Gwaihir: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Roger Thomasson - Gwaihir.jpg|thumb|''Gwaihir'' by [[Roger Thomasson]].]]
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{{Pronounce|Gwaihir.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Gwaihir.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Gwaihir''' was the Lord of the [[Eagles]] of [[Middle-earth]] at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].  
'''Gwaihir''' was the greatest and the swiftest of the [[Eagles]] of [[Middle-earth]] at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].  
 
==History==
==History==
Gwaihir was the Lord of the Eagles and resided in the eyrie of the [[Misty Mountains]]. Once he suffered from a poisoned wound, and was healed by [[Gandalf]] and thenceforth they became friends. He and his people served Gandalf and [[Radagast]] as spies and messengers.
A descendant of [[Thorondor]], it is said that Gwaihir was his vassal in the [[First Age]] and with his brother [[Landroval]] helped him rescue [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] from [[Angband]].<ref name=P1>{{WJ|P1}} p. 68</ref>
 
In the [[Third Age]] he was the greatest and the swiftest of the Eagles of the North.
 
When the Eagles heard about [[Gollum]]'s escape from [[Mirkwood]], Gwaihir was sent to bear the news to [[Isengard]], as they had been told by [[Radagast]].


During the [[Quest for Erebor]], they saved [[Thorin and Company]] as they flew from the [[Goblin-town]] and brought them to the eyrie<ref>{{H|6}}</ref>; later they played a crucial role in the [[Battle of the Five Armies]]<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>. After {{TA|2941}} Gwaihir became [[King of All Birds]].
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Escape from Orthanc.jpg|thumb|left|Stephen Hickman - ''Escape from Orthanc'']]
During the [[War of the Ring]], he noticed [[Gandalf]] on the pinnacle of [[Orthanc]] while trapped by [[Saruman]] and carried him to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{FR|Council}}</ref> Later he was sent by [[Galadriel]] to find Gandalf; he found him on the peak of [[Celebdil]] after the [[Battle of the Peak]], and carried him to [[Lothlórien]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref>


During the [[War of the Ring]], he rescued [[Gandalf]] from the pinnacle of [[Orthanc]] while trapped by [[Saruman]], and later from the peak of [[Celebdil]] after the [[Battle of the Peak]];
Gwaihir, [[Meneldor]] and [[Landroval]] helped the [[Free peoples]] in the [[Battle of the Morannon]]; in the aftermath, they brought [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] out of [[Mordor]] after [[the One Ring]] was destroyed.<ref>{{RK|Doom}}</ref>


Gwaihir with [[Landroval]] brought [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] out of [[Mordor]] after the destruction of the [[One Ring]].
==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | |THO| | | |THO=[[Thorondor]]}}
{{familytree| | | |:| | | |}}
{{familytree| | |FAT| | |FAT=Father of Gwaihir}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree|GWA| |LAN| | |GWA='''GWAIHIR'''|LAN=[[Landroval]]}}
{{familytree/end}}


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
'''''Gwaihir''''' comes from the [[Sindarin]] ''[[gwaew]]'' "wind" + ''[[hîr]]'' "lord".  His name translated into English would be, therefor, "Windlord".
'''''Gwaihir''''' comes from [[Sindarin]] ''[[gwaew]]'' ("wind")<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 33-4</ref> and possibly ''[[hîr]]'' "lord".  His name could thus likely be translated as "Windlord".


==Portrayal in Adaptations==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
Eagles named "Gwaihir" and "Landroval" (or, in even earlier texts, "Gwaewar" and "Lhandroval") appeared in early ''[[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]'', as vassals of Thorondor who helped to bear [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] from [[Angband]]<ref name=P1/>. These references were removed by [[Christopher Tolkien]] to escape the seeming discrepancy with ''The Lord of the Rings'', although later he admitted that he was not sure about his father's intentions.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}} Chs. 12–15, p. 301–3</ref><ref>{{SD|V}}</ref>
 
It is generally thought that Gwaihir is the [[Lord of the Eagles]] of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', although [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never makes a connection nor mentions that Gwaihir was Lord of the Eagles. This notion is also seen in [[Robert Foster]]'s ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]''.
 
In the whole ''Lord of the Rings'' Gwaihir carries Gandalf twice, and by the end of the book Gandalf says that Gwaihir had carried him twice<ref>{{RK|Cormallen}}</ref>; this implies that Gwaihir never carried him before the timeframe of the book.
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
 
===Radio series===
'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Alexander John]] provided the voice of Gwaihir during Gandalf's rescue from Orthanc.
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gandalf whispers "Gwaihir" repeatedly to the moth that arrives at [[Isengard]]. Later, Gwaihir rescues [[Gandalf]] from Isengard, and carries him to safety.
:Gandalf whispers "Gwaihir" repeatedly to a moth that arrives at [[Isengard]]. Later, Gwaihir rescues [[Gandalf]] from Isengard, and carries him to safety.


'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gwaihir and his Eagles come to aid at the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. They attack the Nazgûl and their [[fell beasts]]. After the battle is won and the One Ring destroyed, Gwaihir along with [[Gandalf]] and a second Eagle rescue [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] from the rocks of [[Mount Doom]].
:Gwaihir and his Eagles come to aid at the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. They attack the Nazgûl and their [[fell beasts]]. After the battle is won and the One Ring destroyed, Gwaihir along with [[Gandalf]] and a second Eagle rescue [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] from the rocks of [[Mount Doom]].


==See Also==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Gwaihir is first mentioned by [[Gandalf]] when the player meets up with him at [[the Prancing Pony]].<ref>{{VGC|SAII}}, Foreword: "Aiding the Order"</ref> The player first sees Gwaihir when entering Galadriel's garden in [[Lothlórien]] for the first time.<ref>{{VGC|MMVI}}, Chapter 9: "The Mirror of Galadriel"</ref>
 
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Gwaihir is first mentioned in chapter 1, where [[Belarum]] tells that he has been sent by Gwaihir to seek news. Later on in the game, he makes a full appearance.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Main Gate''</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Gwaihir|Images of Gwaihir]]
* [[:Category:Images of Gwaihir|Images of Gwaihir]]


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{{References}}
 
{{Ainur}}


{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Gwaihir]]
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Revision as of 17:34, 22 June 2014

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
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"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
Gwaihir
Maia
Roger Thomasson - Gwaihir.jpg
Biographical Information
AffiliationManwë
Family
SiblingsLandroval
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Gwaihir

Gwaihir was the greatest and the swiftest of the Eagles of Middle-earth at the time of the War of the Ring.

History

A descendant of Thorondor, it is said that Gwaihir was his vassal in the First Age and with his brother Landroval helped him rescue Beren and Lúthien from Angband.[1]

In the Third Age he was the greatest and the swiftest of the Eagles of the North.

When the Eagles heard about Gollum's escape from Mirkwood, Gwaihir was sent to bear the news to Isengard, as they had been told by Radagast.

Stephen Hickman - Escape from Orthanc

During the War of the Ring, he noticed Gandalf on the pinnacle of Orthanc while trapped by Saruman and carried him to Edoras.[2] Later he was sent by Galadriel to find Gandalf; he found him on the peak of Celebdil after the Battle of the Peak, and carried him to Lothlórien.[3]

Gwaihir, Meneldor and Landroval helped the Free peoples in the Battle of the Morannon; in the aftermath, they brought Frodo and Sam out of Mordor after the One Ring was destroyed.[4]

Genealogy

 
 
Thorondor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Father of Gwaihir
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GWAIHIR
 
Landroval
 
 


Etymology

Gwaihir comes from Sindarin gwaew ("wind")[5] and possibly hîr "lord". His name could thus likely be translated as "Windlord".

Other versions of the legendarium

Eagles named "Gwaihir" and "Landroval" (or, in even earlier texts, "Gwaewar" and "Lhandroval") appeared in early Silmarillion, as vassals of Thorondor who helped to bear Beren and Lúthien from Angband[1]. These references were removed by Christopher Tolkien to escape the seeming discrepancy with The Lord of the Rings, although later he admitted that he was not sure about his father's intentions.[6][7]

It is generally thought that Gwaihir is the Lord of the Eagles of The Hobbit, although Tolkien never makes a connection nor mentions that Gwaihir was Lord of the Eagles. This notion is also seen in Robert Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.

In the whole Lord of the Rings Gwaihir carries Gandalf twice, and by the end of the book Gandalf says that Gwaihir had carried him twice[8]; this implies that Gwaihir never carried him before the timeframe of the book.

Portrayal in adaptations

Radio series

1981: BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring:

Alexander John provided the voice of Gwaihir during Gandalf's rescue from Orthanc.

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

Gandalf whispers "Gwaihir" repeatedly to a moth that arrives at Isengard. Later, Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from Isengard, and carries him to safety.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

Gwaihir and his Eagles come to aid at the Battle of the Morannon. They attack the Nazgûl and their fell beasts. After the battle is won and the One Ring destroyed, Gwaihir along with Gandalf and a second Eagle rescue Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee from the rocks of Mount Doom.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Gwaihir is first mentioned by Gandalf when the player meets up with him at the Prancing Pony.[9] The player first sees Gwaihir when entering Galadriel's garden in Lothlórien for the first time.[10]

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

Gwaihir is first mentioned in chapter 1, where Belarum tells that he has been sent by Gwaihir to seek news. Later on in the game, he makes a full appearance.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals" p. 68
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Mount Doom"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), pp. 33-4
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion" Chs. 12–15, p. 301–3
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: V. The Field of Kormallen"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Field of Cormallen"
  9. The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, "The Red Maid", Foreword: "Aiding the Order"
  10. The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, "The Shadowy Abyss", Chapter 9: "The Mirror of Galadriel"
  11. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Chapter 1: Fornost, Main Gate
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