Gerontius Took
| Gerontius Took | |
|---|---|
| Hobbit | |
| File:Liz Danforth Gerontius took.jpg | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Old Took |
| Location | Great Smials, Tuckborough |
| Birth | S.R. 1190 |
| Death | S.R. 1320 |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Fortinbras Took I |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Gerontius Took |
Gerontius Took (T.A. 2790 - 2920, died aged 130), also known as The Old Took, was a renowned Hobbit of the Shire.
History
Gerontius was the only son of Fortinbras Took I. Gerontius married Adamanta Chubb, who gave birth to twelve children:
- Isengrim III S.R. 1232 – S.R. 1330
- Hildigard S.R. 1235 – S.R. 1255
- Isumbras IV S.R. 1238 – S.R. 1339
- Hildigrim S.R. 1240 – S.R. 1341
- Isembold S.R. 1242 – S.R. 1346
- Hildifons S.R. 1244 – ?
- Isembard S.R. 1247 – S.R. 1346
- Hildibrand S.R. 1249 – S.R. 1334
- Belladonna S.R. 1252 – S.R. 1334 (Bilbo's mother)
- Donnamira S.R. 1256 – S.R. 1348
- Mirabella S.R. 1260 – S.R. 1360
- Isengar S.R. 1262 – S.R. 1360
In T.A. 2848 after the death of his father, Gerontius became the twenty-sixth Thain of the Shire.[1] He was a friend of Gandalf, who gave him a pair of magic diamond studs, and Gerontius loved his magic fireworks, too.[2] Gerontius Took reached the impressive age of 130, which made him the oldest Hobbit until his grandson Bilbo Baggins celebrated his 131st Birthday.
Etymology
The word element geron is Greek for old. The name Gerontius was not used because of the Hobbit's age, but because of his numerous and younger relatives.[3]
Gerontius was also a Latin name of the Late Roman Empire, and is one of the very few Greco-Latin names appearing in Tolkiennymy.
Inspiration
In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Kloos, Tolkien wrote that when he wrote The Hobbit, he had imagined Bilbo's grandfather to be old, because both of his grandparents were around a hundred years old when they died.[3]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Took of Great Smials"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, page 54
| Preceded by: Fortinbras Took I |
26th Thain of The Shire S.R. 1248 - 1320 |
Followed by: Isengrim Took III |
