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'''Nienor''', also called ''Níniel'' "Tear-Maiden", was [[Húrin]] and [[Morwen]]'s third child, the sister of [[Túrin]]. She was born in [[Hithlum]] in the year of [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]. After this battle, the [[Easterlings]] settled in the land and oppressed the people of [[Hador]].
{{Edain infobox
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Túrin Discovers Nienor at the Mound of Finduilas.jpg|250px]]
| name=Nienor Níniel
| othernames=
| titles=Princess of [[Dor-lómin]]
| position=
| location=[[Dor-lómin]], [[Brethil]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Mannish]] dialect
| birth={{FA|473}}
| birthlocation=[[Dor-lómin]]
| rule=
| death={{FA|499}}
| deathlocation=[[Cabed-en-Aras]] (suicide)
| age=26
| house=[[House of Hador]]
| parentage=[[Húrin]] & [[Morwen]]
| siblings=[[Túrin]] & [[Lalaith]]
| spouse=[[Túrin]]
| children=Unborn
| gender=Female
| height=
| hair=Golden
| eyes=Blue<ref name="Death">{{CH|18}}</ref> or grey<ref name="Journey">{{CH|14}}</ref>
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Nienor''' ([[First Age]] [[First Age 473|473]] – [[First Age 499|499]], aged 26 years), also called ''[[Níniel]]'' ("Tear-Maiden"), was [[Húrin]] and [[Morwen]]'s third child and the sister of [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]. Her father was a great foe of [[Morgoth]] and was cursed by the Dark Lord. That curse would also ensnare his children, leading to the greatest tragedies of the First Age.


Nienor remained in [[Hithlum]] with her mother [[Morwen]] for twenty years, subsequently moving to [[Doriath]] in hopes of finding [[Túrin]], who has been sent there earlier. After she and her mother heard a rumour that the mysterious [[Mormegil]] of [[Nargothrond]] was actually [[Túrin]], they set out with a company of [[Elves (Arda)|Elves]] for that place. Unfortunately, the dragon [[Glaurung]] had just sacked that elven city, and, sensing their approach, he caused a cloud of foul vapor to rise from the [[Narog]]. The party's horses panicked and Nienor was separated, at which point the worm [[Glaurung]] used his famous abilities to put her in a state of total [[amnesia]].
==History==


Eventually, the amnesiac woman was found by [[Mablung]], who intended to take her back to [[Doriath]] but they were attacked by [[Orcs]] while attempting to cross the [[Taeglin]]. In confusion and terror, Nienor ran away, tore off her clothes and ran naked through the forest until she fainted.
She was born in [[Hithlum]] in the year of the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] ("The Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), during which her father was captured by the servants of Morgoth. After the battle, the [[Easterlings]] settled in the land and oppressed the [[House of Hador|People of Hador]]. Fearing for her son's life, Morwen sent Túrin to the kingdom of [[Doriath]] for safety. As a result, Túrin never saw his sister.


Her brother [[Túrin]] found her, naked and terrified, at [[Haudh-en-Elleth]], lying on the grave of his dead lover [[Finduilas]]. Because Nienor did not remember her identity and [[Túrin]] did not know he had a living sister, he named her ''Níniel'' "Tear-Maiden" and brought her to safety at [[Brethil]].
Nienor remained in [[Hithlum]] with her mother for twenty years before they went to Doriath in hopes of finding Túrin. He had left the kingdom, but Nienor and her mother heard a rumor that the mysterious [[Mormegil]], war chief of the Kingdom of [[Nargothrond]], was actually Túrin. The two then journeyed out with a company of [[Elves]]. Unfortunately, the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Glaurung]] had just sacked the Elven city, and, sensing their approach, caused a cloud of foul vapor to rise from the river [[Narog]]. The party's horses panicked and Nienor was separated, at which point the worm Glaurung used his enchantments to put her in a state of total amnesia.


The men of [[Brethil]] returned to [[Ephel Brandir]] soon after. When "Níniel" fell sick, [[Brandir]] tended to her, secretly falling in love. However, "Níniel" loved Túrin more, and after three years, they were wed. By the next spring, she was halfway through her first pregnancy.  
[[Image:John Howe - Nienor and Glaurung.jpg|left|thumb|''Nienor and Glaurung'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Eventually, the amnesiac woman was found by [[Mablung]], who intended to take her back to Doriath but they were attacked by [[Orcs]] while attempting to cross the river [[Taeglin]]. In confusion and terror, Nienor tore off her clothes and ran naked through the forest until she fainted.


It was then that rumours of [[Glaurung]]'s approach reached [[Túrin]], who went out to slay him. Unfortunately, the dragon envenomated him even as he dealt the worm a mortal blow, and [[Túrin]] fell into a swoon.
Here her brother Túrin found her, naked and terrified, at the [[Haudh-en-Elleth|grave of Finduilas]], the elf-maid whom he had loved. Because Nienor did not remember her identity and Túrin did not know he had a living sister, he named her [[Níniel|''Níniel'']] ("Tear-Maiden") and brought her to safety in the [[Forest of Brethil]].


At this unfortunate moment, "Níniel", who feared for her husband's life, went out and found him apparently dead. [[Glaurung]] then set off his hidden weapon against [[Túrin]] - he removed Nienor's amnesia with his last words. Realising she had married her own brother and was carrying his unborn child, she committed suicide by throwing herself into the ravine at [[Cabed-en-Aras]]. Her death sparked a series of events culminating in his suicide (by ''[[seppuku]]''), thus fulfilling [[Glaurung]]'s vengeance.
The men of Brethil returned to the settlement of [[Ephel Brandir]] soon after. When "Níniel" fell sick, [[Brandir]] tended to her, secretly falling in love. However, "Níniel" loved Túrin more, and after three years, they were wed. By the next spring, she was halfway through her first pregnancy.


The tragedy of [[Túrin]] and Nienor's love and suicide appear to have been carefully scripted by the dragon [[Glaurung]] - this was his most dangerous weapon and the coincidences are too great to be accidental. Nienor arrived, practically gift-wrapped, naked and amnesiac on the grave of [[Túrin]]'s love, who was tragically murdered; the resonances of this incident are too specific to be accidental.
It was then that rumors of Glaurung's approach reached Túrin, who went out to slay him. Unfortunately, the dragon envenomated him even as he dealt the worm a mortal blow, and Túrin fell into a swoon. At this moment, "Níniel", who feared for her husband's life, arrived and found him apparently dead. The dying Glaurung then removed Nienor's amnesia with his last words. Realising she had married her own brother and was carrying his unborn child, she threw herself into the gorge of [[Cabed-en-Aras]] in an attempt to kill herself. No tale tells if she did indeed die. When Túrin finally awoke, he was told of Nienor's fate by Brandir, but he refused to believe it, and slew him in anger. Then [[Mablung]] of Doriath arrived and corroborated Brandir's tale. In utter misery, Túrin killed himself on his sword [[Gurthang]].


See also:
The tragedy of Túrin and Nienor's love and suicide appear to have been carefully scripted by the curse of Morgoth, as meted out by his servant Glaurung — this was his most dangerous weapon and the coincidences are too great to be accidental. That Nienor would arrive naked and amnesiac on the grave of Túrin's love, who had been tragically murdered; the repercussions of this incident are too specific to not be the work of the curse.
* [[House of Húrin]]
* [[Narn i Chîn Húrin]]


[[Category:Edain]]
==Etymology==
 
''Nienor'' is a [[Sindarin]] name meaning "Mourning". In ''[[The Children of Húrin]]'', [[Christopher Tolkien]] chose to spell her name '''Niënor'''.<ref>{{CH|Names}}, p. 308</ref>
 
== Genealogy ==
 
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | BRE | | | | HAL | | HAD | BRE=[[Bregolas]]|HAL=[[Halmir]]|HAD=[[Hador|Hador Lórindol]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | |!|}}
{{familytree | BEL | | BAR | | HAR |y| GAL | BEL=[[Belegund]]|BAR=[[Baragund]]|GAL=[[Galdor (Lord of Dor-lómin)|Galdor of Dor-lómin]]|HAR=[[Hareth]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{familytree | | | | | MOR |y| HUR | | HUO | | |MOR=[[Morwen|Morwen Eledhwen]]|HUR=[[Húrin|Húrin Thalion]]|HUO=[[Huor]]}}
{{familytree | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | TUR | | LAL | | NIE | | | | TUR=[[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]|LAL=[[Lalaith]]|NIE='''NIENOR NÍNIEL'''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | | | |:| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | |L|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|J| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree/end}}
 
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Nienor|Images of Nienor]]
 
{{References}}
* ''[[The Children of Húrin]]'', passim
* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Of Túrin Turambar]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Narn i Chîn Húrin]]
 
[[Category:Characters in The Children of Húrin]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:House of Bëor]]
[[Category:House of Hador]]
[[Category:House of Haleth]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Nienor]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hommes/1a/peuple_de_hador/nienor]]
[[fi:Niënor]]

Revision as of 12:16, 4 November 2012

Nienor Níniel
Adan
Ted Nasmith - Túrin Discovers Nienor at the Mound of Finduilas.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesPrincess of Dor-lómin
LocationDor-lómin, Brethil
LanguageMannish dialect
BirthF.A. 473
Dor-lómin
DeathF.A. 499 (aged 26)
Cabed-en-Aras (suicide)
Family
HouseHouse of Hador
ParentageHúrin & Morwen
SiblingsTúrin & Lalaith
SpouseTúrin
ChildrenUnborn
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorGolden
Eye colorBlue[1] or grey[2]
GalleryImages of Nienor Níniel

Nienor (First Age 473 – 499, aged 26 years), also called Níniel ("Tear-Maiden"), was Húrin and Morwen's third child and the sister of Túrin Turambar. Her father was a great foe of Morgoth and was cursed by the Dark Lord. That curse would also ensnare his children, leading to the greatest tragedies of the First Age.

History

She was born in Hithlum in the year of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("The Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), during which her father was captured by the servants of Morgoth. After the battle, the Easterlings settled in the land and oppressed the People of Hador. Fearing for her son's life, Morwen sent Túrin to the kingdom of Doriath for safety. As a result, Túrin never saw his sister.

Nienor remained in Hithlum with her mother for twenty years before they went to Doriath in hopes of finding Túrin. He had left the kingdom, but Nienor and her mother heard a rumor that the mysterious Mormegil, war chief of the Kingdom of Nargothrond, was actually Túrin. The two then journeyed out with a company of Elves. Unfortunately, the Dragon Glaurung had just sacked the Elven city, and, sensing their approach, caused a cloud of foul vapor to rise from the river Narog. The party's horses panicked and Nienor was separated, at which point the worm Glaurung used his enchantments to put her in a state of total amnesia.

Nienor and Glaurung by John Howe

Eventually, the amnesiac woman was found by Mablung, who intended to take her back to Doriath but they were attacked by Orcs while attempting to cross the river Taeglin. In confusion and terror, Nienor tore off her clothes and ran naked through the forest until she fainted.

Here her brother Túrin found her, naked and terrified, at the grave of Finduilas, the elf-maid whom he had loved. Because Nienor did not remember her identity and Túrin did not know he had a living sister, he named her Níniel ("Tear-Maiden") and brought her to safety in the Forest of Brethil.

The men of Brethil returned to the settlement of Ephel Brandir soon after. When "Níniel" fell sick, Brandir tended to her, secretly falling in love. However, "Níniel" loved Túrin more, and after three years, they were wed. By the next spring, she was halfway through her first pregnancy.

It was then that rumors of Glaurung's approach reached Túrin, who went out to slay him. Unfortunately, the dragon envenomated him even as he dealt the worm a mortal blow, and Túrin fell into a swoon. At this moment, "Níniel", who feared for her husband's life, arrived and found him apparently dead. The dying Glaurung then removed Nienor's amnesia with his last words. Realising she had married her own brother and was carrying his unborn child, she threw herself into the gorge of Cabed-en-Aras in an attempt to kill herself. No tale tells if she did indeed die. When Túrin finally awoke, he was told of Nienor's fate by Brandir, but he refused to believe it, and slew him in anger. Then Mablung of Doriath arrived and corroborated Brandir's tale. In utter misery, Túrin killed himself on his sword Gurthang.

The tragedy of Túrin and Nienor's love and suicide appear to have been carefully scripted by the curse of Morgoth, as meted out by his servant Glaurung — this was his most dangerous weapon and the coincidences are too great to be accidental. That Nienor would arrive naked and amnesiac on the grave of Túrin's love, who had been tragically murdered; the repercussions of this incident are too specific to not be the work of the curse.

Etymology

Nienor is a Sindarin name meaning "Mourning". In The Children of Húrin, Christopher Tolkien chose to spell her name Niënor.[3]

Genealogy

 
 
Bregolas
 
 
 
Halmir
 
Hador Lórindol
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belegund
 
Baragund
 
Hareth
 
Galdor of Dor-lómin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Morwen Eledhwen
 
Húrin Thalion
 
Huor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Túrin Turambar
 
Lalaith
 
NIENOR NÍNIEL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Death of Túrin"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Journey of Morwen and Niënor to Nargothrond"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "List of Names", p. 308
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