ref>

In {{FA|507}},<ref name=Years>{{WJ|Years}}, p. 351</ref> [[Doriath]] fell, and Gondolin became the last Elven realm enduring against the power of Morgoth. Thorondor informed Turgon of the falls of [[Nargothrond]] and Doriath, but Turgon did not act, and swore he would never fight on the side of the [[Sons of Fëanor]].<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

===Fall===
{{main|Fall of Gondolin}}
In the years following Húrin's revealing of Gondolin's region, Morgoth increased his search in the lands between the river Sirion and [[Anach]]. However, his spies and creatures could not do much due thanks to the protection of the Eagles. Meanwhile, in Gondolin there was peace, and none knew that the kingdom was encircled by the Enemy save Idril, who felt dark [[Foresight|forebodings]] in her heart. She ordered the construction of an [[Idril's secret way|escape tunnel]] that led to the plain in the northern part of the city. Only a few were informed of this way, and she asked that Maeglin hear nothing about it.<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

In {{FA|509}},<ref name=Years>{{WJ|Years}}, p. 351</ref> Maeglin, disobeying Turgon's laws, strayed too far from the city while searching for ore. There he was captured by [[Orcs]] and taken to [[Angband]]. Daunted by tortures, Maeglin bought his life in exchange for betraying Gondolin, motivated also by his hatred for Tuor and the desire for Idril. Therefore he gave Morgoth the exact location of the city, and the ways by which it could be reached and attacked. Morgoth felt very pleased, and promised to give him the hand of Idril, and make him lord of Gondolin under his vassalage; this was considered the worst treason of the [[Elder Days]]. Maeglin was released to avoid suspicion and to make an inside attack when the moment came.<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Flight of the Doomed.jpg|thumb|''Flight of the Doomed'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The next year,<ref name=Years></ref> when Eärendil was seven years old, Morgoth was prepared and sent a massive army, composed of [[Balrogs]], [[Orcs]], [[Wolves]] and [[Dragons]]. They crossed the northern part of the [[Echoriath]], where the mountains were higher and therefore less guarded. In the city, the Gondolindrim were preparing for the [[Gates of Summer]], a festival in which they welcomed the sunrise. But instead of seeing the light from the east, a red light appeared in the north. Nothing stopped the enemy until it reached the walls of the city, and the siege began.

There was a great siege, during which the captains of the [[Twelve houses of the Gondothlim|noble houses]] and their warriors fell. The [[Tower of the King]] was defended, but it fell with great ruin and King Turgon died there. Meanwhile, attacking from the inside, Maeglin captured Idril and Eärendil, taking them to the walls. Tuor arrived in time to save them both, and after fighting Maeglin, threw him from the walls down into the flames.

Gathering as many of the people as they could find, Tuor and Idril escaped down their tunnel and led the [[Exiles of Gondolin]] at the [[Mouths of Sirion]], where they mourned the loss of the White City.<ref name=Fall/>

==Legacy==
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Elrond.jpg|thumb|''Elrond'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
Ages later, some legendary weapons of Gondolin were found by [[Thorin and Company]] in a [[Trolls' Cave]]. [[Elrond]] recognized them and explained that they ended up there after being plundered by dragons or goblins.<ref>{{H|3}}</ref> Even in the [[Third Age]], some [[orcs of the Misty Mountains]] knew of the legendary sword of Turgon, remembering how the Elves of Gondolin killed hundreds of goblins before their walls.<ref name="overhill">{{H|4}}</ref>

The realm would be mentioned by [[Elrond]] during his [[Council of Elrond|Council]],<ref>{{FR|II2}}, p. 243, "...Eärendil was my sire, who was born in Gondolin before its fall..."</ref> and remembered by Galadriel,<ref>{{FR|II7}}, p. 357, "...for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains..."</ref> and also sung in Dwarven lore.<ref>{{FR|II4}}, p. 316, "[[Song of Durin]]"</ref>

==Etymology==
''Gondolin'' means "Hidden Rock" in [[Sindarin]], from ''[[gond]]'' ("rock") + ''dolen'' ("hidden").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entry ''[[gond]]''</ref> It was a name that evolved from the original [[Quenya]] ''Ondolindë''.<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> However, [[Tolkien]] speculated that ''Gondolin'' was actually a hybrid between [[North Sindarin]] and Quenya.<ref name=Ondolin>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 29</ref>

The name remained the same since early versions of the [[legendarium]], but its meaning has evolved with the [[Elvish]] languages. In the first [[Gnomish]] concept, ''Gondolin'' meant "Stone of Song", from ''gonn'' ("great stone, rock") + ''dólin'' ("song").<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry ''Gondolin''</ref> In the [[Noldorin]] phase, it meant "Heart of Hidden Rock", from ''gonn'' ("rock") + ''doll'' ("dark, hidden, secret") + ''ind'' ("inner thought, heart").<ref name=Etymologies>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entries "GOND", "DUL"</ref>

==Other names==
{{seealso|#The Seven Names}}
'''''Ondolindë''''' is Quenya for "Rock of the Music of Water",<ref>{{WJ|Turgon}}, p. 201</ref> literally "Singing Stone" or "Stone of Music". A short form was '''''Ondolin'''''.<ref name=Ondolin>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 29</ref> Tolkien speculated that the proper [[Sindarized]] form for ''Ondolin(dë)'' would be '''''Gon'''''('''''g''''')'''''lin''''',<ref name=Eldarin>{{PE|Eldarin}} p. 133</ref> with the archaic variation '''''Goen'''('''g''')'''lin'''''.<ref name=Ondolin></ref>

Other earlier names in [[Noldorin]] were '''''Gondost''''' ("City of Stone"), '''''Gondobar''''' ("Stone of the World") and '''''Gondothrimbar'''''.<ref name=Etymologies></ref>

In [[Eriol]]'s [[Old English]] translations, Gondolin is referred as ''Stangaldor(burg)'' ("stone-enchantment-city"), ''Folgenburg'' ("hidden city"), ''Galdorfaesten'' ("enchantment-fortress").<ref>{{SM|QA1}}, p. 210</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===The Book of Lost Tales===
====History====
The first tale of the [[legendarium]] written by [[Tolkien]] was "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]" in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''. No other version would tell with such detail the description of Gondolin, its lords and its fall, and the history differs much from the one presented above, especially in the foundation and aftermath.
[[File:John Howe - Morgoth's Force before Gondolin.jpg|thumb|''Morgoth's force before Gondolin'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Before [[Turgon]] was born, the prophet [[Amnon]] prophesied the [[fall of Gondolin]] and the fate of Turgon.<ref>{{LT1|VII}}, pp. 167, 172</ref> Turgon was born soon after the [[Exile of the Noldor|Flight of the Noldoli]] and later he participated in the [[Battle of Unnumbered Tears]]. He could run out of the battle, and save the women and children of the camps. Then he fled south along Sirion, and aided by its magic waters, he escaped into a secret place away from [[Melko]]. There the Noldoli built the secret city of Gondolin and Turgon became their king.<ref>{{LT1|X}}, pp. 238-242</ref> The people of Gondolin became known as '''[[Gondothlim]]''', the dwellers in stone.<ref name=Tale>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|155}} They worked for many years building Gondolin, and there was made a secret entry among the mountains, the [[Way of Escape]], that was kept open and guarded for the Noldoli escaping from enthrallment by Melko. When the city was finished, the folk became busy making weapons, armor and arrows in case they were attacked. All the encircling mountains had a constant guard, but this was not necessary, as the plain of [[Tumladin]] was smooth and everything could be seen from [[Amon Gwareth]].<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|163}}

While Melko expanded his armies through the [[Great Lands]], the [[Noldoli]] only could find refuge in the realms of [[Artanor]] and Gondolin.<ref>{{LT2|II}}, p. 77</ref> But when Beren and Tinúviel faded away after the first fall of Artanor, Gondolin became the last glorious kingdom and many Elves sought for it.<ref>{{LT2|IV}}, p. 241</ref>

Eventually, by order of Ulmo, [[Tuor]] wandered looking for the City of Stone, and this was known to Melko, who increased his watchfulness. Tuor was helped by the [[Gnome]] [[Voronwë]], who found the secret entry, covered with enchantments that hid it from anyone without Gnomish blood.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|156-157}} Once in Gondolin, Tuor was led to King Turgon and gave him [[Ulmo's warning]]: that the Gondothlim had to march to war against Melko or leave the city and dwell beside the sea. Turgon refused both, but invited Tuor to live in his city, and Tuor accepted, as it was a fair place.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|161-162}}
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Maeglin was taken prisoner by orcs.jpg|thumb|''Maeglin was taken prisoner by orcs'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
Now Melko, wondering about the Man that had wandered alone, summoned a vast army of dark spies and sent them to look after the Noldoli that escaped years ago. They found the Way of Escape and could see the city in the distance, but the guard was strong and never approached there. Turgon was informed of this and felt unrest, so the guard was increased and preparations for war were made.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|165-167}}

In those days, [[Meglin]], Turgon's nephew, was captured by Orcs while straying in the mountains alone. Before they knew that he was one of the Gondothlim, he offered knowledge about Gondolin in exchange for his life. Thus he was brought to Melko, and both devised a plan to conquer the city. Meglin gave Melko the description of Gondolin and the idea of building [[Iron Dragons]] that could cross the Encircling Mountains and the city walls. Then Meglin returned and Melko began building his war devices and gathering evil armies during seven years. Noticing that Melko's spies withdrew, the Gondothlim felt fearless and thought that Melko had desisted after seeing Gondolin's might. But Idril's concern increased and she warned some Gondothlim, but they laughed, believing that the city would stand forever like [[Taniquetil]].<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|168-171}}

For the feast of [[Tarnin Austa]], the Gates of Summer, the Gondothlim gathered in silence the night before and waited for the dawn. However, when that night came, a new red light was seen in the northern mountains and explorers came saying that Melko's armies were coming. All the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]] prepared for battle and Turgon hold a council with their lords. There Tuor asked to leave the city before the enemy came, so they could take women and children to a safe place, but Meglin reminded the king of how much wealth and work they had put into the city, and Turgon decided to face the siege.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|172-175}}
[[File:Matěj Čadil - Gondolin in Ruins.jpg|thumb|''Gondolin in ruins'' by [[Matěj Čadil]]]]
:''For a detailed description of the [[Fall of Gondolin|siege]] see [[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)#The battle of Gondolin]].''

As prophesied, Gondolin and its king fell in ruin, but a group of [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]] escaped and took refuge in the [[Mouth of Sirion|mouth of Sirion]]. The fall of Gondolin would be esteemed as the worst deed of Melko and the most dread of sack upon Earth.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|196}} The Lost Tale of Eärendel is only given in dispersed notes, so of the aftermath there are different versions which can be summarized as follows: After the fall, the doves and pigeons of Turgon's courtyard travelled to Valinor and told the Gods and Elves about the fate of Gondolin. This would cause an uproar among the Eldar, who marched to the Great Lands in a [[War of Wrath|war]] against Melko. Unaware of this, [[Eärendel]] came during his travels back to Gondolin with [[Galdor (elf of Gondolin)|Galdor]]. In the ruins of the city they found Men camping there miserably and Gnomes searching for lost gems.<ref>{{LT2|V}}, pp. 253, 255, 257-258, 263</ref>

====Description====
[[File:LorenzoCB - Gondolin Map.png|thumb|250px|A map of Gondolin based on [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]]'s ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'']]

The hills of [[Tumladin]] formed a great circle around the plain, and [[Amon Gwareth]], the Hill of Watch, was set therein, not directly in the middle, but nearer to the [[Way of Escape]]. Upon the hill rose the city of Gondolin, with its towers pricking the sky. The plain was so clear that anyone could walk there with no need of a guide. The many pathways from the mountains to the city took a daylight's march to traverse, and they were fair and levelled, crossing the sward covered here and there with smooth boulders or clean pools. Amon Gwareth could only be climbed by winding stairs, which led to the main gate. This gate was westwards and was of great weight and strength, made of iron, although it seemed golden in the light of the sunset.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|158-160}} There was another entry gate in the north,<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|176}} but it is not said if there were more.

{{blockquote|Now the streets of Gondolin were paved with stone and wide, kerbed with marble, and fair houses and courts amid gardens of bright flowers were set about the ways, and many towers of great slenderness and beauty built of white marble and carved most marvellously rose to the heaven. Squares there were lit with fountains and the home of birds that sang amid the branches of their aged trees, but of all these the greatest was that place where stood the king's palace, and the [[Tower of the King|tower]] thereof was the loftiest in the city, and the fountains that played before the doors shot twenty fathoms and seven in the air and fell in a singing rain of crystal: therein did the sun glitter splendidly by day, and the moon most magically shimmered by night. The birds that dwelt there were of the whiteness of snow and their voices sweeter than a lullaby of music.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|160}}}}

White stairs led to the doors of the palace, and on each side of these were the two trees called [[Glingal and Belthil|Glingol and Bansil]], one golden, the other silver. Neither ever faded, for they were shoots of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Trees of Valinor]] before their destruction.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|160-161}}

The northwest entry to the Square of the Palace was the [[Road of Arches]], which led to the [[Place of the Well]]. This could also be accessed by the [[Arch of Inwë]] in the west, and it was a place with many trees, oaks and poplars, that encircled a great well of vast depth with very pure water.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|181-182}} Another entry to the Square of the Palace was the [[Alley of Roses]], which was a fair place to see and to walk in.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|183}}

From the Square of the Palace, the [[Road of Pomps]] went southwards, leading to [[Gar Ainion]], the Place of the Gods, where weddings were celebrated in its Place of Wedding. It was very open and in its middle was the highest ground of the city, so from there the Place of the King could be seen below. Another street to the southern part of the city was the [[Way of Running Waters]], which led to the [[Fountains of the South]].<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|186}} Past these was the house of Tuor upon the southern walls, where flowed free air and the dawn light shone.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|164}} The [[folk of the Fountain]] also dwelt in the southern part,<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|173}} as well as [[Salgant]], near the [[Lesser Market]]. East of the city was the [[Great Market]], full of stores and fair workmanships.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|182}}

{{blockquote|Glory dwelt in that city of Gondolin of the Seven Names, and its ruin was the most dread of all the sacks of cities upon the face of Earth. Nor [[:Wikipedia:Babylon|Bablon]], nor [[:Wikipedia:Nineveh|Ninwi]], nor the towers of [[:Wikipedia:Troy|Trui]], nor all the many takings of [[:Wikipedia:Rome|Rûm]] that is greatest among Men, saw such terror as fell that day upon Amon Gwareth in the kindred of the Gnomes; and this is esteemed the worst work that Melko has yet thought of in the world.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|196}}}}

====The Seven Names====
In later versions of the legendarium, Gondolin is still known as the ''City of Seven Names'',<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, "Notes", note 31</ref> but only in the ''Lost Tales'' phase are these names given. "City of Seven Names" was ''Ostrin An Ost'' in [[Gnomish]], and ''Tirios Otsoyáma'' in [[Qenya]].<ref name=Names>{{PE|13}}, p. 102</ref> When Tuor sees the city for the first time, he asks about these names and a guard recites to him:

{{blockquote|Tis said and 'tis sung: ''''Gondobar''' am I called and '''Gondothlimbar''', City of Stone and City of the Dwellers in Stone; '''Gondolin''' the Stone of Song and '''Gwarestrin''' am I named, the Tower of Guard, '''Gar Thurion''' or the Secret Place, for I am hidden from the eyes of Melko; but they who love me most greatly call me '''Loth''', for like a flower am I, even '''Lothengriol''' the flower that blooms on the plain.'<ref name=Tale>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|158}}}}

The [[Qenya]] cognate for ''Gondolin'' was '''''Ondolinda'''''.<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry "Gondolin"</ref> The cognates for the other names were:<ref name=Names></ref>
* ''Gondobar'' ("Stone House"): '''''Ondomard-''''' or '''''Ondosta'''''.
* ''Gondothlimbar'' ("House of the Stone Folk"): '''''Ondostamard-'''''.
* ''Gwarestrin'' ("Tower of Guard"): '''''Tiri(o)stirion''''' or '''''Vara-, Vorastirin'''''.
* ''Gar Thurion'' ("Secret Place"): '''''Ardalomba''''' or '''''Ardaurin'''''.
* ''Loth'' ("Flower"): '''''Lossë''''' ("Rose").
* ''Lothengriol''<ref group=note>Earlier forms of the name ''Lothengriol'' were ''Losengriol'' and ''Lósengriol''. Cf. ''The Book of Lost Tales Part One'', p. 172; and ''The Book of Lost Tales Part Two'', p. 202</ref> ("Flower of the Vale" or "Lily of the Valley"): '''''Endillos'''''

===Later versions===
[[Tolkien]] never fully developed the story of Gondolin in later versions of the legendarium, so while editing ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Christopher Tolkien]] had to make choices about certain details, the main one being the discovery of Gondolin. As detailed [[#The Book of Lost Tales|above]], in ''The Book of Lost Tales'' it is told that Melko discovered Gondolin after hearing of a man (Tuor) wandering near Sirion and sending an army of spies which saw the hidden city in the distance. When Meglin is captured, he betrays the city by attacking from the inside during the siege and by giving Melko the idea of building the [[Iron Dragons]]. In the next phase of the story, the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', it is Meglin who gives Morgoth the location of Gondolin when he is captured.<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 143</ref>

However, in Tolkien's last revision, it is Húrin who accidentally gives the location of Gondolin to Morgoth, when he called to Turgon in the [[Echoriad]]. Here it is said that "Morgoth smiled, and knew now clearly in what region Turgon dwelt".<ref>{{WJ|I}}, pp. 272-273</ref> Tolkien then recovered the idea of Maeglin's betrayal as it was in the first version, as said in some notes:

{{blockquote|Later when captured and Maeglin wished to buy his release with treachery, Morgoth must answer laughing, saying: Stale news will buy nothing. I know this already, I am not easily blinded! So Maeglin was obliged to offer more – to undermine resistance in Gondolin [...] and to compass the death of Tuor and Eärendel if he could. If he did he would be allowed to retain Idril (said Morgoth).<ref name=Notes>{{WJ|I}}, "Notes", p. 302, note 30</ref>}}

For his edition of ''The Silmarillion'', Christopher used both texts of the ''Quenta Noldorinwa'' and the ''Wanderings of Húrin''. He therefore had to edit the first one so Maeglin would give Morgoth "the ''very'' place of Gondolin.<ref name=Notes/>

==Inspiration==
[[File:Pompeo Batoni - Aeneas fleeing from Troy.jpg|thumb|''Aeneas fleeing from Troy'' by [[:Wikipedia:Pompeo Batoni|Pompeo Batoni]] (1753)]]
There are notable similarities between Gondolin and [[:Wikipedia:Troy|Troy]], especially between the more detailed early Lost Tale and the account of the [[:Wikipedia:Trojan War|Fall of Troy]] as told by Virgil in his ''[[:Wikipedia:Aeneid|Aeneid]]''. Both cities have their origins in the God of the Sea, as the [[:Wikipedia:Poseidon#Walls_of_Troy|walls of Troy]] were built by Poseidon/Neptune. Both also are doomed because of treachery (one internal, the other external) and while their citizens celebrated a feast. Both Aeneas and Tuor are destined to survive the destruction, managing to kill all enemies while wandering through the battle and seeing the death of their respective kings. Both also secretly lead survivors to escape the city, accompanied by their relatives (while Aeneas carries his father, Tuor carries his son).<ref>Alexander M. Bruce, "[http://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol30/iss3/7/ The Fall of Gondolin and the Fall of Troy: Tolkien and Book II of The Aeneid]", ''[[Mythlore 117/118]]'', pp. 106-109</ref>

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Gondolin|Images of Gondolin]]
* [[Nargothrond]], the parallel Hidden Kingdom of [[Finrod]]

{{References|note}}
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Elven realms]]
[[Category:Gnomish locations]]
[[Category:Gondolin| ]]
[[Category:Noldorin locations]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Gondolin]]
[[fi:Gondolin]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/beleriand/gondolin]]

Gondolin

2022-09-12T17:10:18Z

Artlover87:

{{kingdom
| image=[[File:Alan Lee - Gondolin.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gondolin
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{respell|gone|doh-leen}}
| othernames=''Ondolindë'' ([[Quenya|Q]]) The Hidden City The Hidden Realm ''[[#The Seven Names|See below]]''
| location=North of [[Beleriand]]; in [[Tumladen]], surrounded by the [[Echoriad]]
| capital=
| towns=
| regions=
| population=[[Gondolindrim]]
| language=[[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| govern1=[[King of Gondolin]]
| govern2=
| govern3=
| currency=
| holiday=
| precededby=[[Nevrast]]
| event1=Constructed
| event1date={{FA|116}}
| event2=[[Fall of Gondolin|Destruction]]
| event2date={{FA|510}}
| event3=
| event3date=
| followedby=
}}
{{quote|Rejoice that ye have found it and rest from endless war for the seven-naméd city 'tis that stands upon the hill, where all who strive with Morgoth find hope and valour still.|''[[The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin]]''}}

'''Gondolin''' was a city founded by [[Turgon]] and became the home of his people for most of the [[First Age]].

Some years after the [[Exile of the Noldor]], Turgon was guided by [[Ulmo]] to the hidden valley of [[Tumladen]], and there he founded Gondolin. Turgon's people, who had previously dwelt in [[Nevrast]], travelled there secretly, becoming the '''[[Gondolindrim]]'''. Also known as the '''Hidden City''', it was concealed from friend and foe alike by the [[Echoriad|Encircling Mountains]], and guarded against trespassers by the [[Eagles]] of [[Thorondor]].

The city remained hidden for nearly four hundred years, becoming the last Elven realm to endure against [[Morgoth]], before it was finally discovered through the treachery of [[Maeglin]] and besieged. Turgon was lost in the [[Fall of Gondolin|Fall]] of the city, but some few escaped the destruction and dwelt as [[Exiles of Gondolin|Exiles]] at the [[Mouths of Sirion]].

==History==
===Building===
[[File:Mysilvergreen - Turgon and Finrod on the bank of Sirion.jpg|left|thumb|''Turgon and Finrod on the bank of Sirion'' by [[:Category:Images by Mysilvergreen|Mysilvergreen]]]]

The round valley of [[Tumladen]], within the [[Encircling Mountains]], had originally been a lake, and in its centre stood a hill that had once been an island: [[Amon Gwareth]].<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> The valley had been emptied a long time before through the [[Dry River]], creating the only entrance to the valley: the secret path of [[Orfalch Echor]].<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, pp. 44-46</ref>

In {{FA|50}},<ref>{{GA|74}}</ref> Turgon left [[Nevrast]] and travelled with his cousin [[Finrod]] southward through Beleriand. While they were resting in the [[Meres of Twilight]], [[Ulmo]] came to them and laid upon them a deep sleep and disturbing dreams. Neither told the other about his dreams, but both cousins began a search for hidden places in case [[Morgoth]] broke the [[Siege of Angband]]. Soon, Finrod found the place where he would build his realm: [[Nargothrond]]; but Turgon did not, so he came back to Nevrast. Three years later,<ref>{{GA|76}}</ref> the Lord of Waters appeared to Turgon upon the shores and commanded him to travel forth alone. Guided by the Vala, Turgon found the valley of Tumladen and decided to found his city upon Amon Gwareth, as a memorial to [[Tirion]] upon [[Túna]]. However, he came first back to Nevrast, where he planned the building of his city.<ref>{{S|13}}</ref>

After the [[Dagor Aglareb]], in {{FA|64}},<ref>{{GA|89}}</ref> Turgon felt unquiet again, and taking the most skilled of his people he went in secret to the hidden vale, and the first building of the city was begun. A watch was set around it, but the power of Ulmo also protected them. During the next fifty-two years, Turgon dwelt mostly in Nevrast, until the city was completed. Then he gave his city the name ''Ondolindë'' in [[Quenya]], the "Rock of the Music of Water", because of the fountains of [[Amon Gwareth]]. In [[Sindarin]] this was rendered ''Gondolin'', the "Hidden Rock".<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> In {{FA|116}},<ref>{{GA|112}}</ref> before leaving [[Vinyamar]], Ulmo appeared to Turgon once more and told him:
[[File:Marya Filatova - Turgon.jpg|thumb|''Turgon'' by [[Marya Filatova]]]]
{{blockquote|Now thou shalt go at last to Gondolin, Turgon; and I will maintain my power in the Vale of Sirion, and in all the waters therein, so that none shall mark thy going, nor shall any find there the hidden entrance against thy will. Longest of all the realms of the Eldalië shall Gondolin stand against Melkor. [...] Thus it may come to pass that the [[Doom of Mandos|curse of the Noldor]] shall find thee too ere the end, and treason awake within thy walls. Then they shall be in peril of fire. But if this peril draweth nigh indeed, then even from Nevrast one shall come to warn thee...}}

The people of Turgon were a third part of Fingolfin's followers and native Sindar of Nevrast, and they travelled from Nevrast and secretly entered the valley of Tumladen in discreet companies. After their arrival in the new city, the [[Gondolindrim]] continued to labour in its building, until it was said to rival even Tirion itself. Its walls stood high and white above the plain, and its most prominent feature was the great [[Tower of the King]], where, among the fountains, Turgon himself made [[Glingal and Belthil]], trees of gold and silver, in memory of the [[Two Trees of Valinor]].<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref>

===Coming of Maeglin ===
[[File:Sara M. Morello - Half Noldor.jpg|thumb|''Half Noldo'' by [[:Category:Images by Sara M. Morello|Sara M. Morello]]]]
There followed the two centuries of the [[Long Peace]]: Morgoth was [[Siege of Angband|besieged]] in the far north of the world, and the people of Gondolin lived undisturbed by the events outside their valley. However, a seed of discontent appeared: in {{FA|316}},<ref>{{GA|118}}</ref> Turgon's sister [[Aredhel]] became tired of her limited life in the valley and was determined to leave the city, much against Turgon's wishes, and journey into [[Beleriand]]. However, she was lost outside and Gondolin fell into sorrow for many years.<ref name=Maeglin>{{S|Maeglin}}</ref>

More than eighty years later, in {{FA|400}},<ref>{{GA|120}}</ref> suddenly Aredhel returned with [[Maeglin]], her son by [[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]]. Maeglin was enamoured of the city and Turgon welcomed him. But Eöl had followed his wife and son to Gondolin and was captured at the entranceway. He was brought before Turgon, and it was explained to him that the law of Gondolin did not allow any visitor to leave. Eöl refused to submit to Turgon's authority, and instead chose death for himself and his unwilling son. He threw a poisoned dart to slay Maeglin, but it instead struck Aredhel, who fell ill with the poison and died. The body of Eöl was thrown off the [[Caragdûr]] for this offense.

Maeglin, however, had taken no part in these evils, and Turgon accepted him into the city. With time Maeglin grew to be among the lords of the Gondolindrim. "Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown".<ref name=Maeglin>{{S|Maeglin}}</ref>

=== Two great battles ===
[[File:Alan Lee - Húrin and Huor are Carried to Gondolin.jpg|thumb|''Húrin and Huor are Carried to Gondolin'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
When Morgoth broke the [[Siege of Angband]] in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], the people of Gondolin did not take part in any of its conflicts. However, in {{FA|458}},<ref>{{GA|161}}</ref> they were drawn into the events of those years, when two young brothers of the race of [[Men]], Húrin and [[Huor]], were cut off from their army and became lost amid the feet of the [[Crissaegrim]]. Thorondor brought them to Turgon's city. At the bidding of Ulmo, Turgon accepted them, and they remained in Gondolin for almost a year. Although the law of Gondolin did not allow any visitor to leave, Turgon made an exception and allowed them to return to their homes. Both brothers kept the promise of not telling anyone where they had been, but other Men could deduce it, and soon a rumour was spread that reached Morgoth's servants.<ref name=Fingolfin>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref>

Some years later, [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] were saved by the Eagles, and flying south, Lúthien could see far below, as a white light starting from a green jewel, the radiance of Gondolin the fair. But Lúthien wept because her beloved was mortally wounded.<ref>{{S|Beren}}</ref>

{{blockquote|But it is said in song that her tears falling from on high as she passed came like silver raindrops on the plain, and there a fountain sprang to life: the Fountain of Tinúviel, [[Eithel Nínui]], most healing water until it withered in the flame.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, p. 301</ref>}}

===Encirclement===
As the Elves of [[Beleriand]] began to prepare for a counterstroke to the Dagor Bragollach, Turgon secretly began his own preparations and sent some forces to the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], where they were helped by the [[House of Hador]]. The only survivor thereof was Húrin, who was captured. Morgoth had great fear of Turgon, who was now [[High King of the Noldor]], and wished to destroy him more than any other enemy.<ref name=Nirnaeth>{{S|Nirnaeth}}</ref> Therefore, the Dark Lord tortured Húrin and offered him freedom, but he could not make him reveal the location of Gondolin.<ref>{{CH|3}}</ref>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Tuor Reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin.jpg|left|thumb|''Tuor reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
After returning from the Nirnaeth, Maeglin built the [[Gate of Steel]], the last of the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin]].<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, p. 49</ref>

In {{FA|495}},<ref>{{GA|299}}</ref> [[Ulmo]] appeared to [[Tuor]] and explained to him that the [[Curse of Mandos]] was coming to its fulfilment, but a chance still remained to avoid Doom upon Turgon and his people.<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, p. 29</ref> Thus, Tuor was guided to the Hidden City by [[Voronwë]], one of the mariners sent by Turgon to the West, who had survived a shipwreck. [[Ulmo's warning]] was that Turgon must abandon the city and seek the sea. Turgon, because of his pride and his love for his city, decided to ignore this warning. Tuor, however, was welcomed in the city by all save Maeglin. In later years, Tuor and [[Idril]], the King's daughter, married and had a son: [[Eärendil]].<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

Despite rejecting the warning, Turgon felt unrest, remembering the Doom of Mandos and fearing treason. So he ordered the [[Seven Gates of Gondolin|Gates]] of the Mountains to be closed and he forbade anyone to leave the city, be it for peace or war.<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>
[[File:Marya Filatova - Furry, feathered, hoofed - Thorondor.jpg|thumb|Thorondor and Turgon, art by [[Marya Filatova]]]]
The first great blow to the security of Gondolin came by accident. [[Húrin]], who had been held captive by Morgoth, was released to wander in the world. In {{FA|501}},<ref>{{WJ|Hurin}}, p. 254</ref> he came to the edge of the Encircling Mountains, hoping to find the secret way to Gondolin. But the [[Way of Escape]] was closed, the Dry River blocked and the doors buried. Thorondor himself informed Turgon of the presence of Húrin. The King saw it as a bad omen and, fearing what Morgoth might have done to Húrin, withheld rescue. On further consideration, Turgon changed his mind, but it was too late. Húrin, seeing nothing, cried out in a loud voice "''Turgon, Turgon, remember the [[Fen of Serech]]! O Turgon, will you not hear in your hidden halls?''". Thus Morgoth learned the general area in which Gondolin lay, for his spies were watching this. Húrin turned away, broken and bitter.<ref name=Doriath>{{S|Doriath}}</ref>

In {{FA|507}},<ref name=Years>{{WJ|Years}}, p. 351</ref> [[Doriath]] fell, and Gondolin became the last Elven realm enduring against the power of Morgoth. Thorondor informed Turgon of the falls of [[Nargothrond]] and Doriath, but Turgon did not act, and swore he would never fight on the side of the [[Sons of Fëanor]].<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

===Fall===
{{main|Fall of Gondolin}}
In the years following Húrin's revealing of Gondolin's region, Morgoth increased his search in the lands between the river Sirion and [[Anach]]. However, his spies and creatures could not go much due thanks to the protection of the Eagles. Meanwhile, in Gondolin there was peace, and none knew that the kingdom was encircled by the Enemy save Idril, who felt dark [[Foresight|forebodings]] in her heart. She ordered the construction of an [[Idril's secret way|escape tunnel]] that led to the plain in the northern part of the city. Only a few were informed of this way, and she asked that Maeglin hear nothing about it.<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

In {{FA|509}},<ref name=Years>{{WJ|Years}}, p. 351</ref> Maeglin, disobeying Turgon's laws, strayed too far from the city while searching for ore. There he was captured by [[Orcs]] and taken to [[Angband]]. Daunted by tortures, Maeglin bought his life in exchange for betraying Gondolin, motivated also by his hatred for Tuor and the desire for Idril. Therefore he gave Morgoth the exact location of the city, and the ways by which it could be reached and attacked. Morgoth felt very pleased, and promised to give him the hand of Idril, and make him lord of Gondolin under his vassalage; this was considered the worst treason of the [[Elder Days]]. Maeglin was released to avoid suspicion and to make an inside attack when the moment came.<ref name=Fall>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Flight of the Doomed.jpg|thumb|''Flight of the Doomed'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The next year,<ref name=Years></ref> when Eärendil was seven years old, Morgoth was prepared and sent a massive army, composed of [[Balrogs]], [[Orcs]], [[Wolves]] and [[Dragons]]. They crossed the northern part of the [[Echoriath]], where the mountains were higher and therefore less guarded. In the city, the Gondolindrim were preparing for the [[Gates of Summer]], a festival in which they welcomed the sunrise. But instead of seeing the light from the east, a red light appeared in the north. Nothing stopped the enemy until it reached the walls of the city, and the siege began.

There was a great siege, during which the captains of the [[Twelve houses of the Gondothlim|noble houses]] and their warriors fell. The [[Tower of the King]] was defended, but it fell with great ruin and King Turgon died there. Meanwhile, attacking from the inside, Maeglin captured Idril and Eärendil, taking them to the walls. Tuor arrived in time to save them both, and after fighting Maeglin, threw Maeglin from the walls down into the flames.

Gathering as many of the people as they could find, Tuor and Idril escaped down their tunnel and led the [[Exiles of Gondolin]] at the [[Mouths of Sirion]], where they mourned the loss of the White City.<ref name=Fall/>

==Legacy==
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Elrond.jpg|thumb|''Elrond'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
Ages later, some legendary weapons of Gondolin were found by [[Thorin and Company]] in a [[Trolls' Cave]]. [[Elrond]] recognized them and explained that they ended up there after being plundered by dragons or goblins.<ref>{{H|3}}</ref> Even in the [[Third Age]], some [[orcs of the Misty Mountains]] knew of the legendary sword of Turgon, remembering how the Elves of Gondolin killed hundreds of goblins before their walls.<ref name="overhill">{{H|4}}</ref>

The realm would be mentioned by [[Elrond]] during his [[Council of Elrond|Council]],<ref>{{FR|II2}}, p. 243, "...Eärendil was my sire, who was born in Gondolin before its fall..."</ref> and remembered by Galadriel,<ref>{{FR|II7}}, p. 357, "...for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains..."</ref> and also sung in Dwarven lore.<ref>{{FR|II4}}, p. 316, "[[Song of Durin]]"</ref>

==Etymology==
''Gondolin'' means "Hidden Rock" in [[Sindarin]], from ''[[gond]]'' ("rock") + ''dolen'' ("hidden").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entry ''[[gond]]''</ref> It was a name that evolved from the original [[Quenya]] ''Ondolindë''.<ref name=Noldor>{{S|15}}</ref> However, [[Tolkien]] speculated that ''Gondolin'' was actually a hybrid between [[North Sindarin]] and Quenya.<ref name=Ondolin>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 29</ref>

The name remained the same since early versions of the [[legendarium]], but its meaning has evolved with the [[Elvish]] languages. In the first [[Gnomish]] concept, ''Gondolin'' meant "Stone of Song", from ''gonn'' ("great stone, rock") + ''dólin'' ("song").<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry ''Gondolin''</ref> In the [[Noldorin]] phase, it meant "Heart of Hidden Rock", from ''gonn'' ("rock") + ''doll'' ("dark, hidden, secret") + ''ind'' ("inner thought, heart").<ref name=Etymologies>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entries "GOND", "DUL"</ref>

==Other names==
{{seealso|#The Seven Names}}
'''''Ondolindë''''' is Quenya for "Rock of the Music of Water",<ref>{{WJ|Turgon}}, p. 201</ref> literally "Singing Stone" or "Stone of Music". A short form was '''''Ondolin'''''.<ref name=Ondolin>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 29</ref> Tolkien speculated that the proper [[Sindarized]] form for ''Ondolin(dë)'' would be '''''Gon'''''('''''g''''')'''''lin''''',<ref name=Eldarin>{{PE|Eldarin}} p. 133</ref> with the archaic variation '''''Goen'''('''g''')'''lin'''''.<ref name=Ondolin></ref>

Other earlier names in [[Noldorin]] were '''''Gondost''''' ("City of Stone"), '''''Gondobar''''' ("Stone of the World") and '''''Gondothrimbar'''''.<ref name=Etymologies></ref>

In [[Eriol]]'s [[Old English]] translations, Gondolin is referred as ''Stangaldor(burg)'' ("stone-enchantment-city"), ''Folgenburg'' ("hidden city"), ''Galdorfaesten'' ("enchantment-fortress").<ref>{{SM|QA1}}, p. 210</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===The Book of Lost Tales===
====History====
The first tale of the [[legendarium]] written by [[Tolkien]] was "[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]" in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''. No other version would tell with such detail the description of Gondolin, its lords and its fall, and the history differs much from the one presented above, especially in the foundation and aftermath.
[[File:John Howe - Morgoth's Force before Gondolin.jpg|thumb|''Morgoth's force before Gondolin'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Before [[Turgon]] was born, the prophet [[Amnon]] prophesied the [[fall of Gondolin]] and the fate of Turgon.<ref>{{LT1|VII}}, pp. 167, 172</ref> Turgon was born soon after the [[Exile of the Noldor|Flight of the Noldoli]] and later he participated in the [[Battle of Unnumbered Tears]]. He could run out of the battle, and save the women and children of the camps. Then he fled south along Sirion, and aided by its magic waters, he escaped into a secret place away from [[Melko]]. There the Noldoli built the secret city of Gondolin and Turgon became their king.<ref>{{LT1|X}}, pp. 238-242</ref> The people of Gondolin became known as '''[[Gondothlim]]''', the dwellers in stone.<ref name=Tale>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|155}} They worked for many years building Gondolin, and there was made a secret entry among the mountains, the [[Way of Escape]], that was kept open and guarded for the Noldoli escaping from enthrallment by Melko. When the city was finished, the folk became busy making weapons, armor and arrows in case they were attacked. All the encircling mountains had a constant guard, but this was not necessary, as the plain of [[Tumladin]] was smooth and everything could be seen from [[Amon Gwareth]].<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|163}}

While Melko expanded his armies through the [[Great Lands]], the [[Noldoli]] only could find refuge in the realms of [[Artanor]] and Gondolin.<ref>{{LT2|II}}, p. 77</ref> But when Beren and Tinúviel faded away after the first fall of Artanor, Gondolin became the last glorious kingdom and many Elves sought for it.<ref>{{LT2|IV}}, p. 241</ref>

Eventually, by order of Ulmo, [[Tuor]] wandered looking for the City of Stone, and this was known to Melko, who increased his watchfulness. Tuor was helped by the [[Gnome]] [[Voronwë]], who found the secret entry, covered with enchantments that hid it from anyone without Gnomish blood.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|156-157}} Once in Gondolin, Tuor was led to King Turgon and gave him [[Ulmo's warning]]: that the Gondothlim had to march to war against Melko or leave the city and dwell beside the sea. Turgon refused both, but invited Tuor to live in his city, and Tuor accepted, as it was a fair place.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|161-162}}
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Maeglin was taken prisoner by orcs.jpg|thumb|''Maeglin was taken prisoner by orcs'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
Now Melko, wondering about the Man that had wandered alone, summoned a vast army of dark spies and sent them to look after the Noldoli that escaped years ago. They found the Way of Escape and could see the city in the distance, but the guard was strong and never approached there. Turgon was informed of this and felt unrest, so the guard was increased and preparations for war were made.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|165-167}}

In those days, [[Meglin]], Turgon's nephew, was captured by Orcs while straying in the mountains alone. Before they knew that he was one of the Gondothlim, he offered knowledge about Gondolin in exchange for his life. Thus he was brought to Melko, and both devised a plan to conquer the city. Meglin gave Melko the description of Gondolin and the idea of building [[Iron Dragons]] that could cross the Encircling Mountains and the city walls. Then Meglin returned and Melko began building his war devices and gathering evil armies during seven years. Noticing that Melko's spies withdrew, the Gondothlim felt fearless and thought that Melko had desisted after seeing Gondolin's might. But Idril's concern increased and she warned some Gondothlim, but they laughed, believing that the city would stand forever like [[Taniquetil]].<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|168-171}}

For the feast of [[Tarnin Austa]], the Gates of Summer, the Gondothlim gathered in silence the night before and waited for the dawn. However, when that night came, a new red light was seen in the northern mountains and explorers came saying that Melko's armies were coming. All the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]] prepared for battle and Turgon hold a council with their lords. There Tuor asked to leave the city before the enemy came, so they could take women and children to a safe place, but Meglin reminded the king of how much wealth and work they had put into the city, and Turgon decided to face the siege.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|172-175}}
[[File:Matěj Čadil - Gondolin in Ruins.jpg|thumb|''Gondolin in ruins'' by [[Matěj Čadil]]]]
:''For a detailed description of the [[Fall of Gondolin|siege]] see [[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)#The battle of Gondolin]].''

As prophesied, Gondolin and its king fell in ruin, but a group of [[Exiles of Gondolin|exiles]] escaped and took refuge in the [[Mouth of Sirion|mouth of Sirion]]. The fall of Gondolin would be esteemed as the worst deed of Melko and the most dread of sack upon Earth.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|196}} The Lost Tale of Eärendel is only given in dispersed notes, so of the aftermath there are different versions which can be summarized as follows: After the fall, the doves and pigeons of Turgon's courtyard travelled to Valinor and told the Gods and Elves about the fate of Gondolin. This would cause an uproar among the Eldar, who marched to the Great Lands in a [[War of Wrath|war]] against Melko. Unaware of this, [[Eärendel]] came during his travels back to Gondolin with [[Galdor (elf of Gondolin)|Galdor]]. In the ruins of the city they found Men camping there miserably and Gnomes searching for lost gems.<ref>{{LT2|V}}, pp. 253, 255, 257-258, 263</ref>

====Description====
[[File:LorenzoCB - Gondolin Map.png|thumb|250px|A map of Gondolin based on [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]]'s ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'']]

The hills of [[Tumladin]] formed a great circle around the plain, and [[Amon Gwareth]], the Hill of Watch, was set therein, not directly in the middle, but nearer to the [[Way of Escape]]. Upon the hill rose the city of Gondolin, with its towers pricking the sky. The plain was so clear that anyone could walk there with no need of a guide. The many pathways from the mountains to the city took a daylight's march to traverse, and they were fair and levelled, crossing the sward covered here and there with smooth boulders or clean pools. Amon Gwareth could only be climbed by winding stairs, which led to the main gate. This gate was westwards and was of great weight and strength, made of iron, although it seemed golden in the light of the sunset.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|158-160}} There was another entry gate in the north,<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|176}} but it is not said if there were more.

{{blockquote|Now the streets of Gondolin were paved with stone and wide, kerbed with marble, and fair houses and courts amid gardens of bright flowers were set about the ways, and many towers of great slenderness and beauty built of white marble and carved most marvellously rose to the heaven. Squares there were lit with fountains and the home of birds that sang amid the branches of their aged trees, but of all these the greatest was that place where stood the king's palace, and the [[Tower of the King|tower]] thereof was the loftiest in the city, and the fountains that played before the doors shot twenty fathoms and seven in the air and fell in a singing rain of crystal: therein did the sun glitter splendidly by day, and the moon most magically shimmered by night. The birds that dwelt there were of the whiteness of snow and their voices sweeter than a lullaby of music.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|160}}}}

White stairs led to the doors of the palace, and on each side of these were the two trees called [[Glingal and Belthil|Glingol and Bansil]], one golden, the other silver. Neither ever faded, for they were shoots of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Trees of Valinor]] before their destruction.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|160-161}}

The northwest entry to the Square of the Palace was the [[Road of Arches]], which led to the [[Place of the Well]]. This could also be accessed by the [[Arch of Inwë]] in the west, and it was a place with many trees, oaks and poplars, that encircled a great well of vast depth with very pure water.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|181-182}} Another entry to the Square of the Palace was the [[Alley of Roses]], which was a fair place to see and to walk in.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|183}}

From the Square of the Palace, the [[Road of Pomps]] went southwards, leading to [[Gar Ainion]], the Place of the Gods, where weddings were celebrated in its Place of Wedding. It was very open and in its middle was the highest ground of the city, so from there the Place of the King could be seen below. Another street to the southern part of the city was the [[Way of Running Waters]], which led to the [[Fountains of the South]].<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|186}} Past these was the house of Tuor upon the southern walls, where flowed free air and the dawn light shone.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|164}} The [[folk of the Fountain]] also dwelt in the southern part,<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|173}} as well as [[Salgant]], near the [[Lesser Market]]. East of the city was the [[Great Market]], full of stores and fair workmanships.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|182}}

{{blockquote|Glory dwelt in that city of Gondolin of the Seven Names, and its ruin was the most dread of all the sacks of cities upon the face of Earth. Nor [[:Wikipedia:Babylon|Bablon]], nor [[:Wikipedia:Nineveh|Ninwi]], nor the towers of [[:Wikipedia:Troy|Trui]], nor all the many takings of [[:Wikipedia:Rome|Rûm]] that is greatest among Men, saw such terror as fell that day upon Amon Gwareth in the kindred of the Gnomes; and this is esteemed the worst work that Melko has yet thought of in the world.<ref name=Tale></ref>{{rp|196}}}}

====The Seven Names====
In later versions of the legendarium, Gondolin is still known as the ''City of Seven Names'',<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, "Notes", note 31</ref> but only in the ''Lost Tales'' phase are these names given. "City of Seven Names" was ''Ostrin An Ost'' in [[Gnomish]], and ''Tirios Otsoyáma'' in [[Qenya]].<ref name=Names>{{PE|13}}, p. 102</ref> When Tuor sees the city for the first time, he asks about these names and a guard recites to him:

{{blockquote|Tis said and 'tis sung: ''''Gondobar''' am I called and '''Gondothlimbar''', City of Stone and City of the Dwellers in Stone; '''Gondolin''' the Stone of Song and '''Gwarestrin''' am I named, the Tower of Guard, '''Gar Thurion''' or the Secret Place, for I am hidden from the eyes of Melko; but they who love me most greatly call me '''Loth''', for like a flower am I, even '''Lothengriol''' the flower that blooms on the plain.'<ref name=Tale>{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|158}}}}

The [[Qenya]] cognate for ''Gondolin'' was '''''Ondolinda'''''.<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry "Gondolin"</ref> The cognates for the other names were:<ref name=Names></ref>
* ''Gondobar'' ("Stone House"): '''''Ondomard-''''' or '''''Ondosta'''''.
* ''Gondothlimbar'' ("House of the Stone Folk"): '''''Ondostamard-'''''.
* ''Gwarestrin'' ("Tower of Guard"): '''''Tiri(o)stirion''''' or '''''Vara-, Vorastirin'''''.
* ''Gar Thurion'' ("Secret Place"): '''''Ardalomba''''' or '''''Ardaurin'''''.
* ''Loth'' ("Flower"): '''''Lossë''''' ("Rose").
* ''Lothengriol''<ref group=note>Earlier forms of the name ''Lothengriol'' were ''Losengriol'' and ''Lósengriol''. Cf. ''The Book of Lost Tales Part One'', p. 172; and ''The Book of Lost Tales Part Two'', p. 202</ref> ("Flower of the Vale" or "Lily of the Valley"): '''''Endillos'''''

===Later versions===
[[Tolkien]] never fully developed the story of Gondolin in later versions of the legendarium, so while editing ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Christopher Tolkien]] had to make choices about certain details, the main one being the discovery of Gondolin. As detailed [[#The Book of Lost Tales|above]], in ''The Book of Lost Tales'' it is told that Melko discovered Gondolin after hearing of a man (Tuor) wandering near Sirion and sending an army of spies which saw the hidden city in the distance. When Meglin is captured, he betrays the city by attacking from the inside during the siege and by giving Melko the idea of building the [[Iron Dragons]]. In the next phase of the story, the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'', it is Meglin who gives Morgoth the location of Gondolin when he is captured.<ref>{{SM|Q16}}, p. 143</ref>

However, in Tolkien's last revision, it is Húrin who accidentally gives the location of Gondolin to Morgoth, when he called to Turgon in the [[Echoriad]]. Here it is said that "Morgoth smiled, and knew now clearly in what region Turgon dwelt".<ref>{{WJ|I}}, pp. 272-273</ref> Tolkien then recovered the idea of Maeglin's betrayal as it was in the first version, as said in some notes:

{{blockquote|Later when captured and Maeglin wished to buy his release with treachery, Morgoth must answer laughing, saying: Stale news will buy nothing. I know this already, I am not easily blinded! So Maeglin was obliged to offer more – to undermine resistance in Gondolin [...] and to compass the death of Tuor and Eärendel if he could. If he did he would be allowed to retain Idril (said Morgoth).<ref name=Notes>{{WJ|I}}, "Notes", p. 302, note 30</ref>}}

For his edition of ''The Silmarillion'', Christopher used both texts of the ''Quenta Noldorinwa'' and the ''Wanderings of Húrin''. He therefore had to edit the first one so Maeglin would give Morgoth "the ''very'' place of Gondolin.<ref name=Notes/>

==Inspiration==
[[File:Pompeo Batoni - Aeneas fleeing from Troy.jpg|thumb|''Aeneas fleeing from Troy'' by [[:Wikipedia:Pompeo Batoni|Pompeo Batoni]] (1753)]]
There are notable similarities between Gondolin and [[:Wikipedia:Troy|Troy]], especially between the more detailed early Lost Tale and the account of the [[:Wikipedia:Trojan War|Fall of Troy]] as told by Virgil in his ''[[:Wikipedia:Aeneid|Aeneid]]''. Both cities have their origins in the God of the Sea, as the [[:Wikipedia:Poseidon#Walls_of_Troy|walls of Troy]] were built by Poseidon/Neptune. Both also are doomed because of treachery (one internal, the other external) and while their citizens celebrated a feast. Both Aeneas and Tuor are destined to survive the destruction, managing to kill all enemies while wandering through the battle and seeing the death of their respective kings. Both also secretly lead survivors to escape the city, accompanied by their relatives (while Aeneas carries his father, Tuor carries his son).<ref>Alexander M. Bruce, "[http://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol30/iss3/7/ The Fall of Gondolin and the Fall of Troy: Tolkien and Book II of The Aeneid]", ''[[Mythlore 117/118]]'', pp. 106-109</ref>

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Gondolin|Images of Gondolin]]
* [[Nargothrond]], the parallel Hidden Kingdom of [[Finrod]]

{{References|note}}
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Elven realms]]
[[Category:Gnomish locations]]
[[Category:Gondolin| ]]
[[Category:Noldorin locations]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Gondolin]]
[[fi:Gondolin]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/beleriand/gondolin]]

Elven Rope (scene)

2022-08-30T14:55:21Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
'''Elven Rope''' is the second scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]]. This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''.

As [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] make their way through [[Emyn Muil]], they descend a small cliff using the [[Elven rope]] given to [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] by [[Galadriel]] in [[Lothlorien]]. As [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]'s foot slips on a loose chunk of stone, a small wooden box slips out of his pocket, which [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] managers to catch. When they reach the bottom, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] reveals that the box contains high-quality salt from [[The Shire]], which he brought in case [[Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship]] was able to roast a chicken at some point. While [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] raises his eyebrows (metaphorically) at such an apparently naive hope, he is still touched that [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] was able to bring a small piece of home with them.

[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] doesn't like the idea of leaving the rope behind in case someone tries to follow them - and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] doesn't want to part with [[Galadriel]]'s gift - but the latter admits that his knot won't be easily undone. Yet when [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] gives the rope a single tug and it comes undone with no resistance, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] looks at him and simply replies, "Real Elvish rope", with a slightly mocking smile on his face.

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|02]]

Elven Rope (scene)

2022-08-30T14:54:50Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
'''Elven Rope''' is the second scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]]. This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''.

As [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] make their way through [[Emyn Muil]], they descend a small cliff using the [[Elven rope]] given to [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] by [[Galadriel]] in [[Lothlorien]]. As [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]'s foot slips on a loose chunk of stone, a small wooden box slips out of his pocket, which [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] managers to catch. When they reach the bottom, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] reveals that the box contains high-quality salt from [[The Shire]], which he brought in case [[Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship]] was able to roast a chicken at some point. While [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] raises his eyebrows (metaphorically) at such an apparently naive hope, he is still touched that [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] was able to bring a small piece of home with them.

[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] doesn't like the idea of leaving the rope behind in case someone tries to follow them - and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] doesn't want to part with [[Galadriel]]'s gift - the latter admits that his knot won't be easily undone. Yet when [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] gives the rope a single tug and it comes undone with no resistance, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] looks at him and simply replies, "Real Elvish rope", with a slightly mocking smile on his face.

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|02]]

Gilraen's Memorial

2022-08-22T17:52:30Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
'''Gilraen's Memorial''' is the twenty-eight scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (extended edition)]]. This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.

In the early morning, as The Fellowship of the Ring prepares to depart [[Rivendell]], [[Aragorn]] clears away some greenery from the white stone monument dedicated to his mother, [[Gilraen]]. [[Elrond]] comes up behind Aragorn, reminding him that his mother knew his ancestry would always put him at risk of danger, and left him in Rivendell for his own safety. Elrond also reminds Aragorn that, even if the elves can reforge the [[Narsil|the sword of Elendil]], he is the only one who can wield it and reclaim the legacy of [[Númenor]], despite his reluctance to take up the role.

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring scenes|28]]

Dwarf Women (scene)

2022-08-22T17:15:08Z

Artlover87:

{{stub}}
{{disambig-two|the scene in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]|concept of the [[legendarium]]|[[Dwarf-women]]}}
'''Dwarf Women''' is the twenty-third scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' and the thirty-first scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]].

As the people of [[Edoras]] journey towards [[Helm's Deep]], [[Gimli]] talks to [[Éowyn]] about dwarf-women, and how they are often mistaken for male dwarves due to their similar appearances. When he accidentally causes his horse to gallop forwards, throwing him off its back, Éowyn laughs aloud and [[Théoden]] - observing the scene - comments to [[Aragorn]] that it's been a long time since he's seen his niece smile. He tells Aragorn that Éowyn was only a girl when her father was killed and she was handed over to Théoden's keeping. He also laments that he wasn't the most affectionate guardian to her at the time and regrets not showing her more love.
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|31]]

Phial of Galadriel

2022-08-18T14:04:53Z

Artlover87:

__NOTOC__
[[File:John Howe - The Phial of Galadriel.jpg|thumb|''The Phial of Galadriel'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{quote|'And you, Ring-bearer,' she said, turning to Frodo. 'I come to you last who are not last in my thoughts. For you I have prepared this.' She held up a small crystal phial: it glittered as she moved it, and rays of white light sprang from her hand. 'In this phial,' she said, 'is caught the light of [[Eärendil's star]], set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.'|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Farewell to Lórien]]"}}
The '''Phial of Galadriel''', or '''star-glass''' or '''Lady's glass''', was the [[Gifts of Galadriel|gift]] that [[Galadriel]] bestowed to [[Frodo Baggins]].

==History==
[[File:Tim Kirk - Galadriel.jpg|thumb|left|''Galadriel'' by [[Tim Kirk]]]]
Galadriel gave Frodo this gift upon the Fellowship's departure from [[Lothlórien]].<ref name="Farewell">{{FR|Farewell}}, p. 376</ref> It would stay among his possessions unused until reaching the edge of [[Mordor]].

Soon after the [[Breaking of the Fellowship]], the night fell upon the [[Three Hunters]], so [[Gimli]] wished that the Lady had given to them a light like Frodo's, but [[Aragorn]] remarked that Frodo would need it more.<ref>{{TT|Riders}}, p. 426</ref>

As Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee]] and [[Gollum]] approached the [[Stairs of Cirith Ungol]], Frodo saw a great mass of cavalrymen led by the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]. When the Witch-king stopped, Frodo feared they had been spotted; against his will, Frodo moves his hand towards the [[The One Ring|ring]]. Instead, he touched the phial - which he had forgotten - and the Witch-king continued on his way. The next morning, he made use of the phial again while leaving [[Minas Morgul]] behind.<ref name=Stairs>{{TT|Stairs}}</ref>{{rp|706-708}}

Frodo used the phial to fend off the attacks of [[Shelob]], but he was eventually poisoned by her.<ref name=Lair>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 720-722, 725</ref> Sam could defeat the spider thanks to the Phial, and escaped her [[Shelob's Lair|lair]] after taking the star-glass with him, excusing himself to Frodo's body.<ref>{{TT|IV10}}, pp. 729-731</ref> Sam and Frodo later used it to overcome the will of the [[Two Watchers]] at the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]].<ref>{{RK|Tower}}, pp. 902, 915</ref> Sam also attempted to use the light in the [[Cracks of Doom|Crack of Doom]], but the light from the glass faded because they were in the heart of [[Sauron]]'s domain.<ref>{{RK|Doom}}, p. 945</ref>

Upon Frodo's departure from [[Middle-earth]], the light from the phial faded as it reached the shores of [[Eldamar]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}, p. 1030</ref>

===Relation with Eärendil===
Galadriel explained that her phial contained the [[light]] of the [[Star of Eärendil]] as reflected in her [[Mirror of Galadriel|Mirror]].<ref name="Farewell"/> As Sam remembered to Frodo, the light of this star was the same [[Silmaril]] recovered by [[Beren]], now hold by [[Eärendil]]. This made them part of the great tales of the past.<ref name=Stairs/>{{rp|712}}

Thus, when [[Gollum]] led Frodo and Sam into Shelob's Lair, Frodo exclaimed in [[Quenya]], "''[[Aiya Eärendil elenion ancalima!]]''",<ref name=Lair/> translating as "Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!".

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Films===
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Phial is absent as Galadriel does not give any gifts to the Fellowship.

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:The Phial is found by Sam in Frodo's cloak and is used to pass the Watchers' barrier in Cirith Ungol. Its origins are never touched on in the film. Frodo identifies it as the Phial of Galadriel, but refuses to say anymore about where he acquired it.

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:The Phial is given to Frodo by Galadriel in the first film. It reappears in ''Return of the King'', used by Frodo to ward off Shelob although he drops it in his escape. It is retrieved by Sam and wielded in his battle against Shelob.

'''2014: [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies|''The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]:'''
:When the [[White Council]] arrives to rescue [[Gandalf]], Galadriel use the phial to cast Sauron out of [[Dol Guldur]], rebuking him as a "servant of [[Melkor|Morgoth]]" without name, face, or form.

{{Giftsofgaladriel}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Gifts of Galadriel]]

Elven characteristics

2022-08-17T17:43:26Z

Artlover87:

[[File:Piotr Fox Wysocki - Last Elf.jpg|thumb|''Last Elf'' by Piotr Wysocki]]{{quote|The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth.|[[Gildor Inglorion]]<ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref>}}
The [[Elves]] were the fairest creatures in [[Arda]], a far more beautiful race than [[Men]], and generally tall (seldom less than six feet for elf women, no less than six and a half feet for elfmen).<ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, Heights, p. 194</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 107</ref> Among them, [[Calaquendi|those]] who had gone to [[Valinor]] were the fairest and had the greatest skill of body.

Elves had keener senses than [[Men]]. They were slender, graceful yet strong, and were resistant to extremes of nature, illness and disease. However, many [[Noldor]] died at the crossings of [[Helcaraxë]].

Practical considerations, including a number of occasions where Men were mistaken for Elves (most notably [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]), suggest that the points of difference between Elves and Men must have been subtle.

== Pointed ears ==
Whether Elvish ears were pointed or not is open for speculation,<ref name=Dunkerson>{{webcite|author=Conrad Dunkerson|articleurl=http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Ears.html|articlename=Do the Elves in Tolkien's stories have pointed ears?|dated=|website=[http://tolkien.slimy.com/ The Tolkien Meta-FAQ]|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=Martinez>{{webcite|author=[[Michael Martinez]]|articleurl=http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2011/09/21/do-tolkiens-elves-have-pointy-ears/|articlename=Do Tolkien’s Elves Have Pointy Ears?|dated=21 September 2011|website=[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/ Middle.earth.Xenite.org]|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref> but it should be noted that there are no explicit references to pointed Elvish ears in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' or ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'' (a linguistic manuscript from ca. 1937-8 published posthumously) is stated that "the [[Quendi|Quendian]] ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than [[Men|Human]]."<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 368 (roots LAS1 and LAS2)</ref><ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 26</ref> In another linguistic manuscript (from ca. 1959-60), the [[Elvish]] connection between ears and leaves is again noted: "[[Amon Lhaw]]. ¶SLAS-, ear. ''[[lass|las]]'', leaf. ''slasū'' > Q ''[[hlaru]]'', S ''[[lhaw]]''."<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 77</ref><ref>{{webcite|author=[[John Garth]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/ml.martinez/posts/10155820042196038?comment_id=10155821234781038&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D|articlename=Facebook discussion|dated=3 February 2017|website=FB|accessed=5 February 2017}}</ref>

Answering to a question on [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] ears, [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] wrote that these were "only slightly pointed and 'elvish'".<ref>{{L|27}}</ref> Some fans take this to mean that Elvish ears were pointed, while others argue that it is an ambiguous statement.<ref name=Dunkerson/><ref name=Martinez/><ref>{{webcite|author=Various|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheTolkienSociety.EducationalCharity/permalink/10154773899876068/|articlename=Tolkien Society Facebook group discussion|dated=|website=FB|accessed=5 February 2017}}</ref>

== Hair colour ==
In general, the [[Vanyar]] were golden-haired, with the name ''Vanyar'' meaning "the Fair" in [[Quenya]] and referring to their light-coloured hair.{{Fact}} Other Elves - including the [[Noldor]], [[Sindar]], and [[Avari]] - had dark brown or black hair, as in the cases of Finwë or Maeglin.<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 118, 125</ref><ref group=note>[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] notes in one manuscript that "''no Elf had absolute black hair''" ({{PE|17}}, p. 125)</ref> [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] and her remote descendant [[Arwen|Arwen Undómiel]], both described as the fairest of all Elves, were dark haired. Additionally, a silver hair colour existed among the [[Teleri]] and in the royal houses of the Sindar, with [[Thingol]], [[Círdan]] and [[Celeborn]] all described as having silver hair.<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}: Sindar</ref>

In some cases elves had atypical hair colour, either due to simple happenstance or intermarriage between clans. A prime example is the royal house of the Noldor and their descendants: [[Míriel Serindë]] of the Noldor, the first wife of [[Finwë]] and mother of [[Fëanor]], is described as having silvery hair.<ref>{{MR|P3I6}}</ref> Fëanor himself possessed "raven-dark" hair,<ref>{{S|Feanor}}</ref> but not all the sons of Fëanor shared this trait; [[Maedhros]] and the twins [[Amrod]] and [[Amras]] had auburn hair (though Amrod's hair grew darker after childhood).<ref name=Sons>{{PM|XI7}}</ref>{{rp|355}} This rare red-brown hair colour was a trait of Fëanor's wife [[Nerdanel]] and her father [[Mahtan]], who had the ''epessë'' Rusco 'fox' due to his hair colour.<ref name=Sons/>{{rp|353}} [[Finarfin]], the youngest son of Finwë, and his descendants had golden hair on account of Finwë's second wife, [[Indis]] of the Vanyar. Finarfin's daughter [[Galadriel]] displayed an extremely rare hair colour nowhere else observed; golden-silver hair, said to be dazzlingly beautiful ("the light of the [[Two Trees]], [[Laurelin]] and [[Telperion]], had been snared in her tresses").<ref name=Galadriel>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

Another Noldo with noteworthy hair colour was [[Glorfindel]], whose hair is described as "shining gold" in colour.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref> [[Idril]], the daughter of [[Turgon]], King of [[Gondolin]], had golden hair inherited from her mother, [[Elenwë]] of the Vanyar. [[Thranduil]], father of [[Legolas]] and a Sindarin Elf, is described as having "golden" hair in ''[[The Hobbit]]'',<ref>{{H|8}}</ref> but Legolas' own hair colour is not recorded. The golden hair colour is sometimes implied among the other Elves: [[Amroth]], a Sindarin Elf of Lothórien is one such case, whose hair is described as "bright" and shining like a spark of gold in the sun.<ref name=Galadriel/> In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', a very similar reference is made for an [[Galadhrim|Elf of Lothórien]], who had hair that "glinted like gold" in the sun.<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}</ref>

==Eye colour==
When Tolkien describes Elven eyes, they tend to be grey. This is certainly true of Lúthien and her descendants, including [[Elrond]] and his children ([[Arwen]], [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]]) as well as [[Aragorn]] and the Dúnedain. [[Voronwë]], who guided the man [[Tuor]] to Gondolin, also had grey eyes.

Though he was half-Noldorin, [[Maeglin]] is said to have dark eyes (possibly from his father [[Eöl]], who was not of the Noldor), while [[Olwë]] (the brother of Lúthien's father [[Thingol]], and a Telerin king) had blue eyes. The eye colour of most other Elves is not mentioned, and so would be difficult to generalize.

==Other characteristics==
The Elves were like [[Ainur]] in spirit; they loved all beauty of nature, especially water, the [[Sea]] and the [[stars]], since they were the first things they saw; as a consequence [[Ulmo]] and [[Varda]] were the [[Ainur]] closest to them. They were marked by an insatiable curiosity and a desire of learning and creating.

They detested all evil and were usually more resistant to being corrupted than Men, unless evil tricked them with fair form, like [[Annatar]]. Conversely, their work harmed evil, like [[lembas]] and the [[Elven rope]] that brought pain to [[Gollum]]'s skin. They were, however, susceptible to greed, pride and jealousy, as exemplified by the story of the House of [[Fëanor]], or the jealous and unjustified hatred of [[Saeros]] toward [[Túrin]]. <ref name=UT2>{{UT|2}}</ref>

The Eldar could manipulate '''''[[sanwe-latya]]''''' ([[Quenya]] for "thought-opening" or "telepathy") which allowed them to communicate with thought ([[Ósanwe]]).

Like Men and Dwarves, Elves did sleep. In ''[[The Two Towers]]'', it says of [[Legolas]], "[He] already lay motionless, his fair hands folded upon his breast, his eyes unclosed, blending living night and deep dream, as is the way with Elves."<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Also, unlike Men, Elves were ambidextrous.<ref>{{VT|49a}}</ref>

Although Elves were generally considered the most powerful of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]], there are accounts that some Men from the Great Houses of the First Age were physically stronger, though less agile. It is told that the [[Helm of Hador|Dragon Helm]] was given to [[Fingon]], but "in all Hithlum no head and shoulders were found stout enough to bear the dwarf-helm with ease", so the High King gave it to [[Hador]], a Man.<ref name=UT2/>

{{References|n}}

[[Category:Elves]]

User talk:Artlover87

2022-08-16T19:35:05Z

Artlover87: /* Magic Article */

{{Template:Welcome|realName=Jesse Brauner|name=Artlover87}}

-- [[User:Mith|'''Mith''']] ([[User talk:Mith|'''Talk''']]/[[Special:Contributions/Mith|Contribs]]/[[Special:Editcount/Mith/Edits|Edits]]) 06:07, 8 January 2016 (UTC)

== Magic Article ==
Thanks for your help on the [[Magic]] article! That flows much better now. --[[User:Hyarion|Hyarion]] 19:27, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

You're welcome :) [[User:Artlover87|Artlover87]] 19:35, 16 August 2022 (UTC)

Magic

2022-08-16T19:24:00Z

Artlover87: Tried to clean up the grammar and tighten the structure. Apologies for any mistakes.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Nazgûl at the Walls.jpg|250px|thumb|''Nazgûl at the Walls'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

{{quote|I am afraid I have been far too casual about 'magic' and especially the use of the word; though Galadriel and others show by the criticism of the 'mortal' use of the word, that the thought about it is not altogether casual. But it is a v. large question, and difficult; and a story which . . . is largely about motives"|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Letter 155]]}}

{{quote|For this is what your folk would call magic. I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy|[[Galadriel]], ''[[The Mirror of Galadriel]]''}}

'''Magic''' in Middle-earth was not explicitly defined by Tolkien, and the term can have various meanings depending on usage and context. For [[Hobbits]], it was a term used to describe processes and abilities of objects which could not be explained outside of their limited lore and knowledge. For Elves and Wizards, what others might call magic was not something special or different from the natural world,<ref name="L155">{{L|155}}</ref> just a part of it that was not immediately visible. This led to the more common categorization of things as [[Seen]] or [[Unseen]], with the Seen aspects of an object or person being only part of it. Through the power of [[the One Ring]], [[Frodo Baggins]] at times saw powerful Elves, such as the High-elf [[Glorfindel]], in their true level of power and radiance that extends into the Unseen.<ref name="Many"/>

==Magic by race==
===Ainur magic===
The [[Ainur]], as supernatural or angelic beings, could shape the world around them in terms according to their natures. Melkor, later [[Morgoth]], had great power but he could only mar or corrupt what his brethren had already wrought.<ref name="Ainu">{{S|Ainu}}</ref> As explained in ''Morgoth's Ring'', "to gain domination over Arda, Morgoth had let most of his being pass into the ''physical'' constituents of the Earth". This meant that everything which was born or lived on Earth, such as beasts, plants, and incarnate spirits, were likely to be tainted.<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|394}} [[Sauron]], a lieutenant of Morgoth, was a powerful [[Maiar|Maia]] who used his abilities to manipulate objects and those beings enslaved to him. While with the [[One Ring]], Sauron's "relatively smaller, power was ''concentrated''; Morgoth's vast power was ''disseminated''. The whole of 'Middle-earth' was Morgoth's Ring."<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|400}} In this imbuement of Middle-earth, "Morgoth lost (or exchanged, or transmuted) the greater part of his original 'angelic' powers, of mind and spirit, while gaining a terrible grip upon the physical world."<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|400}}

For both Morgoth and Sauron, these acts of corruption, of putting their will and power into other things and people, weakened them considerably. "Evil is fissiparous. But itself barren."<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|405}} With each creation or corruption, they were lessened because parts of their power now existed outside of themselves. Such power was not an unlimited supply, and even the [[Ainur]] who resided in [[Aman]] had limits. For example, [[Yavanna]] could not remake the light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor]] following their destruction by [[Ungoliant]]. The only hope for them to be restored would be to reclaim the light captured of them in the [[Silmarils]].<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref>

Some Maiar, like Sauron, had power nearly the equal of a Vala<ref name="Ainu"/> so that even [[Gandalf|Olórin]] feared him.<ref name="Istari"/>{{rp|393}} Whatever lore Sauron shared with the [[Elves]], such as the making of the [[Rings of Power]] in [[Eregion]], would have unlocked their understanding of how to craft the rings using their own innate abilities. This is how the master-smith [[Celebrimbor]] was able to create the [[Three Rings]] in secret. But the rings that [[Sauron|Annatar]] had a hand in crafting were corrupted and bound to his own power, and any power that his slaves or servants had was also sourced in him. Servants like the [[Black Númenóreans]] and the Men who became [[Nazgûl]] used this power as sorcery. For example, if [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]'s heart had been pierced with the Morgul-knife, he would have been a wraith and under the Ringwraiths' command, just as they are under Sauron's.<ref name="Many">{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>
[[File:Donato Giancola - The Balance of Things.jpg‎|right|thumb|''The Balance of Things'' by [[Donato Giancola]] featuring the five Wizards]]

The [[Istari]], the Maiar who came to [[Middle-earth]] in the diminished form of men, were tasked to help guide the [[Free peoples]] against Sauron. The true nature of the Istari was not known to all, and they were simply considered wise old men. They were called [[Wizards]], and in Tolkien's mythology this term is specifically only used for the Order of the Istari, who are of angelic origin. The word "wizard" is a translation of the [[Quenya]] ''istar'' (Sindarin ''ithron''); one of the members of an 'order' (as they called it), claiming to posses, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World."<ref name ="Istari">{{UT|Istari}}</ref>

A member of the race of Men wielding apparent magical powers would be referred to as a sorcerer, whether for good or evil. Although later contradicted, according to Tolkien's [[Letter 155]], the concept of magic in his world is not derived from lore or spells, and Men did not have any affinity for magic.<ref name="L155"/> By this definition, lore like knowing the language of an animal would not be considered magical in [[Middle-earth]], merely knowledgeable.<ref>{{H|Fire}}</ref>{{rp|227-8}}

===Elven magic===
The [[Eldar]] of [[Aman]] lived alongside the [[Ainur]], knew of their powers, and were even tutored by them. At the same time, the Elves did not comprehend the concept of magic as it was used by mortal beings. For Elves, their bodies and spirits worked in harmony and creation came naturally to them. The Elvish "''[[fëa]]'' was above all designed to create things in co-operation with the ''hröa''."<ref>{{MR|P4g}}</ref>{{rp|332}} The Elves were taught arts and crafts by the [[Valar]] in [[Valinor]] and put dedication and love in every thing they wrought. They were deeply connected to the things they made, and "the love of the Elves for their land and their works is deeper than the deeps of the Sea."<ref name="Mirror"/> Due to their near immortality,<ref name="Laws">{{MR|Laws}}</ref>{{rp|212}} Elves could reach high levels of mastery in arts, crafts, and lore.

The [[Rings of Power]] and [[lesser rings]] were objects that would seem magical to the [[Secondborn]]; they gave powers of manipulation to the bearer of the [[One Ring]], and some might give the wearer invisibility, which was actually the ability to walk in the Unseen world. Galadriel was tutored by Melian when she resided in Doriath,<ref>{{S|Return}}</ref> and with her ring [[Nenya]], she was able to enchant and protect the [[Lothlórien|Golden Wood]].<ref name="Mirror"/> Elrond wore the ring [[Vilya]] which helped him protect his hidden realm of [[Imladris]]. In the Third Age, [[Thranduil]] was the only Elf-lord who did not have a Great Ring to help him maintain his realm against the Enemy. However, he did have the [[Enchanted River]]<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref>, which made people fall asleep and dream deeply, and the [[Elvenking's Halls]] as his fortress to help protect his people.<ref>{{H|Flies}}</ref>

Other Elven artefacts were the ''[[Palantíri]]'',<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> the [[Fëanorian lamps|Lamps of the Noldor]],<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}</ref>{{rp|Note 2}} and the [[Mirror of Galadriel]],<ref name="Mirror">{{FR|Mirror}}</ref> all of which would seem magical to outsiders. Even simpler artefacts, such as the river-boats of the [[Galadhrim]] and the elven ropes seemed to have wills of their own.
[[Image:Šárka Škorpíková - Finrod vs Sauron.jpg|left|thumb|225px|''Finrod versus Sauron'' by [[:Category:Images by Šárka Škorpíková|Šárka Škorpíková]]]]

In addition to creation and craftsmanship, Elves had great skill with healing and medicine. Though such things came naturally to them, those Elves who healed often chose not to fight, except at great need, in order to preserve their skill, "for the Eldar deemed that the dealing of death . . . diminished the power of healing."<ref name="Laws"/>{{rp|213}} While ordinary for an Elf, it might have felt magical to someone healed by them who did not understand how they were using their [[fëa]] (spirit). [[Glorfindel]] helped heal [[Frodo]] without seeming to do more than search the wound with his fingers. "Frodo felt the chill lessen in his side and arm; a little warmth crept down from his shoulder to his hand, and the pain grew easier." There were no magic words or chants, and no medicine was applied at that time. He also gave Frodo and his companions a drink of clear liquid, which had no taste, that renewed their strength and vigour.<ref name="Flight">{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

Elven minstrels, like [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]] and [[Lúthien]], also excerised power through their songs. Finrod fought against Sauron in song and made great progress, but he was overpowered with a dire chant. Lúthien, who was half-[[Maia]], was able to use strong enchantments to disguise both herself and Beren, and she mesmerized Morgoth with her singing and dancing.<ref name="Beren">{{S|Beren}}</ref>

===Dark magic===
[[Image:John_Howe_-_Black_Rider_02.jpg‎|right|thumb|''The Black Rider'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Sindarin has two words for dark magic; ''[[morgul]]'' and ''[[guldur]]''. The element ''gûl'' literally means "magic lore" or "long study" and has negative connotations that include "necromancy" and "sorcery". ''Môr'' translates to "dark" or "night", and ''dûr'' means "dark" or "sombre".<ref group="note"> Sindarin translations found at: [http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/sindar/online/sindar/dict-sd-en.html Hiswelókë's Sindarin dictionary]</ref> On their own these words are innocuous, as the concept of magic itself is neutral in Middle-earth.<ref name="L155"/> However, when these terms are used in ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'', such as referring to [[Dol Guldur]] or a Morgul-knife, they have negative connotations.<ref name="Many"/> Morgul may refer to the dark lore and objects produced or influenced through the magic of Sauron and used for evil. These could be shared with his followers, such as the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] and [[Black Númenóreans]].

The magic wielded by Sauron, or other sorcerers who were taught how to manipulate the corruption Morgoth left in Arda, was based directly upon the physical legacy of Morgoth himself. The "Morgoth-element in matter . . . was a prerequisite for such 'magic' and other evils as Sauron practised with it and upon it."<ref name=Myths>{{MR|P5VII}}</ref>{{rp|400}}

Sauron himself was also known as the Necromancer, which indicated that he had power over spirits.<ref>{{H|Stage}}</ref> The [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]], a servant of Sauron who wore a Ring of Power, had the ability to summon the [[Barrow-wights]] to the [[Barrow-downs]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>

===Dwarven magic===
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Doors of Durin.jpg|left|thumb|150px|''The Doors of Durin'' by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] (as printed in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Book II, Ch. 4 - [[A Journey in the Dark]]).]]
Certain constructions of the [[Dwarves]] had properties which might be seen magical. As a prominent example, [[Doors of Durin]] could open by themselves upon the entrant saying the word ''mellon'', without any visible machinery or other assistance. Such a magical appearance could be down to the ingenuity of Dwarven technology and craftsmanship. The Elven Door was created by the Dwarven craftsman [[Narvi]] and inscribed by the Elf-lord [[Celebrimbor]] with letters and signs fashioned in [[ithildin]].<ref>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

Another Dwarven door, seen in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', is the [[Back Door]] of the Lonely Mountain. This was a hidden, seamless door with keyhole that would only be revealed on [[Durin's Day]]. The key lines that may infer an enchantment on the door are:

{{blockquote|A gleam of light came straight through the opening into the bay and fell on the smooth rock-face. The old thrush . . . gave a sudden trill. There was a loud crack. A flake of rock split from the wall and fell. A hole appeared suddenly about three feet from the ground.|{{H|Doorstep}}}}

This appears to be what Tolkien might refer to as ''magia'', or physical magic, because there is a crack and a flake of rock falls off the wall.<ref name="L155"/>

==Tolkien's views==
J.R.R. Tolkien discussed the operations and moral dimensions of magic in [[Letter 155]] of ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''. This letter is actually an unsent part of a draft of [[Letter 154]] which was dated September 25, 1954.

Magic in Middle-earth was explained as an innate ability set of the Ainur and the Firstborn, to the exclusion of other peoples. Regardless, ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' both contain descriptions of special items and weapons that are said to have been crafted by Men and Dwarves, such as the dagger wielded by Merry which stabbed the Witch-king and [[Angrist]].<ref name="Battle">{{RK|Battle}}</ref><ref name=Beren/>

The area of discussion in the letter is the difference between ''magia'' and ''goeteia'', with ''magia'' (physical magic) usually noted as good and ''goeteia'' (charm and conjuring magic) as bad. He wrote, "neither is, in this tale, good or bad (per se), but only by motive or purpose or use. Both sides use both, but with different motives."<ref name="L155"/> The evil motive was to use it to dominate free will. The Enemy used his ''magia'' to "bulldoze" both people and things and used his ''goeteia'' to terrify and subjugate. The Elves and Gandalf sparingly used ''magia'' for specific beneficial purposes (like burning pine cones to toss at the Wargs<ref>{{H|6}}</ref>), and their ''goetic'' effects were "entirely ''artistic'' and not intended to deceive: they never deceive Elves (but may deceive or bewilder unaware Men)."<ref name="L155"/> For Elves, the difference was as clear to them as the difference to us between art (fiction, painting, and sculpture) and life.<ref name="L155"/>

At the end of the draft noted as Letter 155, he wrote "a difference between the use of 'magic' in this story [''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''] is that it is not to be come by by 'lore' or spells; but it is an inherent power not possessed or attainable by Men as such."<ref name="L155"/> While "Aragorn's 'healing' might be regarded as 'magical', or at least a blend of magic and pharmacy and 'hypnotic' processes . . . A. is not a pure 'Man', but at long remove one of the 'children of Lúthien'."<ref name="L155"/> However, in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' at the [[Doors of Durin]], Gandalf said, "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs, that was ever used for such a purpose. I can still remember ten score of them without searching in my mind."<ref>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

'''The Númenórean Question''': Since this 1954 letter draft was unsent, he seemed undecided on the total exclusion of Men from spellcasting. Since Men did not have the natural skill to weave their own spirit into things or ideas, they may have used spells. Alongside the final paragraph of Letter 155, which ended with the explanation that Aragorn was distantly of Lúthien's line, Tolkien wrote this question: "'But the Númenóreans used "spells" in making swords?'"<ref name="L155"/>{{rp|Note 2}}

In a later work completed by 1959, the ''[[Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth]]'', there is an amended note which contains the [[Tale of Adanel]] in which the strongest and the cruellest of the fallen Men who worshipped Morgoth, during the dawn of Men in Middle-earth, were given "gifts" and "knowledge that they kept secret" which made them "powerful and proud," and with their new power, they enslaved the other Men.<ref name=Athrabeth>{{MR|P4i}}</ref>{{rp|348}} In this later text, Men could be given artefacts or taught lore, but magic remained a noninherent trait.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the early stages of the [[legendarium]], the magical elements are more explicit.

In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the complex relationship of creation from the spirits and bodies of Ainur and Elves is explained as spells and enchantments. Irmo used poppies as reagents in his sleep enchantments.<ref name=Valar>{{LT1|III}}</ref>{{rp|74}} Aulë used spells in his smith-craft.<ref name=Melko>{{LT1|IV}}</ref>{{rp|100}} Yavanna used spells and enchantments when creating and growing plants,<ref name=Valar/>{{rp|71, 98}} and she gave spells to Ulmo to populate the seas with aquatic life during the age of "Melko's Chains".<ref name=Melko/>{{rp|106}} In "[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]", [[Lúthien|Tinúviel]], [[Melian|Gwendeling]]'s daughter, wove with magics and spells in her tree house prison, and she was aided by her mother and her brother, [[Dairon]].<ref name=Tinuviel>{{LT2|I}}</ref>{{rp|19}}

Lúthien's spells are given in much more detail in the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'': to lengthen her hair, she used water collected ritually and sang the names of the longest things on earth.<ref>{{LB|C5}}, vv. 1425-1523</ref>

In the same phase of the legendarium, [[Tolkien]] included [[Beleg]] using a [[Beleg's whetting spell|spell song]] to sharpen his sword, also naming names of things related with his purpose.<ref>{{LB|1c}}, vv. 1203-1223</ref>

==External links==
*[http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/MagicEssay.html Essay on magic in Middle-earth] by Steuard Jensen
*[http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/lordoftherings/magic/principles.html Principles of Tolkien's Magic] by John H. Kim
*[http://tolkien.cro.net/mearth/magic.html Magic in Middle-earth] at tolkien.cro.net
{{references|n}}
[[Category:Magic| ]]

Magic

2022-07-26T00:32:49Z

Artlover87: Minor grammar changes.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Nazgûl at the Walls.jpg|250px|thumb|''Nazgûl at the Walls'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

{{quote|I am afraid I have been far too casual about 'magic' and especially the use of the word; though Galadriel and others show by the criticism of the 'mortal' use of the word, that the thought about it is not altogether casual. But it is a v. large question, and difficult; and a story which . . . is largely about motives"|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Letter 155]]}}

{{quote|For this is what your folk would call magic. I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy|[[Galadriel]], ''[[The Mirror of Galadriel]]''}}

'''Magic''' in Middle-earth was not explicitly defined by Tolkien, and the term can have various meanings depending on usage and context. For [[Hobbits]], it was a term used to describe processes and abilities of objects which could not be explained outside of their limited lore and knowledge. For Elves and Wizards, what others might call magic was not something special or different from the natural world,<ref name="L155">{{L|155}}</ref> just a part of it that was not immediately visible. This led to the more common categorization of things as [[Seen]] or [[Unseen]], with the Seen aspects of an object or person being only part of it. Through the power of [[the One Ring]], [[Frodo Baggins]] at times saw powerful Elves, such as the High-elf [[Glorfindel]], in their true level of power and radiance that extends into the Unseen.<ref name="Many"/>

==Magic by race==
===Ainur magic===
The [[Ainur]], as supernatural or angelic beings, could shape the world around them in terms according to their natures. Melkor, later [[Morgoth]], had great power but he could only mar or corrupt what his brethren had wrought.<ref name="Ainu">{{S|Ainu}}</ref>

In ''Morgoth's Ring'', it's explained that, "to gain domination over Arda, Morgoth had let most of his being pass into the ''physical'' constituents of the Earth". This meant that everything which was born or lived on Earth, such as, beasts, plants, and incarnate spirits, were likely to be tainted.<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|394}} While with the [[One Ring]], Sauron's "relatively smaller, power was ''concentrated''; Morgoth's vast power was ''disseminated''. The whole of 'Middle-earth' was Morgoth's Ring."<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|400}} In this imbuement of Middle-earth, "Morgoth lost (or exchanged, or transmuted) the greater part of his original 'angelic' powers, of mind and spirit, while gaining a terrible grip upon the physical world."<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|400}}

[[Sauron]], a lieutenant of Morgoth, was a powerful [[Maiar|Maia]] who used his abilities to manipulate objects and those beings enslaved to him. However, these acts of corruption, putting his will and power into other things and people, lessened him as it did his master before him. "Evil is fissiparous. But itself barren."<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|405}} So with each creation or corruption, they themselves were lessened because parts of their power now existed outside of themselves. Such power was not an unlimited supply. Even the [[Ainur]] who resided in [[Aman]] had limits. For example, [[Yavanna]] could not remake the light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor]]. The only hope for them to be restored would be to reclaim the light captured of them in the [[Silmarils]].<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref>

Some Maiar, like Sauron, had power nearly the equal of a Vala<ref name="Ainu"/> so that even [[Gandalf|Olórin]] feared him.<ref name="Istari"/>{{rp|393}} Whatever lore Sauron shared with the [[Elves]], such as the making of the [[Rings of Power]] in [[Eregion]], would have unlocked their own understanding of how to craft the rings using their own innate abilities. This is how the master-smith [[Celebrimbor]] was able to create the [[Three Rings]] in secret. But the rings that [[Sauron|Annatar]] had a hand in crafting were corrupted and bound to his own power, and any power that his slaves or servants had was also sourced in him. Servants like the [[Black Númenóreans]] and the Men who became [[Nazgûl]] used this power as sorcery. For example, if [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]'s heart had been pierced with the Morgul-knife, he would have been a wraith and under the Ringwraiths' command, just as they are under Sauron's.<ref name="Many">{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>
[[File:Donato Giancola - The Balance of Things.jpg‎|right|thumb|''The Balance of Things'' by [[Donato Giancola]] featuring the five Wizards]]

The [[Istari]], the Maiar who came to [[Middle-earth]] in the diminished form of men, were tasked to help guide the [[Free peoples]] against Sauron. The true nature of the Istari was not known to all, and they were considered wise old men. They were called [[Wizards]], and in Tolkien's mythology this term is specifically only used for the Order of the Istari, who are of angelic origin. The word "wizard" is a translation of the [[Quenya]] ''istar'' (Sindarin ''ithron''); one of the members of an 'order' (as they called it), claiming to posses, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World."<ref name ="Istari">{{UT|Istari}}</ref>

A member of the race of Men wielding apparent magical powers would be referred to as a sorcerer, whether for good or evil. Although later contradicted, according to Tolkien's [[Letter 155]], the concept of magic in his world is not derived from lore or spells, and Men did not have any affinity for magic.<ref name="L155"/> By this definition, lore like knowing the language of an animal would not be considered magical in [[Middle-earth]], merely knowledgeable.<ref>{{H|Fire}}</ref>{{rp|227-8}}

===Elven magic===
Although the [[Eldar]] of [[Aman]] knew the powers of the [[Ainur]] and were even tutored by them, the Elves did not comprehend the concept of magic as it was used by mortals. Their bodies and spirits worked in harmony and creation came naturally to them. The Elvish "''[[fëa]]'' was above all designed to make things in co-operation with the ''hröa''."<ref>{{MR|P4g}}</ref>{{rp|332}} The Elves were taught arts and crafts by the [[Valar]] in [[Valinor]] and put dedication and love in every thing they wrought. They were deeply connected to the things they made, "the love of the Elves for their land and their works is deeper than the deeps of the Sea."<ref name="Mirror"/> Due to their near immortality,<ref name="Laws">{{MR|Laws}}</ref>{{rp|212}} Elves could reach high levels of mastery in crafts, arts, and lore.

The [[Rings of Power]] and [[lesser rings]] were objects that would seem magical to the [[Secondborn]]; they gave powers of manipulation to the bearer of the [[One Ring]], and some might give the wearer invisibility, which was actually the ability to walk in the Unseen world. Other Elven artefacts were the ''[[Palantíri]]'',<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> the [[Fëanorian lamps|Lamps of the Noldor]],<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}</ref>{{rp|Note 2}} and the [[Mirror of Galadriel]].<ref name="Mirror">{{FR|Mirror}}</ref> Some simpler artefacts were the river-boats of the [[Galadhrim]] and the elven ropes, which seemed to have wills of their own.

Galadriel was tutored by Melian when she resided in Doriath,<ref>{{S|Return}}</ref> and with her ring [[Nenya]], she was able to enchant and protect the [[Lothlórien|Golden Wood]].<ref name="Mirror"/> Elrond wore the ring [[Vilya]] which helped him protect his hidden realm of [[Imladris]]. In the Third Age, [[Thranduil]] was the only Elf-lord who did not have a Great Ring to help him maintain his realm against the Enemy. However, he did have the [[Enchanted River]]<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref>, which made people fall asleep and dream deeply, and the [[Elvenking's Halls]] as his fortress to help protect his people.<ref>{{H|Flies}}</ref>
[[Image:Šárka Škorpíková - Finrod vs Sauron.jpg|left|thumb|225px|''Finrod versus Sauron'' by [[:Category:Images by Šárka Škorpíková|Šárka Škorpíková]]]]

Elves had skill with healing and medicine. Though it was natural to them, those who healed often chose not to fight, except at need, to preserve their skill, "for the Eldar deemed that the dealing of death . . . diminished the power of healing."<ref name="Laws"/>{{rp|213}} While ordinary for an Elf, it might have felt magical to someone healed by them who did not understand how they were using their [[fëa]] (spirit). [[Glorfindel]] helped heal [[Frodo]], without seeming to do more than search the wound with his fingers, "Frodo felt the chill lessen in his side and arm; a little warmth crept down from his shoulder to his hand, and the pain grew easier." There were no magic words or chants, and no medicine was applied at that time. He also gave Frodo and his companions a drink of clear liquid, which had no taste, that renewed their strength and vigour.<ref name="Flight">{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

Elven minstrels, like [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]] and [[Lúthien]], also had power in their songs. Finrod strove against Sauron in song and made great progress, but he was overpowered with a dire chant. Lúthien, who was half-[[Maia]], was able to use stronger enchantments to disguise herself and Beren, and she mesmerized Morgoth with her singing and dancing.<ref name="Beren">{{S|Beren}}</ref>

===Dark magic===
Sindarin has two words for dark magic: ''[[morgul]]'' and ''[[guldur]]''. The element ''gûl'' literally means "magic lore" or "long study" and the negative connotations include "necromancy" and "sorcery". ''Môr'' translates to "dark" or "night", and ''dûr'' means "dark" or "sombre".<ref group="note"> Sindarin translations found at: [http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/sindar/online/sindar/dict-sd-en.html Hiswelókë's Sindarin dictionary]</ref> Alone the words are perfectly neutral as the concept of magic itself is neutral in Middle-earth.<ref name="L155"/> However, when these terms are used in ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'' such as referring to [[Dol Guldur]] or a Morgul-knife, they have negative connotations.<ref name="Many"/> Morgul may be referred to as the dark lore and objects produced or influenced through the magic of Sauron and used for evil, which could be shared with his followers, such as the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] and [[Black Númenóreans]].
[[Image:John_Howe_-_Black_Rider_02.jpg‎|right|thumb|''The Black Rider'' by [[John Howe]]]]

The magic of Sauron, or other sorcerers who were taught how to use the corruption Morgoth left in Arda, was based directly upon the physical legacy of his previous master. The "Morgoth-element in matter . . . was a prerequisite for such 'magic' and other evils as Sauron practised with it and upon it."<ref name=Myths>{{MR|P5VII}}</ref>{{rp|400}}

Sauron himself was also known as the Necromancer which indicated that he had power over spirits.<ref>{{H|Stage}}</ref> The [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]], who wore a Ring of Power, had the ability to summon the [[Barrow-wights]] to the [[Barrow-downs]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>

===Dwarven magic===
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Doors of Durin.jpg|left|thumb|150px|''The Doors of Durin'' by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] (as printed in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Book II, Ch. 4 - [[A Journey in the Dark]]).]]
The constructions of [[Dwarves]] had properties which might be seen as magical. An example could be the [[Doors of Durin]] which opened by themselves upon saying the word ''mellon'', without visible machinery or other assistance. The magical appearance could be the technology of Dwarven ingenuity and craftsmanship. The Elven Door was created by the Dwarven craftsman [[Narvi]] and inscribed by the Elf-lord [[Celebrimbor]] with letters and signs fashioned in [[ithildin]].<ref>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

Another Dwarven door is seen in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. The [[Back Door]] of the Lonely Mountain was a hidden, seamless door which had a keyhole that would only be revealed on [[Durin's Day]]. The key lines that may infer an enchantment on the door are:

{{blockquote|A gleam of light came straight through the opening into the bay and fell on the smooth rock-face. The old thrush . . . gave a sudden trill. There was a loud crack. A flake of rock split from the wall and fell. A hole appeared suddenly about three feet from the ground.|{{H|Doorstep}}}}

This appears to be what Tolkien might refer to as ''magia'', or physical magic, because there is a crack and a flake of rock falls off the wall.<ref name="L155"/>

==Tolkien's views==
J.R.R. Tolkien discussed the operations and moral dimensions of magic in [[Letter 155]] of ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''. This letter is actually an unsent part of a draft of [[Letter 154]] which was dated September 25, 1954.

Magic in Middle-earth was explained as an innate ability set of the Ainur and the Firstborn, to the exclusion of other peoples. Regardless, ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' both contain descriptions of special items and weapons that are said to have been crafted by Men and Dwarves, such as the dagger wielded by Merry which stabbed the Witch-king and [[Angrist]].<ref name="Battle">{{RK|Battle}}</ref><ref name=Beren/>

The area of discussion in the letter is the difference between ''magia'' and ''goeteia'', with ''magia'' (physical magic) usually noted as good and ''goeteia'' (charm and conjuring magic) as bad. He wrote, "neither is, in this tale, good or bad (per se), but only by motive or purpose or use. Both sides use both, but with different motives."<ref name="L155"/> The evil motive was to use it to dominate free will. The Enemy used his ''magia'' to "bulldoze" both people and things and used his ''goeteia'' to terrify and subjugate. The Elves and Gandalf sparingly used ''magia'' for specific beneficial purposes (like burning pine cones to toss at the Wargs<ref>{{H|6}}</ref>), and their ''goetic'' effects were "entirely ''artistic'' and not intended to deceive: they never deceive Elves (but may deceive or bewilder unaware Men)."<ref name="L155"/> For Elves, the difference was as clear to them as the difference to us between art (fiction, painting, and sculpture) and life.<ref name="L155"/>

At the end of the draft noted as Letter 155, he wrote "a difference between the use of 'magic' in this story [''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''] is that it is not to be come by by 'lore' or spells; but it is an inherent power not possessed or attainable by Men as such."<ref name="L155"/> While "Aragorn's 'healing' might be regarded as 'magical', or at least a blend of magic and pharmacy and 'hypnotic' processes . . . A. is not a pure 'Man', but at long remove one of the 'children of Lúthien'."<ref name="L155"/> However, in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' at the [[Doors of Durin]], Gandalf said, "I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs, that was ever used for such a purpose. I can still remember ten score of them without searching in my mind."<ref>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

'''The Númenórean Question''': Since this 1954 letter draft was unsent, he seemed undecided on the total exclusion of Men from spellcasting. Since Men did not have the natural skill to weave their own spirit into things or ideas, they may have used spells. Alongside the final paragraph of Letter 155, which ended with the explanation that Aragorn was distantly of Lúthien's line, Tolkien wrote this question: "'But the Númenóreans used "spells" in making swords?'"<ref name="L155"/>{{rp|Note 2}}

In a later work completed by 1959, the ''[[Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth]]'', there is an amended note which contains the [[Tale of Adanel]] in which the strongest and the cruellest of the fallen Men who worshipped Morgoth, during the dawn of Men in Middle-earth, were given "gifts" and "knowledge that they kept secret" which made them "powerful and proud," and with their new power, they enslaved the other Men.<ref name=Athrabeth>{{MR|P4i}}</ref>{{rp|348}} In this later text, Men could be given artefacts or taught lore, but magic remained a noninherent trait.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the early stages of the [[legendarium]], the magical elements are more explicit.

In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the complex relationship of creation from the spirits and bodies of Ainur and Elves is explained as spells and enchantments. Irmo used poppies as reagents in his sleep enchantments.<ref name=Valar>{{LT1|III}}</ref>{{rp|74}} Aulë used spells in his smith-craft.<ref name=Melko>{{LT1|IV}}</ref>{{rp|100}} Yavanna used spells and enchantments when creating and growing plants,<ref name=Valar/>{{rp|71, 98}} and she gave spells to Ulmo to populate the seas with aquatic life during the age of "Melko's Chains".<ref name=Melko/>{{rp|106}} In "[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]", [[Lúthien|Tinúviel]], [[Melian|Gwendeling]]'s daughter, wove with magics and spells in her tree house prison, and she was aided by her mother and her brother, [[Dairon]].<ref name=Tinuviel>{{LT2|I}}</ref>{{rp|19}}

Lúthien's spells are given in much more detail in the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'': to lengthen her hair, she used water collected ritually and sang the names of the longest things on earth.<ref>{{LB|C5}}, vv. 1425-1523</ref>

In the same phase of the legendarium, [[Tolkien]] included [[Beleg]] using a [[Beleg's whetting spell|spell song]] to sharpen his sword, also naming names of things related with his purpose.<ref>{{LB|1c}}, vv. 1203-1223</ref>

==External links==
*[http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/MagicEssay.html Essay on magic in Middle-earth] by Steuard Jensen
*[http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/lordoftherings/magic/principles.html Principles of Tolkien's Magic] by John H. Kim
*[http://tolkien.cro.net/mearth/magic.html Magic in Middle-earth] at tolkien.cro.net
{{references|n}}
[[Category:Magic| ]]

Khuzdul

2016-05-05T15:57:13Z

Artlover87: /* History */

{{cleanup}}
'''Khuzdul''', or '''Dwarvish''', was the secret language of the [[Dwarves]].

==History==

In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', it is said that [[Aulë]], the creator of the the first Dwarves, taught them "the language he had devised for them". Not much is known of the language, as the Dwarves kept it to themselves. One of the only major phrases known to outsiders is their battle-cry: ''[[Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!]]'' meaning ''Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!''

Khuzdul is unique among [[languages]] in that it belongs to a separate language phylum, unrelated to the languages of [[Elves]]. On the other hand, there are many similarities between Khuzdul and the native tongues of men, such as [[Taliska]], the language of the first and third houses of the [[Edain]]. This is because in the early days of Middle-earth, before Men crossed into [[Beleriand]], they had contact with the Dwarves of the [[Blue Mountains]] and in areas further East. Taliska was the ancestor of [[Adûnaic]], the tongue of Númenor and the direct ancestor of the [[Westron|Common Speech]]. Both languages displayed Khuzdul influences.

==Etymology==
The word ''Khuzdul'' (also spelled ''Khuzdûl'' in late manuscripts<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, p. 321 (footnote 19)</ref><ref name=VT48>{{VT|48a}}, pp. 6, 24</ref>) is composed of the stem ''[[Khazâd|KH-Z-D]]'', and the adjectival ending ''-ul'', which has the meaning similar to "-ish" or "-ian".{{fact}}

==Other names==

Other names used by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] for the language of the Dwarves include:
*'''''Khazadian'''''<ref>{{SD|Drowning}}, p. 414</ref>
*'''''[[Aulëan|Aulian]]'''''<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 179, 197</ref>
*'''''Nauglian'''''<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 197, 277</ref>
*'''''Naukarin'''''<ref>{{PE|18}}, pp. 28-9, 81</ref>

==Influences==

Khuzdul appears to be structured, like the Semitic languages, around triconsonantal roots, such as ''kh-z-d'', ''b-n-d'', and ''z-g-l''.

The Dwarvish language sounds much like Hebrew, and indeed [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted some similarities between the Dwarves and the Jews: both were "at once natives and aliens in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue…".<ref>{{L|176}}</ref> Another reason Hebrew was chosen as a basis for Khuzdul is that it is unlike any European language, and thus sufficiently alien to western ears to show just how different Dwarven speech was from the Elvish languages.{{fact}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Neo-Khuzdul===
{{seealso|Neo-Elvish}}
For [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]] and [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film series)]], the linguist [[David Salo]] used what little is known of the Khuzdul to create enough of a language for use in the movies. This is usually referred to as neo-Khuzdul by [[Tolkienists]].

==External links==
* [[Helge Fauskanger]], ''[http://www.uib.no/people/hnohf/khuzdul.htm Khuzdul]'', [[Ardalambion]]
*[[Magnus Åberg]], ''[http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_khuzdul.html An analysis of Dwarvish]'', [[Mellonath Daeron]]
*Jay Lawson, ''[https://sites.google.com/site/quasikhuzdul/Home Quasi-Khuzdul]''
*[http://www.jrrvf.com/~glaemscrafu/english/khuzdul.html Khuzdul sound samples] at [[Glǽmscrafu]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Khuzdul| ]]
[[Category:Khuzdul words]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/khuzdul]]
[[de:Khuzdul]]
[[fi:Kääpiökieli]]

Khuzdul

2016-05-05T15:56:50Z

Artlover87: /* Influences */

Khuzdul

2016-05-05T15:50:39Z

Artlover87: /* History */

{{cleanup}}
'''Khuzdul''', or '''Dwarvish''', was the secret language of the [[Dwarves]].

==History==

In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', it is said that [[Aulë]], the creator of the the first Dwarves, taught them "the language he had devised for them". Not much is known of the language, as the Dwarves kept it to themselves. One of the only major phrases known to outsiders is their battle-cry: ''[[Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!]]'' meaning ''Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!''

Khuzdul is unique among [[languages]] in that it belongs to a separate language phylum, unrelated to the languages of [[Elves]]. On the other hand, there are many similarities between Khuzdul and the native tongues of men, such as [[Taliska]], the language of the first and third houses of the [[Edain]]. This is because in the early days of Middle-earth, before Men crossed into [[Beleriand]], they had contact with the Dwarves of the [[Blue Mountains]] and in areas further East. Taliska was the ancestor of [[Adûnaic]], the tongue of Númenor and the direct ancestor of the [[Westron|Common Speech]]. Both languages displayed Khuzdul influences.

==Etymology==
The word ''Khuzdul'' (also spelled ''Khuzdûl'' in late manuscripts<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, p. 321 (footnote 19)</ref><ref name=VT48>{{VT|48a}}, pp. 6, 24</ref>) is composed of the stem ''[[Khazâd|KH-Z-D]]'', and the adjectival ending ''-ul'', which has the meaning similar to "-ish" or "-ian".{{fact}}

==Other names==

Other names used by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] for the language of the Dwarves include:
*'''''Khazadian'''''<ref>{{SD|Drowning}}, p. 414</ref>
*'''''[[Aulëan|Aulian]]'''''<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 179, 197</ref>
*'''''Nauglian'''''<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 197, 277</ref>
*'''''Naukarin'''''<ref>{{PE|18}}, pp. 28-9, 81</ref>

==Influences==

It appears to be structured, like the Semitic languages, around triconsonantal roots: ''kh-z-d'', ''b-n-d'', ''z-g-l''.

The Dwarvish language sounds much like Hebrew, and indeed [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted some similarities between Dwarves and Jews: both were "at once natives and aliens in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue…".<ref>{{L|176}}</ref> Another reason Hebrew was chosen as a basis for Khuzdul is that it is unlike any of the European languages, and thus sufficiently alien to western ears to show just how different the Dwarven speech was from the Elvish languages.{{fact}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Neo-Khuzdul===
{{seealso|Neo-Elvish}}
For [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]] and [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film series)]], the linguist [[David Salo]] used what little is known of the Khuzdul to create enough of a language for use in the movies. This is usually referred to as neo-Khuzdul by [[Tolkienists]].

==External links==
* [[Helge Fauskanger]], ''[http://www.uib.no/people/hnohf/khuzdul.htm Khuzdul]'', [[Ardalambion]]
*[[Magnus Åberg]], ''[http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_khuzdul.html An analysis of Dwarvish]'', [[Mellonath Daeron]]
*Jay Lawson, ''[https://sites.google.com/site/quasikhuzdul/Home Quasi-Khuzdul]''
*[http://www.jrrvf.com/~glaemscrafu/english/khuzdul.html Khuzdul sound samples] at [[Glǽmscrafu]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Khuzdul| ]]
[[Category:Khuzdul words]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/khuzdul]]
[[de:Khuzdul]]
[[fi:Kääpiökieli]]

Elven characteristics

2016-05-02T17:12:16Z

Artlover87: /* Hair colour */

[[File:Piotr Fox Wysocki - Last Elf.jpg|thumb|''Last Elf'' by Piotr Wysocki]]{{quote|The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth.|[[Gildor Inglorion]]<ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref>}}
The [[Elves]] were the fairest creatures in [[Arda]], a far more beautiful race than [[Men]], and generally tall (about six feet). {{fact}} Among them, [[Calaquendi|those]] who had gone to [[Valinor]] were the fairest and had the greatest skill of body.

Elves had keener senses, sight and hearing than Men, were slender, graceful yet strong, but were resistant to extremes of nature, illness and disease. However many [[Noldor]] died at the crossings of [[Helcaraxe]].

Practical considerations, including a number of occasions where Men were mistaken for Elves (most notably [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]), suggest that the points of difference between Elves and Men, must have been subtle.

== Pointed ears ==
Whether Elvish ears were pointed or not is open for speculation,<ref name=Dunkerson>{{webcite|author=Conrad Dunkerson|articleurl=http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Ears.html|articlename=Do the Elves in Tolkien's stories have pointed ears?|dated=|website=[http://tolkien.slimy.com/ The Tolkien Meta-FAQ]|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=Martinez>{{webcite|author=[[Michael Martinez]]|articleurl=http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2011/09/21/do-tolkiens-elves-have-pointy-ears/|articlename=Do Tolkien’s Elves Have Pointy Ears?|dated=21 September 2011|website=[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/ Middle.earth.Xenite.org]|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref> but it should be noted that there are no explicit references to pointed Elvish ears in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' or ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

It was stated in early linguistic writings that "the [[Quendi|Quendian]] ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than [[Men|Human]]."<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 368 (roots LAS1 and LAS2)</ref><ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 26</ref> Answering to a question on [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] ears, [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] wrote that these were "only slightly pointed and 'elvish'".<ref>{{L|27}}</ref> Some fans take this to mean that Elvish ears were pointed, while others argue that it is an ambiguous statement.<ref name=Dunkerson/><ref name=Martinez/>

== Hair colour ==
In general, the [[Vanyar]] were golden-haired, with the name ''Vanyar'' meaning "the Fair" in [[Quenya]] and refering to their light-coloured hair.{{Fact}} Other Elves - including the [[Noldor]], [[Sindar]], and [[Avari]] - had dark brown or even black hair.<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 118, 125</ref><ref group=note>[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] notes in one manuscript that "''no Elf had absolute black hair''" ({{PE|17}}, p. 125)</ref> [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] and her remote descendant [[Arwen|Arwen Undómiel]], both described as the fairest of all Elves, were dark haired. Additionally, a silver hair colour existed among the [[Teleri]] and in the royal houses of the Sindar, with [[Thingol]], [[Círdan]] and [[Celeborn]] all described as having silver hair.<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}: Sindar</ref>

In some cases elves had atypical hair colour, either due to simple happenstance or intermarriage between clans. A prime example is the royal house of the Noldor and their descendants: [[Míriel Serindë]] of the Noldor, the first wife of [[Finwë]] and mother of [[Fëanor]], is described as having silvery hair.<ref>{{MR|P3I6}}</ref> Fëanor himself possessed "raven-dark" hair,<ref>{{S|Feanor}}</ref> but not all the sons of Fëanor shared this trait; [[Maedhros]] and the twins [[Amrod]] and [[Amras]] had auburn hair (though Amrod's hair grew darker after childhood).<ref name=Sons>{{PM|XI7}}</ref>{{rp|355}} This rare red-brown hair colour was a trait of Nerdanel's kin for her father, [[Mahtan]], had the ''epessë'' Rusco 'fox'.<ref name=Sons/>{{rp|353}} [[Finarfin]], the youngest son of Finwë, and his descendants had golden hair on account of Finwë's second wife, [[Indis]] of the Vanyar. Finarfin's daughter [[Galadriel]] displayed an extremely rare hair colour nowhere else observed; golden-silver hair, said to be dazzlingly beautiful ("the light of the [[Two Trees]], [[Laurelin]] and [[Telperion]], had been snared in her tresses").<ref name=Galadriel>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

Another Noldo with noteworthy hair colour was [[Glorfindel]], whose hair is described as "shining gold" in colour.{{Fact}} [[Idril]], the daughter of [[Turgon]], King of [[Gondolin]], had golden hair inherited from her mother, [[Elenwë]] of the Vanyar.{{Fact}} [[Thranduil]], father of [[Legolas]] and a Sindarin Elf, is described as having "golden" hair in ''[[The Hobbit]]'',<ref>{{H|8}}</ref> but his son Legolas's own hair colour is not recorded. The golden hair colour is sometimes implied among the other Elves: [[Amroth]], a Sindarin Elf of Lothórien is one such case, whose hair is described as "bright" and shining like a spark of gold in the sun.<ref name=Galadriel/></ref> In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', a very similar reference is made for an [[Galadhrim|Elf of Lothórien]] who had hair that "glinted like gold" in the sun.<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}</ref>

==Eye colour==
When Tolkien describes Elven eyes, they tend to be grey. This is certainly true of Lúthien and her descendants, including [[Elrond]] and his children ([[Arwen]], [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]]) as well as [[Aragorn]] and the Dúnedain. [[Voronwë]], who guided the man [[Tuor]] to Gondolin, also had grey eyes.

Though he was half-Noldorin, [[Maeglin]] is said to have dark eyes (possibly from his father [[Eöl]], who was not of the Noldor), while [[Olwë]] (the brother of Lúthien's father [[Thingol]], and a Telerin king) had blue eyes. The eye colour of most other Elves is not mentioned, and so would be difficult to generalize.

==Other characteristics==
The Elves were like [[Ainur]] in spirit; they loved all beauty of nature, especially water, the [[Sea]] and the [[stars]], since they were the first things they saw; as a consequence [[Ulmo]] and [[Varda]] were the [[Ainur]] closer to them. They were marked by an insatiable curiosity and a desire of learning and creating.

They detested all evil and were usually more resistant to being corrupted than Men, unless evil tricked them with fair form, like [[Annatar]]. Conversely, their work harmed evil, like [[lembas]] and the [[Elven rope]] that brought pain to [[Gollum]]'s skin. They were, however, susceptible to greed, pride and jealousy, as exemplified by the story of the House of [[Fëanor]], or the jealous and unjustified hatred of [[Saeros]] toward [[Túrin]]. <ref name=UT2>{{UT|2}}</ref>

The Eldar could manipulate '''''[[sanwe-latya]]''''' ([[Quenya]] for "thought-opening" or "telepathy") which allowed them to communicate with thought ([[Ósanwe]]).

Like Men and Dwarves, Elves did sleep. In ''[[The Two Towers]]'', it says of [[Legolas]], "[He] already lay motionless, his fair hands folded upon his breast, his eyes unclosed, blending living night and deep dream, as is the way with Elves."<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Also, unlike Men, Elves were ambidextrous.<ref>{{VT|49a}}</ref>

Although Elves were generally considered the most powerful of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]], there are accounts that some Men from the Great Houses of the First Age were physically stronger, though less agile. It is told that the [[Helm of Hador|Dragon Helm]] was given to [[Fingon]], but "in all Hithlum no head and shoulders were found stout enough to bear the dwarf-helm with ease", so the High King gave it to [[Hador]], a Man.<ref name=UT2/>

{{References|n}}

[[Category:Elves]]