Dís

From Tolkien Gateway
Dís
Dwarf
Gregor Roffalski - Dís.jpg
"Dís" by Gregor Roffalski
Biographical Information
TitlesLady of Erebor
LocationLonely Mountain
LanguageKhuzdul
BirthT.A. 2760
Erebor
Deathunknown (aged 104+)
Family
HouseHouse of Durin
ParentageThráin
SiblingsThorin, Frerin
SpouseUnnamed husband
ChildrenFíli, Kíli
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Dís

Dís (born Third Age 2760) was a female Dwarf of the royal line of Durin's folk.

History[edit | edit source]

Dís was the daughter of King Thráin II and younger sister of Thorin and Frerin. Like her brothers, she was born in Lonely Mountain and was driven into exile in T.A. 2770 when the dragon Smaug sacked the kingdom. She was the mother of Fíli and Kíli.

Although female Dwarves were rarely seen by outsiders, or mentioned in Dwarven records, Dís was an exceptional case: her sons were killed heroically defending their mortally wounded uncle Thorin in the Battle of Five Armies.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Jim Allan has suggested that Dís is derived from Old Norse -dís ("sister") found in many Nordic names (such as Herdís, Hjördís, etc).[2]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
Thrór
2542 - 2790
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thráin II
2644 - 2850
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thorin II
2746 - 2941
 
Frerin
2751 - 2799
 
DÍS
b. 2760
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fíli
2859 - 2941
 
Kíli
2864 - 2941


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2018: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Although very old, Dís is still alive during the War of the Ring. She holds the honorary position of the Keeper of Ravenhill, where she tends to ravens now led by Arcah, Daughter of Croär. After the Battle of Dale she and the surviving companions of Thorin Oakenshield pay respect to tombs of her brother and sons, which are now next to that of King Dain Ironfoot.

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

A female dwarf named "Princess Disa", who has a similar name Dis, appears in the Amazon Studios television series, but she was created for the show and is not based on the character found in the legendarium.


References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  2. Jim Allan, "Giving of Names", in An Introduction to Elvish, p. 225