Fingolfin's Cairn

From Tolkien Gateway
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Fingolfin's Tomb by Stefan Meisl

Fingolfin's cairn was the resting place for the body of King Fingolfin, the High King of the Noldor, after his single-handed combat with Morgoth. It was built upon a mountain top in the Echoriad, to the north of the valley of Tumladen, overlooking the city of Gondolin.

History[edit | edit source]

As the forces of Morgoth achieved victory in the Dagor Bragollach, King Fingolfin believed that he was witnessing the end of the Noldor. He rode to the gates of Angband and challenged the Enemy to battle. Morgoth came forth, they fought, and Fingolfin died after wounding his opponent. Morgoth broke the King's body, and was about to cast it to his wolves when the eagle Thorondor swooped in and snatched the body away.

The great eagle laid Fingolfin's body upon a mountain above Gondolin. Fingolfin's son, Turgon, then came and piled a high cairn over the body. It is said that no Orc dared to come near the tomb.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

On a list of names from the 1930s, the cairn is called Sarnas Fingolfin ("Cairn of Fingolfin") in Noldorin.[2]

References

Realm of Gondolin
Ondolindë · Hidden City · City of Seven Names
Outside locations Amon Gwared · Anghabar · Echoriad (Crissaegrim · Eithel Nínui · Fingolfin's cairn) · Seven Gates of Gondolin (Gate of Wood · Gate of Stone · Gate of Bronze · Gate of Writhen Iron · Gate of Silver · Gate of Gold · Gate of Steel) · Orfalch Echor · Tumladen
Inside locations Alley of Roses · Arch of Inwë · Caragdûr · Fountains of the South · Gar Ainion · Great Market · Lesser Market · Idril's secret way · Place of the Fountain · Place of the Well · Road of Arches · Road of Pomps · Tower of the King · Way of Running Waters
Objects Anguirel · Axe of Tuor · Crown of the Hidden Kingdom · Elfstone · Glamdring · Glingal and Belthil · Orcrist · Sting
Houses House of the King · House of the Wing · House of the Mole · House of the Swallow · House of the Heavenly Arch · House of the Pillar · House of the Tower of Snow · House of the Tree · House of the Golden Flower · House of the Fountain · House of the Harp · House of the Hammer of Wrath
People Aranwë · Aredhel · Dark Guard · Duilin · Eärendil · Ecthelion · Egalmoth · Elemmakil · Elenwë · Enerdhil · Eöl · Exiles of Gondolin · Galdor · Glorfindel · Huor · Húrin · Hendor · Idril · Legolas · Maeglin · Meleth · Pengolodh · Penlod · Rog · Salgant · Tuor · Turgon · Ulmo · Voronwë · Warden of the Great Gate
Events Fall of Gondolin · Gates of Summer · Nirnaeth Arnoediad · Ulmo's warning · Wanderings of Húrin
Main texts Lost Tale of The Fall of Gondolin (1916-20) · The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin (c. 1920) · Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin (1950) · Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin (1977) · The Fall of Gondolin (2018)