Nameless things: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day.|[[Gandalf]]<ref name="tWR">{{TT|White}}</ref>}}
[[Image:Nameless Things.jpg|thumb|''Nameless Thing'' by Heather Hudson]]
'''Nameless Things'''  were creatures that are said to have dwelled in the depths of [[Arda]] (though they are only known to have lived under the [[Misty Mountains]]). They tunnelled deeper than any [[Dwarf]] would ever go.<ref name="tWR"/>


They were described by [[Gandalf]] as very ancient, but their actual origin is unknown. Their nature or appearance are a mystery, but since they are as old as the world, they must have been a part of the [[Music of the Ainur|Ainulindalë]]<ref>{{S|Ainu}}</ref> or (since Sauron knew them not), a by-product of it.
[[File:Heather Hudson - Nameless Thing.jpg|thumb|[[Heather Hudson]] - ''Nameless Thing'']]


The [[Balrogs|Balrog]] known as [[Durin's Bane]] learned their tunnels while living in the depths of Moria. After Gandalf fell with him in the abyss, Durin's Bane seemed to know his way up and found the [[Endless Stair]]. He was Gandalf's only hope and he followed him.<ref name="tWR"/>
{{Quote|Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day.|[[Gandalf]]<ref name="tWR">{{TT|White}}, p. 501</ref>}}


It is also possible the [[Watcher in the Water]]<ref>{{FR|Journey}}</ref> was one of these Nameless Things.
The '''nameless things''' were gnawing things that were said by [[Gandalf]] to dwell so far beneath [[Arda]] that not even the [[Dwarves]] had ever chanced to come upon them.<ref name="tWR"/>
{{references}}
[[category:Creatures]][[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]


== History ==
Gandalf claimed that these nameless things under Arda were older than [[Sauron]], suggesting that they were alive before the physical arrival of some [[Maiar]] to Arda.<ref group=note>Hammond and Scull suggest this could have been a rhetorical flourish on Gandalf's part. Cf. {{HM|RC}}, pp. 392-393. Note that [[Tom Bombadil]] also claims to have been on Arda before the arrival of "the [[Dark Lord]]".</ref>
Some such creatures were said to be "slimier than fish" and preferred to dwell in darkness. They were known to have inhabited the caves deep within the hearts of mountains as far back as the [[Elder Days]]. When the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] dug around [[Goblin-town]], digging new tunnels and expanding and joining those that already existed, their original owners withdrew to the deepest depths and lurked beyond their knowledge.<ref name=Riddles>{{H|5}}</ref>
According to Gandalf, [[Durin's Bane]] had learned to navigate the nameless things' tunnels during its long stay in [[Moria]]. After the two fell from the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]] into an underground lake, the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] fled through these tunnels. Gandalf pursued it closely, believing that its knowledge of the tunnels was his only hope of escape. Their chase led them to the foot of the [[Endless Stair]], which they climbed to eventually emerge on the peak of [[Celebdil|Zirakzigil]].<ref name="tWR"/>
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', [[Nan Dungortheb|Nan Dumgorthin]], the "Land of the Dark Idols" ''"(dum ‘secret, not to be spoken’, dumgort, dungort ‘an (evil) idol’)"'', was a dark forested land that was located to the east of [[Doriath|Artanor]] where a collection of ''"evil tribes of renegade men"'' made sacrifices to [[Gods]] whose idols were hidden upon a wooded mountain.<ref>{{HM|LT2}}, pp. 35, 62, 374</ref> In the ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', there are shrines are hidden in secret places for the worship of '''nameless gods''' older than both [[Morgoth]] and the [[Valar]].<ref>{{LB|1d}}, lines 1472-1490</ref>
== Inspiration ==
Todd Jensen suggests that the nameless things may have been inspired by the dragon Nidhog of Norse mythology, who gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil the World Tree.<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, pp. 392-393</ref>
== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Nameless things in adaptations
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=2
|File:Heather Hudson - Nameless Thing.jpg|A ''Nameless Thing'' by Heather Hudson for the ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]''.
|File:The Rings of Power (TV series) - Worm.jpeg|The "''worm''" in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]''.
}}
=== Television ===
'''2022: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power|The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'':'''
:'''1 September: ''[[Adrift]]'':'''
::While adrift on a makeshift raft in the [[Sundering Seas]], [[Galadriel]], [[Halbrand]], and five [[Pre-Númenóreans|Southlanders]] are attacked by a creature referred to as "''the worm''", which had destroyed the Southlanders' ship two weeks before. The scene is accompanied by the following on-screen trivia: "''The Great Sea, or The Sundering Seas, divides the Undying Lands from Middle-earth - where there are still nameless things in the deepest places of the world.''" The trivia entry cites [[The White Rider|Book III, Chapter 5]].
=== Games ===
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Nameless is a creature type categorized as "Ancient Evil". They have a variety of shapes, but most of them are humanoid, only with no eyes or no head at all. They can be found in the [[Drúadan Forest]], having come out of the [[White Mountains]] during the [[Dawnless Day]]; and beneath the [[Iron Hills]], where a horde of [[Morgoth|Morgoth's]] monsters were sealed away by the Dwarves long ago. The largest concentration of Nameless, however, are within the Foundations of Stone, the deepest level of Moria. The [[Watcher in the Water]] is also classified as Nameless, as is "Helchgam", another tentacled creature, found in the sewers of [[Carn Dûm]].
== External links ==
* [http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2014/01/21/what-are-the-nameless-things-gandalf-refers-to-below-khazad-dum/ What Are the Nameless Things Gandalf Refers to Below Khazad-dum?] by [[Michael Martinez]]
{{References|n}}
{{Legend}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Enigmas]]
[[Category:Other races]]
[[de:Namenlose Wesen]]
[[de:Namenlose Wesen]]
[[fi:Nimettömät olennot]]

Latest revision as of 04:34, 5 July 2023

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.


Heather Hudson - Nameless Thing
"Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day."
― Gandalf[1]

The nameless things were gnawing things that were said by Gandalf to dwell so far beneath Arda that not even the Dwarves had ever chanced to come upon them.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Gandalf claimed that these nameless things under Arda were older than Sauron, suggesting that they were alive before the physical arrival of some Maiar to Arda.[note 1]

Some such creatures were said to be "slimier than fish" and preferred to dwell in darkness. They were known to have inhabited the caves deep within the hearts of mountains as far back as the Elder Days. When the Orcs of the Misty Mountains dug around Goblin-town, digging new tunnels and expanding and joining those that already existed, their original owners withdrew to the deepest depths and lurked beyond their knowledge.[2]

According to Gandalf, Durin's Bane had learned to navigate the nameless things' tunnels during its long stay in Moria. After the two fell from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm into an underground lake, the Balrog fled through these tunnels. Gandalf pursued it closely, believing that its knowledge of the tunnels was his only hope of escape. Their chase led them to the foot of the Endless Stair, which they climbed to eventually emerge on the peak of Zirakzigil.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In The Book of Lost Tales, Nan Dumgorthin, the "Land of the Dark Idols" "(dum ‘secret, not to be spoken’, dumgort, dungort ‘an (evil) idol’)", was a dark forested land that was located to the east of Artanor where a collection of "evil tribes of renegade men" made sacrifices to Gods whose idols were hidden upon a wooded mountain.[3] In the Lay of the Children of Húrin, there are shrines are hidden in secret places for the worship of nameless gods older than both Morgoth and the Valar.[4]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Todd Jensen suggests that the nameless things may have been inspired by the dragon Nidhog of Norse mythology, who gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil the World Tree.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Nameless things in adaptations
A Nameless Thing by Heather Hudson for the Middle-earth Collectible Card Game.  
The "worm" in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.  

Television[edit | edit source]

2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power:

1 September: Adrift:
While adrift on a makeshift raft in the Sundering Seas, Galadriel, Halbrand, and five Southlanders are attacked by a creature referred to as "the worm", which had destroyed the Southlanders' ship two weeks before. The scene is accompanied by the following on-screen trivia: "The Great Sea, or The Sundering Seas, divides the Undying Lands from Middle-earth - where there are still nameless things in the deepest places of the world." The trivia entry cites Book III, Chapter 5.

Games[edit | edit source]

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Nameless is a creature type categorized as "Ancient Evil". They have a variety of shapes, but most of them are humanoid, only with no eyes or no head at all. They can be found in the Drúadan Forest, having come out of the White Mountains during the Dawnless Day; and beneath the Iron Hills, where a horde of Morgoth's monsters were sealed away by the Dwarves long ago. The largest concentration of Nameless, however, are within the Foundations of Stone, the deepest level of Moria. The Watcher in the Water is also classified as Nameless, as is "Helchgam", another tentacled creature, found in the sewers of Carn Dûm.

External links[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. ↑ Hammond and Scull suggest this could have been a rhetorical flourish on Gandalf's part. Cf. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 392-393. Note that Tom Bombadil also claims to have been on Arda before the arrival of "the Dark Lord".

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider", p. 501
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Riddles in the Dark"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, pp. 35, 62, 374
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin: III. Failivrin", lines 1472-1490
  5. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 392-393
Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow
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