Chamber of Mazarbul: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-more|Mazarbul|[[Mazarbul (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Mazarbul|[[Mazarbul (disambiguation)]]}}
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[[Image:fotr1078.jpg|250px|thumb|The Chamber of Mazarbul in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]]
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Chamber of Mazarbul2.jpg|250px|thumb|The Chamber of Mazarbul in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]]


The '''Chamber of Mazarbul''' was the old [[Chamber of Records]] of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]. Probably built during the earlier years of Khazad-dûm, it was later used as a base by [[Balin]] when he began his ill-fated attempt at recolonization in the late [[Third Age]].
The '''Chamber of Mazarbul''' was the old chamber of records of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]. Probably built during the earlier years of Khazad-dûm, it was later used as a base by [[Balin]] when he began his ill-fated attempt at recolonization in the late [[Third Age]].


==History==
==History==
[[File:Angus McBride - Moria.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Angus McBridge - ''Moria'']]
[[File:Angus McBride - Moria.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Angus McBride]] - ''Moria'']]
The chamber itself was probably built at around the same time as the [[Twenty-first Hall]] in the Seventh Level. This would have been slightly later than the earliest Dwarven delvings, which were to be found in the lower levels near the [[Great Gate of Moria|Great Gate]].  
The chamber itself was probably built at around the same time as the [[Twenty-first Hall]] in the Seventh Level. This would have been slightly later than the earliest Dwarven delvings, which were to be found in the lower levels near the [[Great Gates]].  


In {{TA|2989}}, Balin led a group of Dwarves to recolonize [[Moria]]. Balin chose the Twenty-first Hall as his headquarters and set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul.  
In {{TA|2989}}, Balin led a group of Dwarves to recolonize [[Moria]]. Balin chose the Twenty-first Hall as his headquarters and set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul.  
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The [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] found the chamber thirty years after Balin came to Moria and it was here that Gandalf found the [[Book of Mazarbul]], a record of Balin's recolonization efforts.  
The [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] found the chamber thirty years after Balin came to Moria and it was here that Gandalf found the [[Book of Mazarbul]], a record of Balin's recolonization efforts.  


It was in the Chamber of Mazarbul that the Fellowship engaged in a [[Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul|brief fight]] with a band of orcs and a [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]]. They retreated through the east door and [[Gandalf]] attempted to guard it against the [[Balrog]]. The roof of the Chamber collapsed then.
It was in the Chamber of Mazarbul that the Fellowship engaged in a [[Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul|brief fight]] with a band of orcs and a [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]]. They retreated through the east door and [[Gandalf]] attempted to guard it against the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]]. The roof of the Chamber collapsed then.


==Geography & Appearance==
==Geography and appearance==
The chamber was located to the right of a pathway that branched off the north end of the Twenty-first hall. When the Fellowship found the chamber as they passed through Moria, [[Balin's Tomb]] was located inside it, and a bright shaft of sunlight streamed in from outside the mountain to land directly on the tomb.  
The chamber was located to the right of a pathway that branched off the north end of the Twenty-first hall. When the Fellowship found the chamber as they passed through Moria, [[Balin's Tomb]] was located inside it, and a bright shaft of sunlight streamed in from outside the mountain to land directly on the tomb.  


There were two stone doors leading into the chamber (one entrance from the Twenty-first Hall, one from the [[Stairs of Khazad-dûm|stair tunnels]] that the Fellowship later used to flee the Balrog). Many deep recesses were cut into the chamber rock containing chests that had been recently looted by the [[Orcs]] inhabiting Moria. A deep dust had fallen upon the entire room by the time the Fellowship entered it, and the remains of a long-abandoned battle site were to be seen strewn across the floor.
There were two stone doors leading into the chamber (one entrance from the Twenty-first Hall, one from the stair tunnels that the Fellowship later used to flee the Balrog). Many deep recesses were cut into the chamber rock containing chests that had been recently looted by the [[Orcs]] inhabiting Moria. A deep dust had fallen upon the entire room by the time the Fellowship entered it, and the remains of a long-abandoned battle site were to be seen strewn across the floor.
 
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''[[Mazarbul (word)|Mazarbul]]'' means "records" in [[Khuzdul]]. This name was used in connection with the Chamber of Records of Khazad-dûm and the [[Book of Mazarbul|Book of Records]] found in that chamber.
''[[Mazarbul (word)|Mazarbul]]'' means "records" in [[Khuzdul]]. This name was used in connection with the Chamber of Records of Khazad-dûm and the [[Book of Mazarbul|Book of Records]] found in that chamber.


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:fotr1086.jpg|250px|thumb|The Chamber of Mazarbul in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]]
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Chamber of Mazarbul3.jpg|250px|thumb|The Chamber of Mazarbul in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]]
In Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring ([[Scene 35: Balin's Tomb]] and [[Scene 36: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]), the Chamber of Mazarbul is presented much as it is described in the books, with a few notable exceptions.
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
* First, its geography has been slightly altered. It is placed in the center of the Twenty-first Hall, rather than on the right of a corridor running off the hall to the north.
:In Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring ([[Scene 35: Balin's Tomb]] and [[Scene 36: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]), the Chamber of Mazarbul is presented much as it is described in the books, with a few notable exceptions.
* Second, there is only one proper doorway leading into the chamber, rather than the two described in the book. This door is also made of wood in the film, rather than stone.
:* It is placed in the center of the Twenty-first Hall, rather than on the right of a corridor running off the hall to the north.
These alterations are likely the result of geographical simplification and enhancement of geographical drama. Placing the chamber in the center of the Twenty-first Hall gives it greater prominance and significance and provides a less cumbersome position than that of the book. The elimination of one of the doorways allows the chamber to take on an even more unique design than that found in the book (while, again, simplifying it for dramatic purposes). Changing the door material to wood makes it easier for the door to be opened and closed.
:* There is only one proper doorway leading into the chamber, rather than the two described in the book. This door is also made of wood in the film, rather than stone.
* A well is also introduced into the layout, directly below the shaft of light. This well was found in the [[Moria Guardroom|guardroom]] of the [[Moria Crossroads]] in the book, but was transplanted here to serve greater dramatic purpose. (A well may also exist in the guardroom of the Moria in the films, however.)
:* A well is also introduced into the layout, directly below the shaft of light. This well was found in the guardroom of the Crossroads in the book, but was transplanted here to serve greater dramatic purpose.  
 
<!-- what to do with this?
The design of the chamber follows the general Dwarven design ideology employed by the filmmakers for all of the Moria sets.
 
===The Mazarbul Chamber Wall Runes===
===The Mazarbul Chamber Wall Runes===


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* "The great Battle of Gundabad and Gladden; remember the Dead."
* "The great Battle of Gundabad and Gladden; remember the Dead."
[[Image:LOTR-EN11233.jpg|200px|thumb|The Chamber of Mazarbul in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]](from Khuzdul: "Gabil Azgâr Gundabadul & Ningulul; Mernak Mabazgân.")
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Chamber of Mazarbul.jpg|200px|thumb|The Chamber of Mazarbul in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]](from Khuzdul: "Gabil Azgâr Gundabadul & Ningulul; Mernak Mabazgân.")


* "(The) mines of Barazinbar."
* "(The) mines of Barazinbar."
(from Khuzdul: "Ganâd Barazinbarul".)
(from Khuzdul: "Ganâd Barazinbarul".)


* "(The) battle of Azanulbizar." [[Image:Moria_wall_a.jpg|200px|thumb|A portion of the Mazarbul wall runes.]]
* "(The) battle of Azanulbizar."  
(from Khuzdul: "Azgâr Azanulbizarul".)
(from Khuzdul: "Azgâr Azanulbizarul".)


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ENGLISH PHRASES
ENGLISH PHRASES


* "...of Nogrod and Belegost year sixteen..." [[Image:casaloma.jpg|200px|thumb|A portion of the Mazarbul wall runes from the Casa Loma Exhibition.]]
* "...of Nogrod and Belegost year sixteen..."  
* "...watch tower established at highest peak..."
* "...watch tower established at highest peak..."


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===Behind the Scenes===
===Behind the Scenes===


[[Image:Mazarbul_concept.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Concept illustration of the Chamber of Mazarbul by [[Alan Lee]].]]
[[File:Alan Lee - Chamber of Mazarbul concept.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Alan Lee]] - ''Concept illustration of the Chamber of Mazarbul'']]


The Chamber of Mazarbul was commonly referred to by the filmmakers as "Balin's Tomb" (as it was, more specifically, the site of said tomb).
The Chamber of Mazarbul was commonly referred to by the filmmakers as "Balin's Tomb" (as it was, more specifically, the site of said tomb).
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Grant Major authored the English text that would be carved in runes onto the chamber walls by carefully scoring the books for information about Moria's history. His findings were transcribed into the runes that adorn the walls, along with translations of certain sentences into Khuzdul by [[David Salo]].
Grant Major authored the English text that would be carved in runes onto the chamber walls by carefully scoring the books for information about Moria's history. His findings were transcribed into the runes that adorn the walls, along with translations of certain sentences into Khuzdul by [[David Salo]].


The runes on the chamber walls were the catalyst for one of the biggest fiascoes for the art department during production. A visiting Tolkien scholar claimed to have seen inane comments written on the walls. The art department searched the wall runes carefully but could find no offending sentences. The scholar revealed that he had simply been told this by a member of the crew. Grant Major and [[Dan Hennah]] assumed this was said crew member's idea of a joke. But the scholar later said that he had heard this from a member of the Weta Workshop minatures crew and that the offending comments in fact appeared on the miniature of the Second Hall of Khazad-dûm, though they were unable to be read in the final film and could not be translated using the Dwarvish runes anyway. (See [[Second Hall]]). In truth, no such "inane comments" exist on the Mazarbul Chamber wall runes.
The runes on the chamber walls were the catalyst for one of the biggest fiascoes for the art department during production. A visiting Tolkien scholar claimed to have seen inane comments written on the walls. The art department searched the wall runes carefully but could find no offending sentences. The scholar revealed that he had simply been told this by a member of the crew. Grant Major and [[Dan Hennah]] assumed this was said crew member's idea of a joke. But the scholar later said that he had heard this from a member of the Weta Workshop minatures crew and that the offending comments in fact appeared on the miniature of the Second Hall of Khazad-dûm, though they were unable to be read in the final film and could not be translated using the Dwarvish runes anyway. (See [[Second Hall]]). In truth, no such "inane comments" exist on the Mazarbul Chamber wall runes. -->


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

Revision as of 16:53, 15 November 2015

The name Mazarbul refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Mazarbul (disambiguation).
"The wise will stay here and hope to rebuild our town..." — Master of Lake-town
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The Chamber of Mazarbul was the old chamber of records of Khazad-dûm. Probably built during the earlier years of Khazad-dûm, it was later used as a base by Balin when he began his ill-fated attempt at recolonization in the late Third Age.

History

The chamber itself was probably built at around the same time as the Twenty-first Hall in the Seventh Level. This would have been slightly later than the earliest Dwarven delvings, which were to be found in the lower levels near the Great Gates.

In T.A. 2989, Balin led a group of Dwarves to recolonize Moria. Balin chose the Twenty-first Hall as his headquarters and set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul.

When Balin was killed a few years later, he was laid to rest in a tomb inside the chamber. It was there where the last remnants of the colony perished.

The Fellowship found the chamber thirty years after Balin came to Moria and it was here that Gandalf found the Book of Mazarbul, a record of Balin's recolonization efforts.

It was in the Chamber of Mazarbul that the Fellowship engaged in a brief fight with a band of orcs and a Cave-troll. They retreated through the east door and Gandalf attempted to guard it against the Balrog. The roof of the Chamber collapsed then.

Geography and appearance

The chamber was located to the right of a pathway that branched off the north end of the Twenty-first hall. When the Fellowship found the chamber as they passed through Moria, Balin's Tomb was located inside it, and a bright shaft of sunlight streamed in from outside the mountain to land directly on the tomb.

There were two stone doors leading into the chamber (one entrance from the Twenty-first Hall, one from the stair tunnels that the Fellowship later used to flee the Balrog). Many deep recesses were cut into the chamber rock containing chests that had been recently looted by the Orcs inhabiting Moria. A deep dust had fallen upon the entire room by the time the Fellowship entered it, and the remains of a long-abandoned battle site were to be seen strewn across the floor.

Etymology

Mazarbul means "records" in Khuzdul. This name was used in connection with the Chamber of Records of Khazad-dûm and the Book of Records found in that chamber.

Portrayal in adaptations

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

In Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring (Scene 35: Balin's Tomb and Scene 36: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm), the Chamber of Mazarbul is presented much as it is described in the books, with a few notable exceptions.
  • It is placed in the center of the Twenty-first Hall, rather than on the right of a corridor running off the hall to the north.
  • There is only one proper doorway leading into the chamber, rather than the two described in the book. This door is also made of wood in the film, rather than stone.
  • A well is also introduced into the layout, directly below the shaft of light. This well was found in the guardroom of the Crossroads in the book, but was transplanted here to serve greater dramatic purpose.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Chamber of Mazarbul is the final stand in the battle for the Twenty-first Hall, one of the three battles where the Iron Garrison battle Orcs to drive them out of Khazad-dûm in Mines of Moria, Book V: Drums in the Deep.

See also

References

External links