Ainur

2008-10-02T02:17:56Z

150.108.157.97:

{{Pronounce|Ainur.mp3|Ardamir}}
The '''Ainur''' (singular Ainu) were the 'Holy Ones', the first beings created by [[Ilúvatar]], the 'order' of the [[Valar]] and [[Maiar]], made before [[Eä]]. Their name is [[Quenya]], but is derived from [[Valarin]] '''Ayanûz''', Ainu.

"There was [[Eru]], the One, who in [[Arda]] is called [[Ilúvatar]]; and he made first the Ainur, the [[Holy Ones]], that were the offspring of his thought..."
(First words of the [[Ainulindalë]])

The primordial spirits, who existed with [[Ilúvatar]], and with Him created the world through the [[Music of the Ainur]]. After the creation of [[Arda]], many of the Ainur descended into it to guide and order its growth; of these there were fifteen more powerful than the rest. Fourteen of these great Ainur became the Valar, or Powers of Arda. The fifteenth, [[Melkor]], turned aside from that path and became the first Dark Lord. The many lesser Ainur that accompanied the [[Valar]] into [[Arda]] are known as [[Maiar]].

==Origins of the Ainur==

The Ainur were the first, and mightiest, beings created by [[Ilúvatar]] in the depths of time before the beginning of the World. The Ainur were the 'offspring of [[Ilúvatar]]'s thought', and each was given understanding only of that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he or she came. The exception to this was Melkor, the greatest of the Ainur, who had a part of the gifts of all the others.
The Ainur were 'kindled with the Flame Imperishable', which can be taken to mean that they were granted free will by their creator. Ilúvatar instructed them in the arts of music, until he brought them together to make the Music of the Ainur; the great song that created the Vision of Ilúvatar and ultimately the real World.

==The Ainur and the World==

Through the Music of the Ainur, Ilúvatar created a Vision of the World; he showed it to the Ainur, and explained much of its nature and destiny to them - so the Ainur have much knowledge of the World, but are not omniscient. Then, [[Ilúvatar]] granted the World true being. Melkor and many of the other mighty Ainur desired to descend into it and form it in readiness for the coming of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] (that is, [[Elves]] and [[Men]]). These became the beings known as the Valar (the greatest of the Ainur) and the Maiar (lesser Ainur who served them).
Those Ainur who entered the World at its beginning remain bound to it until its end. Though Melkor was eventually thrown into the Void by the others, he is prophesied to return before the end. Little is known of the ultimate future of the Ainur, even by themselves, but it is said that, after the great battle at the end of the World, they will make a Second, even greater, Music with the [[Children of Ilúvatar]].

==Nature of the Ainur==

The Ainur are angelic beings, nonetheless they do possess gender. Even those who later descended to Arda and took on common male and female forms to appear to the Elves in, nonetheless have an inherent male or female gender even when formless. This is because their gender is based on their "temperament", which is independent of any physical form they may assume.

==The Line of Melian==

Among the many Ainur that entered the World long ago, there was one of the order of the [[Maiar]] named [[Melian]]. Alone of all the Ainur, she wedded one of the Children of Ilúvatar, King Elu [[Thingol]] of [[Doriath]]. From her, a strain of the Ainur entered the bloodlines of the [[Elves]] and [[Men]], passed down through generation after generation, and was still present at the time of the [[War of the Ring]]. [[Elrond]] was Melian's great-great-grandson, and Aragorn, too, was her descendant, though through many more generations than [[Elrond]].

[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]

[[de:Ainur]]
[[fi:Ainur]]

Glamdring

2008-10-02T02:11:49Z

150.108.157.97: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

{{Featurednominations}}
{{objects
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Glamdring.jpg|250px]]
| name=Glamdring
| othernames=
| derivation=
| location=[[Gondolin]], various
| ownedby=[[Turgon the Wise|Turgon]], [[Gandalf]]
| maker=
| appearance=Sword with gemstones and runes
| references=''[[The Hobbit]]''
|}}
{{Pronounce|Glamdring.mp3|Ardamir}}
<center>{{quote|This, [[Gandalf]], was '''Glamdring''', Foe-hammer that the [[Turgon the Wise|king of Gondolin]] once wore.|[[Elrond]], ''[[A Short Rest]]''}}</center>

'''Glamdring''' was a sword, said to have belonged to [[Turgon the Wise|Turgon]], but best known as the sword of [[Gandalf]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. It was known in Westron as the '''Foe-hammer''', and Orcs knew it as '''Beater'''.

==History==
===Beater===
Glamdring was originally borne by Turgon, the King of [[Gondolin]]<ref name="shortrest">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[A Short Rest]]</ref>. He must have wielded it with strength during the [[Nírnaeth Arnoediad]] or the [[Fall of Gondolin]], for the [[Orcs]] named it "[[Beater]]", and fled before it. Up until the late [[Third Age]], orcs of the [[Misty Mountains]] knew of this legendary sword, so it must have done some damage<ref name="overhill">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Over Hill and Under Hill]]</ref>.

The name most likely originated in the [[Nírnaeth Arnoediad]], where it is said that Turgon "hewed his way to the side of [[Fingon|his brother]]"<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]</ref>. No other tales mention the actions of the sword, and it is unknown what happened to it during the Fall of Gondolin. Turgon perished as the [[Tower of the King]] fell on top of him, but of the fate of Glamdring nothing is told <ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin]]</ref>.

===Survival===
The sword miraculously survived roughly 6500 years from the Fall of Gondolin in [[First Age 510|F.A. 510]] to its eventual rediscovery in [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]]. In that period, it traveled from [[Gondolin]] to a [[Trolls|Troll]]'s cave in the [[Trollshaws]]. Much mystery surrounds this feat, but most likely, Glamdring was plunderded from other plunderers, or carried off to the Misty Mountains soon after the Fall of Gondolin<ref name="shortrest"/>.

===At Gandalf's side===
In May [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]], [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Thorin and Company|a group of dwarves]] encountered three trolls in the Trollshaws - [[William Huggins|William]], [[Bert]] and [[Tom]]. The Trolls captured Bilbo and the Dwarves, but Gandalf destroyed them by exposing them to sunlight. Glamdring, along with [[Orcrist]] and [[Sting]], were found in a cave nearby<ref name="mutton">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Roast Mutton]]</ref>. Gandalf claimed the weapon as his own, amazed by its appearance and inscription. The inscription was set in a script of [[runes]] Gandalf did not know; he needed the knowledge of Elrond for that. Elrond translated the runes, and called it by its Mannish name: "[[Foe-hammer]]"<ref name="shortrest"/>.
[[Image:Donato Giancola - You Cannot Pass.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Gandalf wielding Glamdring, by [[Donato Giancola]].]]
Gandalf would use the sword well; its first victim was the [[Great Goblin]]. Other Orcs fled as they recognized the sword as "Beater". This means that either some Orcs were at the [[Fall of Gondolin]], or that they had legends about two glowing swords - Beater and [[Biter]]<ref name="overhill"/>. Whether Gandalf used the sword again during the [[The Hobbit|Quest for Erebor]] is uncertain, though it is likely that he wielded it in the [[Battle of Five Armies]].

Gandalf bore Glamdring at his side when the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] left [[Rivendell]] in [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Ring Goes South]]</ref>. He used the blade during the [[Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul]], and a short time thereafter in the standoff with [[Durin's Bane|the Balrog]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]</ref>. After the collapse of the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm|bridge]], Gandalf and the Balrog fought on to the [[Endless Stair]] and [[Durin's Tower]], but he does not tell whether he used Glamdring or his staff in the [[Battle of the Peak]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'', [[The White Rider]]</ref>.

Gandalf's spirit perished there, but was sent back because his task was not yet complete. He had Glamdring with him when he met the [[Three Hunters]]; he gave it to [[Háma]] at [[Edoras]], when asked to surrender it<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'', [[The King of the Golden Hall]]</ref>. Gandalf would continue to bear it throughout the [[War of the Ring]], but it is not mentioned again until Gandalf, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] arrive at the [[Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]]. Gandalf and the Hobbits had seen so much war at the time that wearing a weapon did not seem odd<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[Homeward Bound]]</ref>.

===Fate===
On [[September 29]], [[Third Age 3021|T.A. 3021]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Appendix B]]'', "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"</ref>, Gandalf left [[Middle-earth]] and sailed into the West<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[The Grey Havens]]</ref>. It is very likely that he took Glamdring with him. In a letter to a Miss Northey, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] tells of [[Shadowfax]]' fate. He went with Gandalf across the sea, but the chronicler ([[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]) was too overcome with grief to notice<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (eds.), ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 268]] (dated [[January 19]], [[1965]])</ref>. In this light, it is inconceivable that Gandalf for some reason left Glamdring behind.

==Appearance==
Glamdring and Orcrist are described in ''The Hobbit'' as having "beautiful scabbards and jeweled hilts"<ref name="mutton"/>. They would glow blue in the presence of Orcs. The sword of Turgon (whether or not this is Glamdring remains open to debate) is described as "a white and gold sword in a ruel-bone (ivory) sheath"<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin]], note 31</ref>.

===Rune inscription===
When he took the sword, Gandalf said he could not read the runes. Elrond did, however. This could be considered strange, because in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Gandalf is portrayed as a person of at least equal wisdom and knowledge to Elrond.

A fitting explanation of this problem would be the "Gondolinic Runes", devised by Tolkien in either 1924 or 1930. This set of Runes was first published in 1992<ref>First published in [[Mythlore]] 69, pages 20-25 (edited by [[Paul Nolan Hyde]]), analysed in issue 70, pages 23-24 (by [[Carl F. Hostetter]]). See also [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "Gondolinic Runes", in [[Parma Eldalamberon]] 15 (edited by [[Christopher Gilson]]), page 111-113. A reproduction of the runes by Lisa Star: "[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9902/runegond.html Runes of Gondolin]"</ref>. In this script, an inscription "GLAMDRING" would read "MZ(unknown)ŪNRI(unknown)M" in [[Angerthas Moria]]. The actual inscription remains unclear, however.

==Etymology==
The word ''Glamdring'' is comprised of two elements. The first element is ''[[Glamhoth|glam]]'', literally meaning "noisy", but poetically used as "Orc". The second element is ''dring'', said to mean "hammer"<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]'', [[The Etymologies]], roots GLAM- and DRING-</ref>. Its Common Speech name was ''Foe-hammer''<ref name="shortrest"/>.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:Bakshi-lotr.jpg|thumb|Glamdring in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]].]]
'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Gandalf acquires Glamdring in the trolls' cave. Elrond recognizes the sword at first glance; perhaps he simply deduces the fact that it was Glamdring because he had identified its mate Orcrist just before. After leaving [[Rivendell]], Gandalf does not use Glamdring again.

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Glamdring is portrayed as an ordinary longsword, with no inscription visible. It is featured as the centerpiece of most posters, although it does not feature so prominently in the movie. It is not named in the film.

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf does not use a sword, only his staff.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Glamdring is not named, and the presence of a sword is mentioned only once: when Gandalf has to surrender it to [[Háma]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Michael Bakewell]], [[Brian Sibley]] (eds.) ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)]]'', "[[The King of the Golden Hall (episode)|The King of the Golden Hall]]"</ref>.

'''2002: ''[[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Glamdring is a longsword. It glows with pale light when enemies are near, and can be used to enhance spells.

'''2001-3; ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Glamdring is a longsword that does not glow blue in the presence of Orcs. In the Director Commentary on the DVD release, Peter Jackson openly admits that they simply forgot to make it glow, and then jokes with the other writers that the real reason is because they "ran out of blue". The sword is, according to most replicas, 47 inches (approximately 120 centimeters) long<ref>''[[The Noble Collection]]'' Glamdring, [http://www.weaponmasters.com/shopping/Glamdring-The-Sword-of-Gandalf-p-16913.html Weaponmasters.com]</ref>.

:The rune inscription is engraved in the cross-guard, and adds power to the sword. With this extra power Gandalf was able to defeat [[Durin's Bane]]<ref name="lotrwaw">[[Chris Smith]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare]]'', page 68-69</ref>. The actual inscription reads as thus:
::"''Turgon [[aran]] Gondolin tortha gar a matha i vegil Glamdring gûd daedheloth, dam an [[Glamhoth]]''".
:This is [[Sindarin]], and translates to "Turgon, king of Gondolin, wields, has, and holds the sword Glamdring, Foe of Morgoth's realm, Hammer of the Orcs"<ref name="lotrwaw"/>.

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Glamdring|Images of Glamdring]]

==References==
<references/>

{{weapons}}

[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Gondolin and Turgon]]
[[de:Glamdring]]
[[fi:Glamdring]]

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Ainur

Glamdring