Maglor
Maglor | |
---|---|
Noldo | |
File:Sian Lloyd-Pennell - Maglor.jpg | |
"Maglor" by Sian Lloyd-Pennell | |
Biographical Information | |
Other names | Canafinwë (Q, fn) Macalaurë (Q, mn) |
Location | Tirion Formenos Maglor's Gap Himring Amon Ereb |
Affiliation | Oath of Fëanor |
Language | Quenya Sindarin |
Birth | after Y.T. 1190 Tirion |
Death | Fate unknown |
Family | |
House | House of Fëanor |
Parentage | Fëanor (father) Nerdanel (mother) |
Siblings | Maedros (brother) Celegorm (brother) Curufin (brother) Caranthir (brother) Amros (brother) Amarthan (brother) |
Spouse | Unnamed wife[1] |
Children | Fostered Elrond and Elros |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Male |
Hair color | Dark |
Gallery | Images of Maglor |
- "‘If none can release us,’ said Maglor, ‘then indeed the Everlasting Darkness shall be our lot, whether we keep our oath or break it; but less evil shall we do in the breaking.’"
- ― The Silmarillion, Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
Maglor (S, pron. [ˈmaɡlor]) was the second of the sons of Fëanor. He had more of his mother Nerdanel's gentle spirit than any of his brothers. Maglor was known for his poetry and singing,[2] but in Tirion he swore the Oath of Fëanor and shared in the woes it bred.[3]
History
Arrival to Middle-earth
Maglor was present at the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. To what degree he participated in the slaughter is unknown but later he composed the lament Noldolantë, the Fall of the the Noldor, in memory of the terrible event.[3] Following Fëanor into exile, Maglor witnessed his father die after he had fought Gothmog.[4]
Life in Beleriand
The sons of Fëanor settled in the eastern part of Beleriand. Maglor's ward was the opening in the hills between the two arms of the Duin Daer which acquired the name of Maglor's Gap. Due to the lack of hills the Gap was a natural route for the attacks from the north and the Noldor kept a strength of cavalry in that region.[5]
The End of the Siege of Angband
Maglor's Gap was held for four and a half centuries. However, in the Dagor Bragollach the dragon Glaurung invaded and laid waste to Maglor's land, forcing Maglor to flee to the fortress of his brother Maedros on the hill of Himring to the west.[6] Sixteen years later, he and Maedros marched to the great battle that the Elves hoped would see their revenge upon Morgoth, but they were defeated, partly by the treachery of Uldor the Accursed. Maglor himself slew Uldor, but all of the sons of Fëanor were wounded and they were forced to retreat to Mount Dolmed. The heavy loss led to the name of the battle thereafter: the Nirnaeth Arnoediad or the "Battle of Unnumbered Tears". Maglor and his brothers took to a wild woodland life in Ossiriand.[7]
The Second Kinslaying
Prior to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, one of the three Silmarils had been recovered from Morgoth's Crown.[8] From his parents Dior Eluchíl received the jewel and brought it to Doriath. True to their oath, the sons of Fëanor (led by Celegorm) demanded the Silmaril. When Dior refused to surrender it the brothers assaulted Thingol's ancient kingdom. Celegorm, Curufin and Caranthir all fell, as did Dior. But the three remaining brothers - Maedros, Maglor, and Amros - did not recover the Silmaril for Elwing, the daughter of Dior and Nimloth, escaped.[9]
The Third Kinslaying
Eventually the three brothers heard tidings that Elwing possessed a Silmaril and dwelt at the Mouths of Sirion. Driven by their Oath, the remaining sons of Fëanor made a sudden attack upon the refugees of Gondolin and Doriath. However they were again thwarted for Elwing escaped with the Silmaril across the Sea to her husband Eärendil. Together they sailed into the West and their voyage would eventually cause the downfall of Morgoth. Meanwhile, Elrond and Elros, Eärendil and Elwing's sons, captured in the battle, were adopted by Maglor, and it is said that love grew between them.
The Last End of the Oath of Fëanor
After Morgoth's fall the last two Silmarils were recovered from his Crown. By this time, only Maedros and Maglor remained of Fëanor's sons. In weariness and loathing they demanded the jewels from Eönwë, the herald of Manwë. Eönwë refused them the Silmarils due to their many evil deeds. Still driven, the two brothers crept into the camp of Eönwë and stole the jewels. Though they were caught Eönwë let them depart. Maedros and Maglor each took one jewel but their evil deeds caused the Holy Jewels to burn their skin. Maedros in despair cast himself into a fiery fissure.
But Maglor, the last surviving son of Fëanor, threw his Silmaril into the Sea. Legend says that he still wanders the shores of the World, singing laments for his despair and regret.[10]
Etymology
His father-name was Canafinwë, a name which in Quenya means "Strong-voiced [of] Finwë". It is derived from cáno, a noun which means "commander", added to the name of his grandfather.[11] His mother-name was Macalaurë. In The Etymologies it is interpreted as "Gold-cleaver".[12] A possible explanation for this translation is given in The Shibboleth of Fëanor, where it is stated that the name might be a reference to his skill in harping, whose sound was golden.[13]
Genealogy
External links
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", p. 318 (note 7)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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 Return of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
- ↑ 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 Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of the Sons of Fëanor", p. 352
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", MAK-
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of the Sons of Fëanor", p. 353