Gothmog (balrog): Difference between revisions
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{{disambig-two|the Balrog of the First Age|the Lieutenant of Morgul|[[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)]]}} | {{disambig-two|the Balrog of the First Age|the Lieutenant of Morgul|[[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)]]}} | ||
{{evil infobox | {{evil infobox | ||
| name=Gothmog | |||
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Fingon and Gothmog.jpg|250px]] | | image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Fingon and Gothmog.jpg|250px]] | ||
| | | caption="Fingon and Gothmog" by [[Ted Nasmith]] | ||
| pronun= | | pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈɡoθmoɡ]}} | ||
| othernames= | | othernames= | ||
| titles= | | titles= | ||
| position=Lord of | | position=Lord of Balrogs<br />High-captain of Angband | ||
| location=[[Angband]] | | location=[[Angband]] | ||
| affiliation=[[Morgoth]] | | affiliation=[[Morgoth]] | ||
| language= | | language= | ||
| birth= | | birth=[[Creation of the Ainur]] | ||
| birthlocation= | | birthlocation= | ||
| rule= | | rule= | ||
Line 16: | Line 17: | ||
| deathlocation=[[Fall of Gondolin]] | | deathlocation=[[Fall of Gondolin]] | ||
| age= | | age= | ||
| notablefor= | | notablefor=Killing [[Fëanor]], [[Fingon]] and [[Ecthelion]]<br/>Capturing [[Húrin]]<br/>Being victorious in [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]<br/>Leading the assault on [[Gondolin]] | ||
| parentage= | | parentage= | ||
| siblings= | | siblings= | ||
| spouse= | | spouse= | ||
| children= | | children= | ||
| race=[[ | | race=[[Maiar|Maia]] ([[Balrog]]) | ||
| gender=Male | | gender=Male | ||
| height=Possibly twice man-height | | height=Possibly twice man-height | ||
Line 30: | Line 31: | ||
| steed= | | steed= | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Gothmog''' was the Lord of [[Balrogs]] and the High-captain of Angband, one of the chief servants of the Dark Lord [[Morgoth]] during the [[First Age]]. | |||
== History == | |||
He is first mentioned at the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] when his Balrogs surrounded and attacked [[Fëanor]], whom Gothmog himself mortally wounded, before they were forced to depart to Angband when the [[Sons of Fëanor]] came to their fathers aid.<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref> | |||
He next appeared at the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] where he was named high-captain of [[Angband]], signifying his status as one of Morgoth's most important Lieutenants ([[Sauron]], another [[Maia]], played a more domestic role compared to Gothmog’s front-line role). There at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad he slew [[Fingon]], thus allowing him to boast of having slain two of the five [[High Kings of the Noldor]].<ref>{{S|Fifth}}</ref> During this same battle he captured [[Húrin|Húrin Thalion]] alive by the command of Morgoth, although this order allowed Húrin to slaughter many of Gothmog's troll-guards he was eventually captured, bound and dragged to Angband by Gothmog.<ref>{{CH|2}}</ref>{{rp|59}} | |||
His final appearance was as the marshal of the hosts at the [[Fall of Gondolin]], where he slew, and was slain by, [[Ecthelion of the Fountain|Ecthelion]] in the square of the King.<ref>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref> | |||
== Etymology == | |||
{{Pronounce|Gothmog.mp3|Ardamir}} | {{Pronounce|Gothmog.mp3|Ardamir}} | ||
The name ''Gothmog'' is derived from the roots GOS-/GOTH- ("dread"), and MBAW- ("compel, force, subject, oppress") (found also in the title for Morgoth ''Bauglir'': the tyrant or oppressor).<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}</ref>{{rp|359, 372}} | |||
== | == Other versions of the legendarium == | ||
=== The Book of Lost Tales === | |||
[[File:Abe Papakhian - Ecthelion and Gothmog (colour).jpg|thumb|''Ecthelion and Gothmog'' by [[:Category:Images by Abe Papakhian|Abe Papakhian]]]] | |||
Gothmog already appears in the earliest stage of the [[legendarium]] of ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''. His name is [[Gnomish]] and means "Strife-and-hatred".<ref name=List>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 216</ref> Other [[Qenya]] names were '''Kalimbo''',<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 12</ref> '''Kosomot'''<ref>{{LT1|IIIn}}, p. 93</ref> or '''Kosmoko'''.<ref name=List></ref> | |||
In the character list appended to ''[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]'' Gothmog was described as "a son of Melko and the ogress [[Fluithuin]],"<ref>{{LT2|IIIn}}</ref>{{rp|216}} but eventually, the idea that the Valar had [[Valarindi|children]] was discarded altogether. | |||
In the character list appended to ''[[The Fall of Gondolin]]'' Gothmog was described as "a son of | |||
According to the own Lost Tale, when the armies of Melko attacked [[Gondolin]] and surrounded it, they could not climb the slippery stone of [[Amon Gwareth]]. Then Gothmog led them to the northern gate of the city and piled his iron siege equipment against it until it broke from sheer pressure.<ref name="III">{{LT2|III}}</ref>{{rp|176}} He also took a front-line position against [[Rog]], and with treacherous strategy he cut off the rearguard of the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath]], destroying them completely.<ref name="III"/>{{rp|179}} Later he beat down [[Tuor]] in single combat in the [[Square of the Palace]], but the elf-lord [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]], who was badly wounded, rose and stood over him. Ecthelion stood no chance against the Lord of Balrogs, and lost his sword in the brief struggle. But then Ecthelion leaped forward, and stabbed Gothmog in the breast with the spike atop his helm. They both fell into the [[Fountain of the King]], where Gothmog, if not already killed by the spike, drowned with his opponent.<ref name="III"/>{{rp|183-4}} | |||
== | === Later concepts === | ||
In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', "[[Lungorthin]], Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned.<ref>{{LB|1e}}, p. 98</ref> It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to [[Christopher Tolkien]], the latter is more probable, as the name ''Gothmog'' was mentioned in the earliest writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.<ref>{{LB|1e}}, Commentary on Part I of the second version, pp. 102-103</ref> | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
{{ | {{ainur}} | ||
{{title}} | {{title}} | ||
[[Category:Balrogs]] | [[Category:Balrogs]] | ||
[[Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales]] | |||
[[Category:Characters in The Children of Húrin]] | |||
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]] | [[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:First Age characters]] | ||
[[Category:Gnomish names]] | |||
[[Category:Maiar]] | |||
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]] | |||
[[Category:Sindarin names]] | |||
[[de:Gothmog (Balrog)]] | [[de:Gothmog (Balrog)]] | ||
[[fi:Gothmog (balrog)]] | [[fi:Gothmog (balrog)]] |
Revision as of 00:35, 15 October 2021
Gothmog | |
---|---|
Maia (Balrog) | |
"Fingon and Gothmog" by Ted Nasmith | |
Biographical Information | |
Pronunciation | S, [ˈɡoθmoɡ] |
Position | Lord of Balrogs High-captain of Angband |
Location | Angband |
Affiliation | Morgoth |
Birth | Creation of the Ainur |
Death | F.A. 510 Fall of Gondolin |
Notable for | Killing Fëanor, Fingon and Ecthelion Capturing Húrin Being victorious in Nirnaeth Arnoediad Leading the assault on Gondolin |
Physical Description | |
Race | Maia (Balrog) |
Gender | Male |
Height | Possibly twice man-height |
Weaponry | Black axe and whip |
Gallery | Images of Gothmog |
Gothmog was the Lord of Balrogs and the High-captain of Angband, one of the chief servants of the Dark Lord Morgoth during the First Age.
History
He is first mentioned at the Dagor-nuin-Giliath when his Balrogs surrounded and attacked Fëanor, whom Gothmog himself mortally wounded, before they were forced to depart to Angband when the Sons of Fëanor came to their fathers aid.[1]
He next appeared at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad where he was named high-captain of Angband, signifying his status as one of Morgoth's most important Lieutenants (Sauron, another Maia, played a more domestic role compared to Gothmog’s front-line role). There at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad he slew Fingon, thus allowing him to boast of having slain two of the five High Kings of the Noldor.[2] During this same battle he captured Húrin Thalion alive by the command of Morgoth, although this order allowed Húrin to slaughter many of Gothmog's troll-guards he was eventually captured, bound and dragged to Angband by Gothmog.[3]:59
His final appearance was as the marshal of the hosts at the Fall of Gondolin, where he slew, and was slain by, Ecthelion in the square of the King.[4]
Etymology
Gothmog.mp3 | |
By Ardamir. (Help; more articles) | |
The name Gothmog is derived from the roots GOS-/GOTH- ("dread"), and MBAW- ("compel, force, subject, oppress") (found also in the title for Morgoth Bauglir: the tyrant or oppressor).[5]:359, 372
Other versions of the legendarium
The Book of Lost Tales
Gothmog already appears in the earliest stage of the legendarium of The Book of Lost Tales. His name is Gnomish and means "Strife-and-hatred".[6] Other Qenya names were Kalimbo,[7] Kosomot[8] or Kosmoko.[6]
In the character list appended to The Fall of Gondolin Gothmog was described as "a son of Melko and the ogress Fluithuin,"[9]:216 but eventually, the idea that the Valar had children was discarded altogether.
According to the own Lost Tale, when the armies of Melko attacked Gondolin and surrounded it, they could not climb the slippery stone of Amon Gwareth. Then Gothmog led them to the northern gate of the city and piled his iron siege equipment against it until it broke from sheer pressure.[10]:176 He also took a front-line position against Rog, and with treacherous strategy he cut off the rearguard of the House of the Hammer of Wrath, destroying them completely.[10]:179 Later he beat down Tuor in single combat in the Square of the Palace, but the elf-lord Ecthelion of the Fountain, who was badly wounded, rose and stood over him. Ecthelion stood no chance against the Lord of Balrogs, and lost his sword in the brief struggle. But then Ecthelion leaped forward, and stabbed Gothmog in the breast with the spike atop his helm. They both fell into the Fountain of the King, where Gothmog, if not already killed by the spike, drowned with his opponent.[10]:183-4
Later concepts
In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned.[11] It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to Christopher Tolkien, the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.[12]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Battle of Unnumbered Tears"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary", p. 216
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 12
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor": "Notes and Commentary", p. 93
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Second Version of the Lay: I. (Húrin and Morgoth)", p. 98
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Second Version of the Lay: I. (Húrin and Morgoth)", Commentary on Part I of the second version, pp. 102-103
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Concepts and locations | Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar |