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[[File:Pamela Shanteau - Crows.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Regiment of Black Crows'' by Pamela Shanteau]]
[[File:Pamela Shanteau - Crows.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Pamela Shanteau]] - ''Regiment of Black Crows'']]
'''Crows''' are black omnivorous birds sometimes associated with battles due to their taste for carrion.
'''Crows''' are black omnivorous birds sometimes associated with battles due to their taste for carrion.


==History==
==History==
The crows encountered by [[Bilbo Baggins]] and the [[Thorin and Company|Dwarves]] during the quest to [[Erebor]] in {{TA|2941}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> were mostly harmless.  During the scouting expedition to the [[Front Gate]] of the Lonely Mountain the crows were considered "ominous" and [[Balin]] distrusted them,<ref>{{H|Doorstep}}</ref> though later he called them merely "nasty suspicious-looking creatures at that, and rude as well".<ref>{{H|Gathering}}</ref>
The crows encountered by [[Bilbo Baggins]] and the [[Thorin and Company|Dwarves]] during the quest to [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] in {{TA|2941}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> were mostly harmless.  During the scouting expedition to the [[Front Gate]] of the Lonely Mountain the crows were considered "ominous" and [[Balin]] distrusted them,<ref>{{H|Doorstep}}</ref> though later he called them merely "nasty suspicious-looking creatures at that, and rude as well".<ref>{{H|Gathering}}</ref>


The most feared variety in the [[Westlands]] of [[Middle-earth]] was the large type known as ''[[crebain]]''.  On [[8 January]] {{TA|3019|n}} the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] entered [[Hollin]]<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> and were spied upon by these large crows from [[Fangorn]] and [[Dunland]].<ref>{{FR|II3}}</ref>  The [[Rohirrim]] were aware that [[Saruman]] made use of ''crebain''; on [[30 February]]<ref name="Great"/> [[Éomer]] told [[Aragorn]] that Saruman's "birds of ill omen are abroad in the sky".<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref> Crows may actually just be another name for Ravens as they looked and acted exactly the same.
The most feared variety in the [[Westlands]] of [[Middle-earth]] was the large type known as ''[[crebain]]''.  On [[8 January]] {{TA|3019|n}} the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] entered [[Hollin]]<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> and were spied upon by these large crows from [[Fangorn Forest|Fangorn]] and [[Dunland]].<ref>{{FR|II3}}</ref>  The [[Rohirrim]] were aware that [[Saruman]] made use of ''crebain''; on [[30 February]]<ref name="Great"/> [[Éomer]] told [[Aragorn]] that Saruman's "birds of ill omen are abroad in the sky".<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref> Crows may actually just be another name for Ravens as they looked and acted exactly the same. (Balin certainly distinguished between them, preferring Ravens over Crows.)


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
A [[Quenya]] word for "crow" is ''quáko'', derived from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''k(a)wāk''.<ref>{{WJ|AD}}, p. 395</ref> Another Quenya word for "crow" is ''korko'', and the [[Noldorin]] cognate of the same meaning is ''corch''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 362 (root [[KORKA|KARKA-]])</ref> In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s very early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, the word for "crow" is ''crunc'' (pl. ''crunghin'').<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 27</ref>
A [[Quenya]] word for "crow" is ''quáko'', derived from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''k(a)wāk''.<ref>{{WJ|AD}}, p. 395</ref> Another Quenya word for "crow" is ''korko'', and the [[Noldorin]] cognate of the same meaning is ''corch''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 362 (root [[KORKA|KARKA-]])</ref> In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s very early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, the word for "crow" is ''crunc'' (pl. ''crunghin'').<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 27</ref>


==Other Versions of the Legendarium==
[[Adûnaic]] also had its own terms for a crow, specifically  ''khô'' in "common" gender singular ("crow", as a species/creature), the plural ''khôi'' ("crows"), and the dual (pair-plural) ''khôwat'' ("a pair of crows"). Tolkien's notes on Adûnaic vocabulary and grammar also indicate that the more archaic forms of the term were likely ''khaw'', later ''khâw'', eventually evolving into ''khâu'' (with the Adûnaic diphtong ''âu''), while the plural of these older forms would apparently be ''khâwî(m)''. However, both ''khâu'' and ''khâwî(m)'' would likely be declensions in the subjective case of the noun, rather than in the nominative case. The objective case of the noun would be ''khôwu''. <ref>{{SD|3}}, p. 426</ref> <ref>[https://folk.uib.no/hnohf/adunaic.htm Adûnaic - The Vernacular of Númenór], "Adûnaic Wordlist", Ardalambion (folk.uib.no) by Helge Fauskanger</ref> <ref>[https://eldamo.org/content//words/word-2014215641.html Adûnaic - "khô"], "Adûnaic Words", Eldamo.org by Paul Strack</ref>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s plot notes for the second phase of writing ''[[The Hobbit]]'', there was no distinction between crows and ravens as ominous birds.<ref>{{HH|PNB}}, p. 362</ref>  When the scouting party went to view the [[Front Gate]] [[Balin]] did not like the ravens nearby, stating that they looked "like spies of evil".<ref>{{HH|Lonely}}, p. 472</ref>  However, when the Company needed to learn of the death of [[Smaug]] Tolkien "rehabilitated" the ravens, making them friendly to the Dwarves, and replaced all negative raven-references with crows.<ref>{{HH|Lonely}}, note 4, p. 479</ref>
In [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s plot notes for the second phase of writing ''[[The Hobbit]]'', there was no distinction between crows and ravens as ominous birds.<ref>{{HH|PNB}}, p. 362</ref>  When the scouting party went to view the [[Front Gate]] [[Balin]] did not like the ravens nearby, stating that they looked "like spies of evil".<ref>{{HH|Lonely}}, p. 472</ref>  However, when the Company needed to learn of the death of [[Smaug]] Tolkien "rehabilitated" the ravens, making them friendly to the Dwarves, and replaced all negative raven-references with crows.<ref>{{HH|Lonely}}, note 4, p. 479</ref>


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{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Birds]]
[[Category:Birds]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[Category:Servants of Saruman]]
[[Category:Servants of Saruman]]
[[de:Krähen]]
[[de:Krähen]]
[[fi:Varikset]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 8 May 2023

Pamela Shanteau - Regiment of Black Crows

Crows are black omnivorous birds sometimes associated with battles due to their taste for carrion.

History[edit | edit source]

The crows encountered by Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves during the quest to Erebor in T.A. 2941[1] were mostly harmless. During the scouting expedition to the Front Gate of the Lonely Mountain the crows were considered "ominous" and Balin distrusted them,[2] though later he called them merely "nasty suspicious-looking creatures at that, and rude as well".[3]

The most feared variety in the Westlands of Middle-earth was the large type known as crebain. On 8 January 3019 the Fellowship entered Hollin[4] and were spied upon by these large crows from Fangorn and Dunland.[5] The Rohirrim were aware that Saruman made use of crebain; on 30 February[4] Éomer told Aragorn that Saruman's "birds of ill omen are abroad in the sky".[6] Crows may actually just be another name for Ravens as they looked and acted exactly the same. (Balin certainly distinguished between them, preferring Ravens over Crows.)

Etymology[edit | edit source]

A Quenya word for "crow" is quáko, derived from Primitive Quendian k(a)wāk.[7] Another Quenya word for "crow" is korko, and the Noldorin cognate of the same meaning is corch.[8] In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's very early conceptions of an Elven language, the word for "crow" is crunc (pl. crunghin).[9]

Adûnaic also had its own terms for a crow, specifically khô in "common" gender singular ("crow", as a species/creature), the plural khôi ("crows"), and the dual (pair-plural) khôwat ("a pair of crows"). Tolkien's notes on Adûnaic vocabulary and grammar also indicate that the more archaic forms of the term were likely khaw, later khâw, eventually evolving into khâu (with the Adûnaic diphtong âu), while the plural of these older forms would apparently be khâwî(m). However, both khâu and khâwî(m) would likely be declensions in the subjective case of the noun, rather than in the nominative case. The objective case of the noun would be khôwu. [10] [11] [12]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In J.R.R. Tolkien's plot notes for the second phase of writing The Hobbit, there was no distinction between crows and ravens as ominous birds.[13] When the scouting party went to view the Front Gate Balin did not like the ravens nearby, stating that they looked "like spies of evil".[14] However, when the Company needed to learn of the death of Smaug Tolkien "rehabilitated" the ravens, making them friendly to the Dwarves, and replaced all negative raven-references with crows.[15]

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "On the Doorstep"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Gathering of the Clouds"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language'", p. 395
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 362 (root KARKA-)
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 27
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part Three: The Drowning of Anadûnê, with the Third Version of The Fall of Númenor, and Lowdham's Report on the Adunaic Language", p. 426
  11. ↑ Adûnaic - The Vernacular of Númenór, "Adûnaic Wordlist", Ardalambion (folk.uib.no) by Helge Fauskanger
  12. ↑ Adûnaic - "khô", "Adûnaic Words", Eldamo.org by Paul Strack
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Plot Notes B", p. 362
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, The Second Phase, "The Lonely Mountain", p. 472
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, The Second Phase, "The Lonely Mountain", note 4, p. 479
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