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[[Image:Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg|thumb|''Orcrist'' by [[Audrey Corman]].]]
{{disambig-two|Thorin's sword|journal|[[Orcrist (journal)]]}}
'''Orcrist''' was the weapon of the king of [[Durin's folk]] [[Thorin Oakenshield]] from [[Tolkien]]'s novel, ''[[The Hobbit]]''The only description of it is in the above mentioned book, that it had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt.
[[File:Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg|thumb|''Orcrist'' by [[Audrey Corman]]]]
'''Orcrist''' was the sword of the leader of [[Durin's folk]], [[Thorin]].  It had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt. Thorin obtained the weapon when he and his company searched the [[Troll's Cave|trolls' cave]] early in the quest of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]].<ref>{{H|Mutton}}</ref>


In [[Sindarin]] Orcrist is said to mean "[[Goblin-cleaver|Goblin Cleaver]]", ([[Goblins|Goblin]] being a synonym for [[Orcs|Orc]] used mainly in The Hobbit). Goblins called the blade '''[[Biter]]'''. Many of the famed weapons in Tolkien's stories had names, such as [[Glamdring]], [[Narsil]] and [[Sting]] (see chart below). It was crafted by the [[Elves]], who not only made it a valuable weapon, also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth. Like Glamdring and Sting, the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.
Goblins called the blade '''Biter'''.<ref>{{H|Hill}}</ref> It had been crafted by the [[Elves]], who not only made it a valuable weapon, but also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth.<ref>{{H|Rest}}</ref> Like [[Glamdring]] and [[Sting]], the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.


As the "mate" to King [[Turgon]]'s sword [[Glamdring]], Orcrist was likely borne by a high ranking lord in the King's entourage.  Ten possibilities present themselves: [[Maeglin]], [[Tuor]], [[Ecthelion of the Fountain]], [[Penlod]], [[Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch|Egalmoth]], [[Salgant]], [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]], [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]], [[Rog]], and [[Glorfindel of Gondolin|Glorfindel]]. Since Maeglin presumably still had his father's sword, Anguirel, it was not his. Duilin bore a bow, while Galdor carried a club and Rog a mace.  Tuor seems to have come to [[Gondolin]] after [[Glamdring]] had been forged (see Unfinished Tales), and if this was the mate it should have been forged before his arrival as well. In any case, Tuor bore an axe, not a sword.  Glorfindel died outside of the city; Ecthelion perished in Gondolin as he slew [[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]]. Because he is the only one of the four lords mentioned in the Silmarillion that seem possible, the most accepted assumption is that Orcrist belonged to Ecthelion, but this is never stated explicitly in any of Tolkien's writings. The other remaining ones, Penlod, Egalmoth, and Salgant, are also possible, though none are mentioned in the Silmarillion and are only found in the [[Fall of Gondolin]].
Thorin was mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. After his death Orcrist was placed upon Thorin's tomb and it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached".<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref>


In ''The Hobbit'', Thorin is mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. After his death Orcrist is placed upon Thorin's tomb and that it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached" (''The Hobbit'' Chapter 18, "The Return Journey").
==Possession==
[[File:The Hobbit (film series) - Thorin and Orcrist.jpg|thumb|left|Orcrist in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]]]
As the "mate" to King [[Turgon]]'s sword Glamdring, Orcrist was likely borne by a high ranking lord in the King's entourage.


Since [[Maeglin]] presumably still had his father's sword, [[Anguirel]], it was not his. [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]] bore a bow, while [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]] carried a club and [[Rog]] a mace.  [[Tuor]] seems to have come to [[Gondolin]] after Glamdring had been forged, and if this was the mate it should have been forged before his arrival as well. In any case, Tuor bore an axe, not a sword.[[Glorfindel of Gondolin|Glorfindel]] died outside of the city; [[Egalmoth]] wielded a curved-blade, most likely a falchion; in any case, Orcist was not curved and [[Egalmoth]] survived during the [[Fall of Gondolin]]. [[Salgant]] was a lesser lord and was feeble and subservient to Maeglin. [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]] perished in Gondolin as he slew [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], even though he fell into the [[Fountain of the King]], his hands were greatly wounded before meeting [[Gothmog]] and sword dropped, so Orcrist might be left in the city and picked up by one of the enemies possibly by a dragon.
Another possibility is [[Penlod]], however, who's house ([[House of the Tower of Snow]]) was lesser in status than Ecthelion's ([[House of the Fountain]]).


{{weapons}}
As described in [[the Hobbit]], Orcrist "had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls". Only [[Rog]], [[Duilin]], [[Egalmoth]], [[Tuor]] and [[Ecthelion]]'s houses defended at the gates before the walls, and none of them except [[Ecthelion]] bore a sword. Thus, the most probable assumption is that Orcrist belonged to [[Ecthelion]], but this is never stated explicitly in any of Tolkien's writings.
In the [[Fall of Gondolin]], it is stated that [[Ecthelion]] led a charge that resulted in the deaths of thousands of [[orcs]], which made his name a terror to their race – the fact that the orcs were angry upon finding that [[Thorin]] wielded Orcrist may be an echo of this carnage. It is interesting that if Orcrist did belong to [[Ecthelion]], the two swords were both used to fight the two most famous balrogs, Orcrist to fight [[Gothmog]] and [[Glamdring]] to fight [[Durin's Bane]].


==Etymology==
In [[Sindarin]] Orcrist means "Goblin-cleaver" (''[[Orch]]'' + ''[[rist]]'').{{Fact}}
{{Weapons}}
{{References}}
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Gondolin and Turgon]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
 
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Revision as of 01:09, 12 January 2013

This article is about Thorin's sword. For the journal, see Orcrist (journal).
Orcrist by Audrey Corman

Orcrist was the sword of the leader of Durin's folk, Thorin. It had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt. Thorin obtained the weapon when he and his company searched the trolls' cave early in the quest of Erebor.[1]

Goblins called the blade Biter.[2] It had been crafted by the Elves, who not only made it a valuable weapon, but also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth.[3] Like Glamdring and Sting, the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.

Thorin was mortally wounded at the Battle of Five Armies. After his death Orcrist was placed upon Thorin's tomb and it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached".[4]

Possession

As the "mate" to King Turgon's sword Glamdring, Orcrist was likely borne by a high ranking lord in the King's entourage.

Since Maeglin presumably still had his father's sword, Anguirel, it was not his. Duilin bore a bow, while Galdor carried a club and Rog a mace. Tuor seems to have come to Gondolin after Glamdring had been forged, and if this was the mate it should have been forged before his arrival as well. In any case, Tuor bore an axe, not a sword.Glorfindel died outside of the city; Egalmoth wielded a curved-blade, most likely a falchion; in any case, Orcist was not curved and Egalmoth survived during the Fall of Gondolin. Salgant was a lesser lord and was feeble and subservient to Maeglin. Ecthelion of the Fountain perished in Gondolin as he slew Gothmog, even though he fell into the Fountain of the King, his hands were greatly wounded before meeting Gothmog and sword dropped, so Orcrist might be left in the city and picked up by one of the enemies possibly by a dragon. Another possibility is Penlod, however, who's house (House of the Tower of Snow) was lesser in status than Ecthelion's (House of the Fountain).

As described in the Hobbit, Orcrist "had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls". Only Rog, Duilin, Egalmoth, Tuor and Ecthelion's houses defended at the gates before the walls, and none of them except Ecthelion bore a sword. Thus, the most probable assumption is that Orcrist belonged to Ecthelion, but this is never stated explicitly in any of Tolkien's writings. In the Fall of Gondolin, it is stated that Ecthelion led a charge that resulted in the deaths of thousands of orcs, which made his name a terror to their race – the fact that the orcs were angry upon finding that Thorin wielded Orcrist may be an echo of this carnage. It is interesting that if Orcrist did belong to Ecthelion, the two swords were both used to fight the two most famous balrogs, Orcrist to fight Gothmog and Glamdring to fight Durin's Bane.

Etymology

In Sindarin Orcrist means "Goblin-cleaver" (Orch + rist).[source?]

Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë

References