Fastitocalon: Difference between revisions
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Fastitocalon was the size of a small island and vegetation would often grow on his back when not submerged, adding to his deceitful appearance as an actual island. Because of his huge size, sailors landed on his back only to drown when he dove underwater.<ref name=Fasti/> | Fastitocalon was the size of a small island and vegetation would often grow on his back when not submerged, adding to his deceitful appearance as an actual island. Because of his huge size, sailors landed on his back only to drown when he dove underwater.<ref name=Fasti/> | ||
==Etymology== | |||
''Fastitocalon'' derives from the word ''astitocalon'' of the Shire-speech (rendered in English), which itself is an alteration or corruption of the [[Elvish|High-Elven]] ''Aspido-chelōne'' (rendered in Latin, meaning 'turtle with a round shield (of hide)). And "''the F was put on by the versifier simply to make the name alliterate''."<ref name=>{{L|255}}; see also "[[Eileen Elgar 5 March 1964]]" (letter)</ref> | |||
==External links== | |||
*{{WP|Fastitocalon}} (a fictional sea creature) | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
[[Category:Creatures]] | [[Category:Creatures]] | ||
[[fi:Fastitocalon]] | [[fi:Fastitocalon]] | ||
Revision as of 15:04, 16 October 2010
Fastitocalon was a legendary sea monster, apparently the last of the mighty Turtle-fishes. He is only mentioned in Hobbit verse.[1]
Fastitocalon was the size of a small island and vegetation would often grow on his back when not submerged, adding to his deceitful appearance as an actual island. Because of his huge size, sailors landed on his back only to drown when he dove underwater.[1]
Etymology
Fastitocalon derives from the word astitocalon of the Shire-speech (rendered in English), which itself is an alteration or corruption of the High-Elven Aspido-chelōne (rendered in Latin, meaning 'turtle with a round shield (of hide)). And "the F was put on by the versifier simply to make the name alliterate."[2]
External links
- Fastitocalon at Wikipedia (a fictional sea creature)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Fastitocalon"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 255, (dated 5 March 1964); see also "Eileen Elgar 5 March 1964" (letter)
