Ungoliant

2013-05-06T01:55:31Z

24.207.49.249: /* History */

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{{evil infobox
| image=[[file:Guy Gondron - Morgoth and Ungoliant.jpg|250px]]
| name=Ungoliant
| othernames= Gloomweaver, Delduthling
| created=
| years=
| age=
| destroyed=
| realm= [[Avathar]] ([[Year of the Trees]]); [[Nan Dungortheb]] (early [[First Age]])
| gender=Female
| race= [[Maiar]]
| appearance=Like a large spider
| accomplishments=Destruction of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]
}}
'''Ungoliant''' was an evil spirit in a form that greatly resembled a massive [[spider]] who dwelt in [[Avathar]] prior to the [[First Age]].

==History==
Ungoliant's origins are shrouded in mystery. It is thought that she may have been one of the [[Maiar]] whom [[Morgoth|Melkor]] corrupted long ago, but she is not listed among the [[Ainur]]. It is also said, arguably separately, that she came from the darkness above the skies of Arda, leading some to believe that she may be an incarnation of darkness or emptiness itself (which is fairly consistent with the rest of her character).

Ungoliant most kept to herself, but [[Morgoth|Melkor]] eventually sought her aid in his attack on the [[Two Trees of Valinor]]. She helped Melkor infiltrate [[Valinor]] by shrouding both herself and her ally in webs of pure darkness. Once within Valinor, Ungoliant drank the light from the Two Trees after Morgoth wounded them with his spear. She also drained dry the Wells of [[Varda]] so that nothing remained of the Light of the [[Two Lamps]] save that of the [[Silmarils]] of [[Fëanor]]. After this terrible act, Ungoliant and Melkor fled to [[Middle-earth]] to escape justice at the hands of the [[Valar]].

[[File:John Howe - The Killing of the Trees.jpg|thumb|left|''Ungoliant aids [[Morgoth|Melkor]] in the darkening of [[Valinor]]'']]

In order to gain Ungoliant's assistance, Melkor had promised to reward her, "Yea, with both hands", and after their flight from [[Valinor]], the Dark Lord indeed gave her many gems of the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]]. However, he withheld the Silmarils in his right hand, having desired them too greatly to allow the Great Spider to devour them. In response, an enraged Ungoliant attacked Melkor as punishment for his perceived betrayal. Having grown far larger and stronger than before by absorbing the light of the Two Trees, the Gloomweaver would have killed Melkor had not the [[Balrogs]] come and saved their master.

Overcome by the Balrogs' fiery whips, Ungoliant fled to the [[Ered Gorgoroth]] in [[Beleriand]]. There, she had many offspring, including [[Shelob]], which spread throughout the Ered Gorgoroth and gave it a reputation as a place of horror. Ungoliant herself eventually disappeared from history, but her final fate is not precisely known; in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Quenta Silmarillion]], Chapter 9, ''Of the Flight of the Noldor'', it is said that she "went whither she would into the forgotten south of the world" shortly before the [[First Age]], and that "some have said that she ended long ago, when in her uttermost famine she devoured herself at last." In contrast, a rough sketch of [[Eärendil]]'s voyages by Tolkien suggests that he slew Ungoliant in the south.

==Etymology==
The name is pronounced {{IPA|[uŋˈɡoljant]}}. In the form ''Ungoliant'' the name is technically [[Sindarin]], but is a direct loan from [[Quenya]] '''Ungweliantë''' (''[[ungwë]]'' + ''[[liantë]]'': "dark spider"; pron. {{IPA|[uŋʷˌɡʷeliˈante]}}); the strictly Sindarin form being '''Delduthling''' "dark terror spider."

She is also called "gloomweaver," '''Virilomë''' {{IPA|[ˌviriˈlome]}}) ('''Wirilomë''' in [[Vanyarin]]) which becomes '''Gwerlum''' ({{IPA|[ɡʷerlum]}}) in Sindarin.

==Other version of the legendarium==
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', Ungoliant's history is even more mysterious then what is implied in the published edition of ''The Silmarillion''. Here, even the Valar did not know of her origins, and she was portrayed as a primeval spirit of night, and believed to be a creature bred of the darkness of the Void.

Also, Melkor and his companions encounter Ungoliant in her lair (here, known as Arvalin) by coincidence while fleeing from the Valar.

Melkor and Ungoliant are shown to be on much friendlier terms with each other than what is shown in later version of ''The Silmarillion'', as Melkor willingly offers the jewels that were stolen from the Elves, apart from the Silmarils (the Theft of the Silmarils ocurring ''before'' the Darkening of Valinor, in this version).

After the Darkening of Valinor, instead of fleeing with Melkor, Ungoliant immediately flees southwards towards her lair, and successfully eludes the Valar.

[[Category:Spiders]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Ungoliant]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/animaux/araignees/ungoliant]]
[[fi:Ungoliant]]

Dagor Dagorath

2013-05-06T01:41:13Z

24.207.49.249: /* The Prophecy */

{{rewrite|Stolen from Wikipedia}}{{History of Arda}}

{{quote|[[Manwë]] will not descend from [[Taniquetil|the Mountain]] until the Dagor Dagorath, and the coming of the End, when [[Morgoth|Melkor]] returns.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="Istari">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Istari]]"</ref>}}

The '''Final Battle''', also known as the '''Second Prophecy of Mandos''', but probably best as the '''Dagor Dagorath''' ([[Sindarin]], "Battle of all Battles"), is an apocalyptic event prophesized by [[Mandos]].

==The Prophecy==
According to the prophecy, included in both [[The Shaping of Middle-earth]] and in [[The Lost Road]], [[Morgoth|Melkor]] will eventually discover how to break the [[Door of Night]], allowing him to escape his imprisonment beyond the world. Intent on regaining his dominion over Middle-earth and avenging his previous defeat, the fallen Ainu will recreate his greatest servants (including [[Sauron]]) and destroy the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]]. For the love of these, [[Eärendil]] will return from the sky and shall meet [[Tulkas]], [[Manwë]] (or [[Eönwë]] his herald) and [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]] on the plains of [[Valinor]]. All the Free Peoples of [[Middle-earth]] will participate in this final battle, [[Elves]], [[Men]], and [[Dwarves]] alike. Also in the Battle will be [[Ar-Pharazôn]] and the [[Númenóreans]] who broke the [[Ban of the Valar|Ban]] and landed at [[Aman]] in {{SA|3319}}. These Númenóreans of the [[Great Armament]] were not destroyed, but are imprisoned in the [[Caves of the Forgotten]], where they await the ending of the world. The role that they have to play in the Last Battle is unknown.

Thus assembled, the forces of the [[Valar]] shall fight against [[Morgoth|Melkor]]. [[Tulkas]] will wrestle with him, but it will be by the hand of Túrin that finally death and utter defeat will be dealt to Melkor. Túrin will run his black sword [[Gurthang]] (Iron of Death) through Melkor's dark heart, thus avenging the [[Children of Húrin]], and the [[Pelóri]] Mountains will be leveled. In other versions of the legendarium however (see: The History of Middle-earth), Eönwë, then called Fiönwë, is the one who will kill Morgoth for his love for Arien (previously named Urwendi), instead of Turin. This is said at the end of The Hiding of Valinor.

After the battle, the [[Silmarils]] will be recovered from the Earth, Sea, and Sky. [[Fëanor]]'s spirit shall be released from the [[Halls of Mandos]], and he will finally surrender his prized creations to [[Yavanna]], who will break the Simarils and use their Light to rekindle the [[Two Trees]]. With the flattening of the Pelóri, the light of the Trees will cover all of Arda. The battle will end and renew [[Arda]]'s existence: all the Elves shall awaken and the Powers will be young again. Also, according to Dwarven legends, they will help their maker [[Aulë]] [[Arda Unmarred|recreate Arda]] in all its glory again.

Following this, there will be a Second [[Music of the Ainur]]. This song will sing into being a [[Arda Unmarred|new world]]. Elves and Men will sing with the Ainur. It is unknown what the fate of the old races, or of the old world, will be in the new one. Even the Ainur do not know anything of the second world or the Second Music. All the Ainur know is that the Second Music will be greater than the First Music.

==External links==

*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2013/03/19/why-did-tolkien-leave-out-the-second-prophecy-of-mandos/ Why Did Tolkien Leave Out the Second Prophecy of Mandos?] by [[Michael Martinez]]

{{references}}

[[Category:Wars and Battles]]
[[de:Dagor Dagorath]]
[[fi:Dagor Dagorath]]

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Ungoliant

Dagor Dagorath