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Nazgûl

2012-06-06T14:12:25Z

204.108.212.233: /* Portrayal in Adaptations */

{{Sources}}
{{race
|image=[[Image:Diego Iaconfcic - Black Riders.jpg|250px]]
|name=Nazgûl
|dominions=[[Angmar]], [[Dol Guldur]], [[Minas Morgul]]
|languages=[[Black Speech]], [[Westron]]
|height=Man-high
|length=
|skincolor=
|haircolor=
|feathers=
|distinctions=Without physical form
|lifespan=Indefinite
|members=[[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]], [[Khamûl]]
}}

<center>{{quote| 'They come from [[Mordor]],' said [[Aragorn|Strider]] in a low voice. 'From Mordor, [[Barliman Butterbur|Barliman]], if that means anything to you.' |''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Strider (chapter)|Strider]]}}</center>
The '''[[#Etymology|Nazgûl]]''' ([[Black Speech]]: '''Ringwraiths''', sometimes written '''''Ring-wraiths'''''), also known as the '''Nine Riders''' or '''Black Riders''' (or simply '''the Nine'''), were [[Sauron]]'s "most terrible servants" in [[Middle-earth]].

== History ==
[[File:The_nine.jpg|thumb|400px]]

Sometime during the [[Second Age]] (after year [[Second Age 1600|1600]]<ref group=note>Sauron created the One Ring around this year, and later distributed the Nine Rings (cf. {{App|B}} and {{UT|Concerning}}).</ref>) Sauron gave [[Nine Rings|nine Rings of Power]] to powerful mortal [[Men]]. It is said that three of the Nine were lords of [[Númenor]] corrupted by Sauron,<ref name=Akallabeth>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> and one was a king among the [[Easterlings]].<ref name=Black/>

For many years the bearers used the rings to gain great wealth, prestige and power, becoming "''mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old''". The effect of the rings caused their lives to be prolonged, and to see things of the [[Unseen]]. But over time their bodily forms faded until they became [[wraiths]] entirely, slaves under the domination of Sauron's [[One Ring]].<ref name=Rings/>

Known as the Nazgûl, they first appeared around {{SA|2251}}<ref name=AppB1/> and were soon established as Sauron's principal servants.

They were dispersed after the first overthrow of Sauron in [[Second Age 3441|3441]] at the hands of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]],<ref name=AppB1>{{App|B1}}</ref> but re-emerged around [[Third Age|1300]] of the [[Third Age]]. The Lord of the Nazgûl, the [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]], led Sauron's forces against the mannish kingdom of [[Arnor]] in {{TA|1409}}. He was eventually defeated in battle in [[Third Age 1975|1975]] and returned to [[Mordor]], gathering the other Nazgûl in preparation for the return of Sauron to that realm. In [[Third Age 2000|2000]], they besieged [[Minas Ithil]] and captured it after a two-year siege. The city thereafter became the stronghold of the Nazgûl, from where they directed the rebuilding of Sauron's armies, also acquiring a [[palantíri|palantír]] for the Dark Lord.<ref name=AppB2>{{App|B2}}</ref>
[[Image:Ted_Nasmith_-_The_Nazgûl.jpg|thumb|200px|''The Nazgûl'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
In [[Third Age 2942|2942]] Sauron returned to Mordor and declared himself openly in [[Third Age 2951|2951]]. Three of the Nazgûl were sent to his fortress at [[Dol Guldur]] to garrison that outpost.<ref name=AppB2/>

In [[Third Age 3017]] Sauron commanded the Ringwraiths to recover [[the One Ring]] of Power from "Baggins of the Shire". Disguised as horse riders clad in black (hence the term ''Black Riders''), they sought out [[Bilbo Baggins]] who, as [[Gollum]] had revealed, had the One Ring in his possession.

The Nazgûl at this point were dependent on their black horses (stolen from [[Rohan]]) for transportation. When they were swept away by the waters of the river [[Bruinen]], their horses were killed. The Ringwraiths were forced to return to Mordor to regroup. They reappeared later mounted on [[Fell beasts|flying creatures]], at which point they were referred to as '''Winged Nazgûl'''.

By the conclusion of the [[War of the Ring]], all of the Nine Nazgûl were destroyed. The [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] himself was slain by [[Éowyn]], the niece of King [[Théoden]] (with help from [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], known as "The Magnificent" thereafter) during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. The remaining eight Ringwraiths attacked the Army of the West during the last battle at the [[Black Gate]]. However, when [[Frodo Baggins]] put on the ring in the fires of [[Mount Doom]], Sauron ordered the eight remaining Nazgûl to fly with all possible speed to Mount Doom to intercept Frodo. They arrived too late, with the Ring falling into the fire along with the hapless Gollum. The Nazgûl were caught in the firestorm of the erupting mountain and were destroyed.

== Powers and Abilities ==

{{quote|The Nazgûl were they, the Ringwraiths, the Enemy's most terrible servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"}}

Given form only through the attire of black cloaks and hauberks of silver mail, their original form was completely gone and invisible to mortal eyes. Their hypnotic eyes could be plainly distinguished from their dark clothing, and in a rage they appeared in a hellish fire. Untouchable to mortal men (unless blessed by weapons or tools of the ancient [[Elves]] of the [[First Age]] or by the [[Dúnedain]], such as the barrow-blade used by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] on the [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]]), they had many weapons, which included long swords of steel and flame, daggers with venomous properties, and black maces of great strength.
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Attack of the Wraiths.jpg|thumb|''The Attack of the Wraiths'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Their arsenal of deadly armaments was not confined to physical means; they also had seemingly magical weapons of devastating power. They were surrounded by an aura of terror, which affected all living creatures; their "breath" (called the ''[[Black Breath]]'') was poisonous, and their cries caused terror and despair in all who heard them. Some of the Nazgûl appear to have been accomplished sorcerers and used magic to devastating effect. According to Tolkien, though, it was the fear they inspired that was the chief danger:
{{quote|They have no great physical power against the fearless," he wrote, "but what they have, and the fear that they inspire, is enormously increased in darkness|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}

The Nazgûl existed mostly in the wraith world (the [[Unseen]]), making them extremely difficult to harm. Ordinary weapons would not hurt them, and even weapons of [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] manufacture would be destroyed if they passed through the wraith forms of the Nazgûl. They could not, however, interact normally with the material world (the [[Seen]]): they needed garments and weapons provided by Sauron to give them form. Consequently, they could be defeated by attacks that destroyed their disguises, forcing them to return to [[Sauron]] to receive new ones.

The Nazgûl spread terror in mortal creatures merely by their presence. Only specially trained horses or the [[fell beasts]] of [[Mordor]] could bear them. They caused panic and despair in their enemies simply by flying overhead, and only individuals of great courage could face them in combat.

They were also poisonous to mortal beings, causing a condition known as the [[Black Breath]]. Merely being in the vicinity of one of them could cause disorientation and illness. Intense exposure could be lethal.

The Nazgûl had poor vision in the material world, but they were acutely aware of the beings with a presence in the wraith world, like the wearer of [[the One Ring]] and certain elves. Anyone who could see into the wraith world could see the Nazgûl as they had appeared in their mortal lives.

The [[Witch-king]] could also affect matter with his voice, shattering the dagger that Frodo had gotten in the [[Barrow-downs]] and weakening the gates of [[Minas Tirith]]. Whether other Nazgûl could perform similar feats is unknown.

== Identities ==

Only a few of the Nazgûl are named or identified individually. Their leader was the [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]], and his second in command was named [[Khamûl]]. Khamûl was a lord of [[Easterlings]],<ref name=Black>{{UT|Black}}</ref> and was the only Nazgûl known by his name. Three of them were [[Númenóreans]].<ref name=Akallabeth/>

==Etymology==

''Nazgûl'' means "ringwraiths" in the [[Black Speech]] (consisting of ''[[nazg]]'' + ''[[gûl]]'').<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 31, 79, 125</ref>

== Other names and titles ==

An [[Elvish]] name given for the Ringwraiths is '''''Úlairi'''''.<ref name=Rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref><ref>{{PM|Akallabeth}}, p. 153 (§30)</ref> Linguists have remarked that it is a [[Quenya]] plural name of unknown meaning and etymology.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Helge Fauskanger]]|articleurl=http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/eng-quen.rtf|articlename=English-Quenya Wordlist (Quettaparma Quenyanna)|dated=|website=Arda|accessed=25 June 2011}}</ref><ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]''</ref>

Among their many names and titles were: the Ringwraiths, the Black Riders, the Fell Riders, the Nine Riders, the Black Wings, the Shadows, the Nine, the Nine Servants of the Lord of the Rings, and the Shriekers

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The Nine are clad in brown and black, and have red eyes. The attack on ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' is their deed, not that of any accomplices. After the attack, they cast off their hoods, revealing the black armour and hideous masks they wear beneath their cloaks.

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]''
:The Nine are skull headed demons, who ride winged horses. The Witch-king himself rides a dragon-like creature, and has no face. Only a suspended crown and two red eyes can be seen. The Nazgûl have the [[Red Eye]] of [[Barad-dûr]] rather than the emblem of [[Minas Morgul]].

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The role of the Ringwraiths was expanded with material from ''[[The Hunt for the Ring]]''.

'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:The name of the eight, other than Khamûl, are given as ''Er-Murazor'' (the [[Witch-king]], of Númenórean race), ''Dwar'', ''Ji Indur'', ''Akhorahil'' (Númenórean), ''Hoarmurath'', ''Adunaphel'' (female Númenórean), ''Ren'' and ''Uvatha''.<ref>{{ICE|Mannish}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|Angus}}</ref>

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
[[File:WiMe-Nazgûl-1-.png|thumb|200px]]
:The Nazgûl are portrayed as black figures with red eyes and purple mantle.

'''2001-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:All the Nazgûl are named - The Witch-king of Angmar, The Dark Marshal, Khamûl The Easterling, The Betrayer, The Shadow Lord, The Undying, The [[Dwimmerlaik]], The Tainted and The Knight of [[Umbar]].

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
:Black Riders form a threat in the Shire-stages of the game, where they need to be avoided by the player (in the persona of [[Frodo Baggins]]), and as the end boss for the game (in the persona of [[Aragorn]]). They are tall and robed in black, and nothing is seen underneath.

'''2001-3: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]'':'''
:The Nazgûl serve as the suspense in the first half of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|the first film]]. Their dialogue is changed; the conversation with [[Gaffer Gamgee]] is omitted, and the conversation with [[Farmer Maggot]] is reduced. The Nine have an iconic scream, provided by [[Fran Walsh]]. Under their robes, they are pale white ghostly creatures.

:After the death of the Witch-king, the other eight are taken out by [[eagles]] and debris from [[Mount Doom]], however, nothing is told of their individual fates.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:The Mordor faction has two different Nazgûl units: "Witch-king on Fell Beast" and "Nazgûl on Fell Beast". They are primarily used for scouting and surprise attacks.

[[File:The Lord of the Rings War in the North - Nazgûl.jpg|200px|thumb|The Nazgûl attack [[Sarn Ford]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''.]]

'''2006: ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:A new Ringwraith is introduced in the expansion pack, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch-king]]''. Morgomir is the "Lieutenant of Carn-Dûm", the right-hand man of the Witch-king, of [[Black Númenóreans|Black Númenórean]] descent. The design is similar to that in [[Peter Jackson]]'s films: he is hooded and cloaked when he works for the Mordor faction, and white and ghostly when he fights for Angmar.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The Nazgûl appear several times throughout the game. Hobbit characters first witness the Black Riders in the Shire during the Prologue. Early in the game one of the Nine wounds a Dunedain Ranger Amdir with a Morgul blade, who is later transformed into a Wraith himself, despite the bess efforts of Free Peoples. Later, the player attempts to resist the troubles the Nine are spreading in Bree-Land. Various people along their path - from Hobbits, to Men of Bree, to people east of Amon Sul - note how the local wildlife became unusually aggressive lately, though few connect it to the influence of Nazgûl.
:As stated in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', only eight horses of the Wraiths were found along the shores of Bruinen. Glorfindel, Elrond and his sons all enlist you to find the missing one - and while the horse is eventually found, it is clear the the Nazgûl himself escaped. The player foils his attempts to organize the Trolls of the Trollshaws and pursues him into the [[Misty Mountains]], where the severely weakened Wraith is finally defeated, with his spirit send back to Mordor.
:During the Fellowship's stay in [[Lothlorien]], the Galadhrim Elves launch a military strike against [[Dol Guldur]], to draw the attention of the Eye from the company departing down the Shores of Anduin. At this point, three Nazgûl reside in the fortress, their names are given as "The Black Blade of Lebennin", "The Gloom of Nurn" and the strongest of them three "The Lieutenant of Dol Guldur". A large force of players confronts the Lieutenant and his Fell Beast at the chief tower of Dol Guldur.
:During their travel down the waters of the Great River, Legolas shot and killed a fell shadow in the sky, not knowing it to be a Nazgûl. The player is later able to find the corpse of the fell beast in the [[Brown Lands]] and it becomes clear that a Nazgûl is not far - only this time the player cannot receive help from Elrond or Galadriel, who helped him survive two last encounters. At night, the Wraith ambushes your friends, but the player manages to drive him away with the use of fire. A girl named Nona is wounded in this fight, but the Free Peoples managed to bring her to Lady Galadriel in time to heal the wound.
'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:In the Evil Campaign, the Eight Nazgûl bring Witch-King back to life after Sauron reclaims The One Ring.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:The Nazgûl appear in a flasback during the prologue of the game, in which they attack the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], the entrance of [[the Shire]]. Later in the flashback their leader, the [[Witch-king]], speaks with [[Agandaûr]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>

== See Also ==
* '''[[:Category:Images of Nazgûl|Images of Nazgûl]]'''
* the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]]
* [[Khamûl]]

{{references|note}}
* ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', passim.
* ''[[The Two Towers]]'', passim.
* ''[[The Return of the King]]'', passim.
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix B]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[The Hunt for the Ring]]
* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Akallabêth]]
* ''[[The Silmarillion]], [[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"
* ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]'', [[The Great River (HoMe)|The Great River]]
* ''[[The War of the Ring]]'', [[The Passage of the Marshes (HoMe)|The Passage of the Marshes]]
* ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 156|#156]], [[Letter 210|#210]], [[Letter 212|#212]], [[Letter 246|#246]], [[Letter 297|#297]]
* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings]]'', in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'' (edited by [[Wayne G. Hammond|W. G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|C. Scull]])

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nazgul}}
[[Category:Black Speech words]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Nazgûl]]
[[Category:Undead]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hommes/3a/nazgul]]
[[fa:نزگول]]

Moon

2012-05-07T15:43:36Z

204.108.212.233: /* Hobbits */

{{expansion}}
{{objects
| image=[[Image:Legolas arrow ringwraith viv lotr.JPG|250px]]
| name=Moon
| othernames=
| derivation=
| location=[[Menel|the sky]]
| ownedby=
| maker=[[Aulë]]
| appearance=
| references=
|}}
<center>{{quote|The round Moon rolled behind the hill, as the Sun raised up her head. She hardly believed her fiery eyes; For though it was day, to her surprise they all went back to bed!|''[[The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late]]''<ref name="Man">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'', "[[The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late]]"</ref>}}</center>

'''Ithil''', the '''Moon''', is a celestial object seen in the skies of [[Arda]] at night.

==History==
[[Image:Moon (MECCG).jpg|thumb|left|''Moon'' by Darryl Elliott]]
After the [[Darkening of Valinor]] and the destruction of the [[Two Trees]], [[Telperion]], the White Tree, bore one last Flower of Silver before its end. According to the lore of the [[Elder Days]], [[Aulë]] and his people made a vessel to carry to the silver flower aloft, and [[Tilion]], one of the hunters of [[Oromë]]; was granted the task of steering the new Moon through the sky.<ref name="Sil">Of {{HM|S}}, [[Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor]]</ref>

Tilion guided his charge up into the western skies just as [[Fingolfin]] entered [[Middle-earth]], and so marked the beginning the [[First Age]]. After seven lunar "days", [[Arien]], the Sun also rose. The Moon first rose above [[Valinor]] in the far West of the World, but [[Varda]] came to change this arrangement, so that the Moon would pass beneath the World, and arise in the east instead, as it does to this day. <ref name="Sil"/>

According to the legends of the [[Elves]], Tilion was an unsteady steersman, sometimes dwelling overlong beneath the Earth, or appearing in the sky at the same time as the Sun. He was drawn to the bright new Sun, launched from Valinor shortly after his own vessel,<ref name="Sil"/> and his coming too close to his fiery companion was said to account for the darkening of the Moon's face.

According to a tradition,<ref>{{HM|SM}}</ref><ref>{{HM|LR}}</ref>, Melkor will discover how to break the [[Door of Night]], and will destroy both the Sun and the Moon.

==Lore of the Moon==
===Númenóreans===
For the Númenóreans, the Sun and the Moon - ''[[Ûri]]'' and ''[[Nîlû]]'', called collectively also ''[[Ûriyat]]'' ("two suns") or ''[[Ûrinîluwat|Ûrinîl(uw)at]]'' ("two sun-moon") - were personified entities, the [[Man in the Moon]] and the [[Lady in the Sun]].<ref name="Drowning">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Sauron Defeated]]'', "[[The Drowning of Anadûnê]]"</ref> They were the chief heavenly lights, and the enemies of the eternal Dark.<ref name="L347">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (eds.), ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 347]] (dated [[17 December|December 17]], [[1972]])</ref>

This notion was carried over to [[Gondor]], where the sons of [[Elendil]] each had either of the lights in his name: [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]], and with them their cities [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Ithil]], and the lands that lay about them, [[Ithilien]] and [[Anórien]].<ref name="L347"/>

===Hobbits===
[[Image:New Moon.jpg|thumb|''New Moon'' by Gail McIntosh]]
When the [[Hobbits]] were still a [[Wandering Days|wandering]] people, their calendaric unit was not a 'week' , but a 'month', governed more or less by the Moon. However, through contact with alien peoples (perhaps the [[Dúnedain of Arnor]]) they adopted the notion of weeks which formed the [[Shire Reckoning]].<ref>{{HM|AD}}</ref>

In Hobbit folklore, the moon was imagined to be inhabited by the [[Man in the Moon]]<ref name="Man"/>. Possibly this tradition was derived by the Dúnedain.

===Dwarves===
It is not known if the Moon had any significance in the [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] folklore and tradition. It is known however that the Dwarves had earlier based their calendar on the Moon. The Dwarven year begun with the first day of the last moon of Autumn on the threshold of Winter<ref>{{HM|H}}, [[A Short Rest]]</ref>. However it seems that by the late [[Third Age]] the Dwarves adopted the [[Stewards' Reckoning]]<ref>{{HM|AD}}</ref>, and few had the skill to calculate the [[Durin's Day]].

==Other names==
*'''''Isil''''': a ([[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈisil]}}) or '''Iþil''' ([[Vanyarin|VQ]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈiθil]}}) was a name given to the Moon in [[Quenya]] by the [[Vanyar]]. It is said to mean "the Sheen".{{fact}}
*'''''Rána''''': although the name given to the Moon in [[Valinor]] was Isil, the [[Noldor]] preferred a name of their own, ''Rána'', the Wayward.<ref>{{S|Sun}}</ref> ''Rána'' (or ''Rana''<ref>{{MR|Myths}}, pp. 376-7</ref>), meaning "The Wanderer"<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref> or "the wayward"<ref>{{MR|P2p}}, p. 130</ref>, is a [[Quenya]] word derived from the [[Common Eldarin]] [[Sundocarme|root]] [[RAN]] ("wander, stray, meander").<ref name=VT>{{VT|42a}}, p. 13</ref> In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'' appears the [[Qenya]] form ''Rana'', and [[Noldorin]] ''Rhân''. Both are descendant forms of [[Primitive Quendian]] ''Ranā'' ("Moon").<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 383 (entry RAN-)</ref>
*'''''Ithil''''': a [[Sindarin]] word meaning "the moon" or "(full) moon".<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 232 (citing from the [[Unfinished index]]; form: ''ithil'')</ref><ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 30, 39, 121 (form: ''Ithil''</ref> The word can be found in ''[[Minas Ithil]]'', ''[[Ithilien#Etymology|Ithilien]]'', and ''[[Ithildin#Etymology|ithildin]]''. In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'', [[Noldorin]] ''Ithil'' ("(poetic name of the) Moon") derives from the [[Sundocarme|roots]] THIL/SIL.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, pp. 361, 385, 392 (entries I-, SIL- and THIL-)</ref>
*'''''Phanaikelūth''''': The oldest recorded name of the Moon was its [[Valarin]] name, ''Phanaikelūth''. This was said to mean "bright mirror";<ref name="QaE">{{WJ|Quendi}}, p. 401</ref> making it the only name to accurately describe the origin of moonlight.

==Inspirations==
===Gender===
[[Image:Mani and Sol.jpg|thumb|A depiction of the Norse god Máni and the goddess Sól (Lorenz Frølich, 1895) who could be the inspirations of Tilion and [[Arien]]]]
The fact that the Moon in Tolkien's legendarium is connected to a male entity or person (like Tilion or the Man in the Moon), is obviously derived from the Germanic mythology where the Old Norse [[Wikipedia:Máni|Máni]] is a male lunar god.

On the contrary, other mythologies of the world had connected the Moon with the feminine, like the Greek/Roman deities [[Wikipedia:Luna|Luna]], [[Wikipedia:Selene|Selene]], [[Wikipedia:Hecate|Hecate]] and others.

The gender of the celestial deity, is mirrored also in the gender of the noun for "Moon" in these languages (eg. French ''la Lune'' but German ''der Mond''). This was also perhaps the case with some of the [[languages]] of [[Arda]] ([[Ghân-buri-ghân]] refers to the Sun as a woman).

*''See also [[Sun#Inspiration|Sun: Inspiration]]''

===Phases===
Tolkien was very careful in the moon phases described in his works, so that they fit the passing of days realistically. Tolkien was remodelling the phases while reviewing the book in [[1944]] so that he preserves the consistency. The moon phases described in the ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' correspond to the phases of years [[1941]]-[[1942|2]] and its probable that he used a recent calendar for reference<ref>http://shire-reckoning.com/moon.html</ref>. Unfortunately, some minor errors (that can be detected only after thorough measurement and astronomical knowledge) slipped his attention (for example cf. [[22 September|September 22]])

===Calendar===
The mention that Hobbits and Dwarves based their year and months on the Moon, mirrors the [[Wikipedia:lunar calendar|lunar calendar]] used by several ancient cultures through history, such as the Hebrews. The observation of the Moon phases formed the months; the words are even related etymologically in some languages (cf. the English words "Moon" and "month")

According to [[Andreas Möhn|Andreas Moehn]], the orbital period of the moon as described by Tolkien, indicates that it was about 20 minutes shorter/faster than today.<ref>[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Durin%27s_Day.html The Moon and Durin's Day]; However, he doesn't explain the mathematical calculations that led him to this conclusion.</ref> It is not known if this was deliberate by Tolkien to mirror the astronomical fact that the moon has slowed down over the millennia by the tidal friction.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===Early concepts===
In the early versions of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' as described in [[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]], a part of the [[The History of Middle-earth|History of Middle-earth]] series, the Moon was described in great detail as an immense island of crystal. It was also said there that the youth Tilion was said to secretly be in love with [[Arien]], the maiden who guided the [[Sun]], and that because he steered the Moon too close to the Sun the Moon was burned, causing the darker spots on the Moon which in reality are caused by the great basalt plains known as Lunar maria.

The [[Man in the Moon]] is even described in those writings, as being an old Elf who secretly hid on the island of the Moon, and built his minaret there. This is alluded to further in Tolkien's [[Roverandom]], where the Man in the Moon also lives in a Minaret.

In writings which are older than the material from which the publised ''Silmarillion'' was drawn, the Moon was described at one point rather as being created by [[Morgoth]] as a mockery of [[Arda]] the world, but this notion was abandoned.

===Later concepts===

In the [[Round World version of the Silmarillion|Round World]] version of the legendarium, the Sun and the Moon were not the fruit of the Two Trees, but actually preceded the creation of the Trees. Instead, the Trees preserved the light of the Sun before it was tainted by Melkor when he ravished [[Arien]].

==Portrayal in Adaptations==
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The moon appears in the background of various scenes. In a notable animation error, it is visible behind both [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Boromir]] when the latter tries to persuade Frodo to give the Ring at [[Amon Hen]].<ref>''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077869/goofs Goofs]'', [http://www.imdb.com/ IMDb.com]</ref>

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:The Moon - or rather, an image of the near side of the moon in the plenilune - is used as a backdrop for scenes playing at night, and appears recognizably in the sky in cut scenes. It appears behind [[Aragorn|Strider]] as he finds [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] in the streets of Bree,<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'', "Bree"</ref> behind the [[Watcher in the Water]], <ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'', "Hollin Gate"</ref> and behind the [[fell beast]] in the final cut scene.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'', "Amon Hen"</ref>
==See also==
* [[Man in the Moon]]
==External links==
* [http://shire-reckoning.com/moon.html The Moon phases in the Lord of the Rings]
{{references}}
{{cosmology}}
[[Category:Creations of the Valar]]
[[Category: Cosmology]]
[[de:Mond]]
[[fi:Kuu]]

Anárion

2012-04-23T13:52:16Z

204.108.212.233: /* History */

__NOTOC__
{{disambig-two|the son of Elendil|King of [[Númenor]]|[[Tar-Anárion]]}}
{{numenorean infobox
| image=[[Image:Anarion decipher.jpg|250px]]
| name=Anárion
| othernames=
| titles=[[Kings of Gondor|King]] of [[Gondor]] (joint)
| position=
| realm=[[Númenor]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=The [[Faithful]]
| language=[[Quenya]]
| birth={{SA|3219}}
| birthlocation=[[Andúnië]], [[Númenor]]
| rule={{SA|3320}} - {{SA|3440|n}} (120 years)
| death={{SA|3440}}
| deathlocation=During [[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| age=221
| house=[[House of Elendil]]
| parentage=[[Elendil]]
| siblings=[[Isildur]]
| spouse=
| children=Three unnamed children, [[Meneldil]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}{{Pronounce|Anarion.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Anárion''' ([[Quenya|Q]]: "[[sun]]-son", pron. {{IPA|[aˈnaːri.on]}}, stem ''Anáriond-'') was the second son of [[Elendil]] and the brother of [[Isildur]].<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> His son [[Meneldil]] was the last man born in [[Númenor]] before its [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]].<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}, Note 10</ref>

==History==
Anárion, together with his father and brother, were the leaders of the [[Faithful]], the small minority of [[Númenóreans]] that resisted the dark rule of King [[Ar-Pharazôn]] and his councilor [[Sauron]]. In {{SA|3319}} when Ar-Pharazôn assailed the land of [[Aman]],<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> nine ships of the Faithful escaped to the east (four for Elendil, three for Isildur, and two for Anárion).<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> They were separated by the great storm that arose during the Downfall. Elendil landed in northern [[Middle-earth]] near the Elven kingdom of [[Lindon]] and there established the realm of [[Arnor]]. Isildur and Anárion, however, landed in the south and founded the realm of [[Gondor]] in {{SA|3320|n}}.<ref name="Rings"/>

Together, Anárion and Isildur were chiefly responsible for the early ordering of Gondor, and their thrones were set side by side in the Great Hall of [[Osgiliath]]. In the citiy of [[Minas Anor]] Anárion established his house while Isildur set up his in [[Minas Ithil]].

But Sauron also survived the Downfall of Númenor and reentered [[Mordor]] in {{SA|3320|n}}.<ref name="SA"/> In {{SA|3429}} Sauron attacked Gondor with a force great enough to [[Fall of Minas Ithil|take Minas Ithil]] and force Isildur to flee. Whilst Isildur, his wife and sons sailed from Gondor seeking Elendil’s aid, Anárion defended Osgiliath and was able to drive his forces back into the mountains. Yet Sauron gathered greater strength and Anárion knew that without succor Gondor would fall.<ref name="Rings"/>

Aid did arrive when Elendil, Isildur, and the [[Dúnedain of Arnor]], in league with the Elven King [[Gil-Galad]], formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] and marched south. Anárion joined his kin in the
[[Battle of Dagorlad]] and in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]], but was slain in {{SA|3440|n}}.<ref name="Elendil">{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>

Anárion had four children, the youngest of which was a son, [[Meneldil]].<ref group="Note">The records only state that Meneldil was Anárion's "4th child"; these would either be daughters or sons who died before Meneldil succeeded his father.</ref> It is said that he was well-pleased at the departure of Isildur and his sons.<ref name="Gladden"/> After the [[Battle of the Gladden Fields|Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], Meneldil became [[King of Gondor]] and the two realms in exile were estranged.

The Line of Anárion lasted over two thousand years. In honor of the founding co-rulers, when [[Rómendacil II]] built the [[Argonath]] he had the Pillars of the Kings carved in the likenesses of Anárion and Isildur.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> Yet the line of Anárion dwindled and finally disappeared when King [[Eärnur]] died childless. From that time forth the [[Stewards of Gondor|Ruling Stewards]] ruled in the name of the House of Anárion.<ref>{{RK|V7}}</ref>

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | |ELE| | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree |ISI| |ANA| | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA='''ANÁRION'''}}
{{familytree | | | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{familytree | | |THR| |MEN|THR=3 unnamed children<ref name="Elendil"/>|MEN=[[Meneldil]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | |CEM|CEM=[[Cemendur (King of Gondor)|Cemendur]]}}
{{familytree/end}}
==Note==
<references group="Note"/>

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
In ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', in Section VII "[[The Heirs of Elendil]]", [[Christopher Tolkien]] explained that there were three manuscripts in the textual history of this section. Manuscript A contained the information about the Southern Line of Gondor, and from its condition it appeared to be the first stage of composition. Manuscript B added the Northern Line, and began as a fair copy of A for the Southern line but became heavily emended. Manuscript B led to Manuscript C, a fine copy (but with later emendations), which led to a final typescript D. In the earlier Manuscripts A and B, Anárion's date of birth was {{SA|3209}} instead of {{SA|3219}}. It was Isildur who was born in 3219 instead of 3209 and thus Anárion was the ''older'' of Elendil's two sons.<ref name="Elendil"/>

{{References}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anarion}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:House of Elendil]]
[[Category:House of Anárion| ]]
[[Category:Masculine names]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[de:Anárion]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hommes/2a/numenoreens/anarion]]
[[fi:Anárion]]