Orcrist

2007-12-31T17:51:16Z

71.75.247.51:

[[Image:Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg|thumb|''Orcrist'' by [[Audrey Corman]].]]
'''Orcrist''' was the weapon of the king of [[Durin's folk]] [[Thorin Oakenshield]] from [[Tolkien]]'s novel, ''[[The Hobbit]]''. The only description of it is in the above mentioned book, that it had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt.

In [[Sindarin]] Orcrist is said to mean "[[Goblin-cleaver|Goblin Cleaver]]", ([[Goblins|Goblin]] being a synonym for [[Orcs|Orc]] used mainly in The Hobbit). Goblins called the blade '''[[Biter]]'''. Many of the famed weapons in Tolkien's stories had names, such as [[Glamdring]], [[Narsil]] and [[Sting]] (see chart below). It was crafted by the [[Elves]], who not only made it a valuable weapon, also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth. Like Glamdring and Sting, the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.

As the "mate" to King [[Turgon]]'s sword [[Glamdring]], Orcrist was likely borne by a high ranking lord in the King's entourage. Ten possibilities present themselves: [[Maeglin]], [[Tuor]], [[Ecthelion of the Fountain]], [[Penlod]], [[Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch|Egalmoth]], [[Salgant]], [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]], [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]], [[Rog]], and [[Glorfindel of Gondolin|Glorfindel]]. Since Maeglin presumably still had his father's sword, Anguirel, it was not his. Duilin bore a bow, while Galdor carried a club and Rog a mace. Tuor seems to have come to [[Gondolin]] after [[Glamdring]] had been forged (see Unfinished Tales), and if this was the mate it should have been forged before his arrival as well. In any case, Tuor bore an axe, not a sword. Glorfindel died outside of the city; Ecthelion perished in Gondolin as he slew [[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]]. Because he is the only one of the four lords mentioned in the Silmarillion that seem possible, the most accepted assumption is that Orcrist belonged to Ecthelion, but this is never stated explicitly in any of Tolkien's writings. The other remaining ones, Penlod, Egalmoth, and Salgant, are also possible, though none are mentioned in the Silmarillion and are only found in the [[Fall of Gondolin]]. However, Egalmoth wielded a curved-blade, most likely a falchion; in any case, Orcist was not curved. Salgant was a lesser lord and was feeble and subserviant to Maeglin. The only other possibility is Penlod, who's house (of the Tower of Snow) was lesser in status then Ecthelion's (House of the Fountain).

In ''The Hobbit'', Thorin is mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. After his death Orcrist is placed upon Thorin's tomb and that it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached" (''The Hobbit'' Chapter 18, "The Return Journey").

{{weapons}}

[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Gondolin and Turgon]]

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Orcrist