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Gothmog (balrog)

2014-03-03T17:29:02Z

95.22.55.54: added etymology

{{disambig-two|the Balrog of the First Age|the Lieutenant of Morgul|[[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)]]}}
{{evil infobox
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Fingon and Gothmog.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gothmog
| othernames=Lord of [[Balrogs]] <br> [[High-captain of Angband]]
| created=Before the [[Music of the Ainur]]
| years=
| age=
| destroyed={{FA|510}}, [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| realm=[[Angband]]
| gender=Male
| race=[[Balrogs]] ([[Maiar]])
| appearance=Possibly twice man-height, bearing black axe and whip
| accomplishments=Slew two [[High King of the Noldor|High Kings of the Noldor]], victorious in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]
}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Osombauko.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{pronounce|Sindarin - Gothmog.mp3|Gilgamesh}}

'''Gothmog''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈɡoθmoɡ]}}) was the Lord of [[Balrogs]] and the [[High-captain of Angband]], one of the chief servants of the Dark Lord [[Morgoth]] with a rank equal to that of [[Sauron]]. While he was not as powerful as the Dark Lords, he surpassed them in brute strength and possibly strategy.

Gothmog's [[Quenya]] name was '''Oþombauko''' ({{IPA|[ˌoθomˈbaʊko]}}) or later [[Noldorin]] '''Osombauko''' ({{IPA|[ˌosomˈbaʊko]}}).

==History==
Gothmog was apparently one of the [[Maiar]] that followed [[Morgoth|Melkor]] to exile, and because of either his brilliant mind or because of his ability to assume an immensely powerful physical form, he was made the Lord of Balrogs.

At the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] he mortally wounded [[Fëanor]], but called a retreat upon the approach of the [[Sons of Fëanor]] with a sizable force.<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref> He next appeared at the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], where he was also named high-captain of [[Angband]], again inferring his power and status as essentially Morgoth's right-hand Balrog ([[Sauron]], another spirit, played a more domestic than front-line role for his master). There at the Nirnaeth he slew [[Fingon]], thus allowing him to boast of having slain two of the five [[High Kings of the Noldor]].<ref>{{S|Fifth}}</ref> He also captured [[Húrin|Húrin Thalion]] in this battle, despite Húrin slaughter of many of Gothmog's troll-guard.<ref>{{CH|2}}, p. 59</ref>

He was again deployed as Morgoth's front-line commander in the [[Fall of Gondolin]], where he was slain by [[Ecthelion of the Fountain|Ecthelion]].<ref>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref> According to the (albeit uncanonical) text, Gothmog piled his iron siege equipment against the [[North Gate of Gondolin]] until it broke from sheer pressure.<ref>{{LT2|III}}, p. 176</ref> The same text states that he also took a front-line position against [[Rog]], turning the tide in that part of the battle.<ref>{{LT2|III}}, p. 179</ref> More confirmed canonically, he beat down [[Tuor]] in single combat, but the elf-lord [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]], who was badly wounded, rose and stood over him. Ecthelion stood no chance against the Lord of Balrogs, and lost his sword in the brief struggle. But then Ecthelion leaped forward, and stabbed Gothmog in the breast with the spike atop his helm. They both fell into the [[Fountain of the King]], where Gothmog, if not already killed by the spike, drowned with his opponent.<ref>{{LT2|III}}, pp. 183-184</ref>
{{Pronounce|Gothmog.mp3|Ardamir}}

==Etymology==

The name Gothmog consists of the roots GOS-/GOTH- "dread", and MBAW- "compel, force, subject or oppress" (found also in the title for Morgoth "Bauglir": the tyrant or oppresor). <ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the character list appended to ''[[The Fall of Gondolin]]'' Gothmog was described as "a son of Morgoth and the ogress [[Fluithuin]]",<ref>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 216</ref> but the idea of the children of [[Valar]] was abandoned in later writings.

In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned.<ref>{{LB|1e}}</ref> It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to [[Christopher Tolkien]], the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.<ref>{{LB|1e}}, Commentary on Part I of the second version</ref>

==See also==

*[[Kalimbo]]

{{references}}
{{Ainur}}
{{title}}
[[Category:Balrogs]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[de:Gothmog (Balrog)]]
[[fi:Gothmog (balrog)]]

Talk:Moria

2014-02-23T00:07:58Z

95.22.55.54:

==Rearrangement==

I think much of this article could be merged with [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], and only the following essentials be left/mentioned here:

*Start with "the main article is at Kh-D"
*Intro
*Use of the term (after Durin's Bane)
**By Dwarves (did Khuzdul have a term for it? Balin's tomb calls it Kh-D, but Moria in Westron).
**In "Westron" (same as above:to what degree did Westron speakers refer to it, rather than translations?
**Appearance on the [[Doors of Durin]]: I've seen the following theories (doors pre-date name!)
***Error by JRRT?
***Emendation by Gandalf as he red up the text?
***Emendation by Frodo, who did not know Khuzdul?
***Emendation by some later Gondorian scribe ([[Findegil]]?) because the term Kh-D wasn't used in Gondor?
***Very unlikely: someone changed the writing on the doors
*mention the different translations:
**''Black Gulf'' (Return o/t shadow?)
**''Black Pit'' (?)
**''Black Chasm'' (Etym?)
*Inspiration of the name: somewhere in the Letters, JRRT mentions [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soria_Moria_Castle Soria Moria Castle]. Perhaps with a "History of the name", first mentioned in ''[[The Hobbit]]''
* a see also: [[Moria (computer game)]]

I'd love to do this myself, but I lack time at the moment. Maybe any of the Dwarf lovers here would like to do it? -- [[User:Ederchil|Ederchil]] 14:01, 15 April 2008 (EDT)

:I've noticed here and in other articles on Tolkien Gateway that Durin IV is given as the King of Khazad-Dum during the War of the Last Alliance. Is there citation in-canon for that? I've only ever seen approximate dates given for the reigns of Durin III and VI (of the Longbeard rulers who took the name Durin). [[User:Corsair Caruso|Corsair Caruso]] 17:29, 27 September 2013 (UTC)

::No. I think it's fanon. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 11:04, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

:::In that case, should explicit references to Durin IV as the King during the Last Alliance be removed from the respective articles?[[User:Corsair Caruso|Corsair Caruso]] 14:06, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

::::Yes. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 14:11, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

==Khazad-dûm renamed Moria==

There seems to be a general agreement about the fact that the mines were only called Moria after the awakening of the Balrog, and that the script in the Doors of Durin that says "Moria" is thus an error. However, is there really any place where Tolkien says that the name Moria belongs only to the Third Age? I can't find anything that suggests so. Only this passage in The Silmarillion:
"Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazad-dûm, the Dwarrowdelf, Hadhodrond in the Elvish tongue, that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria."
But this belongs to the chapter called "Of the Sindar" which is, I think, an editorial addition by C. Tolkien. {{unsigned|95.22.55.54}}

:Source? --{{User:Ederchil/sig}} 23:13, 22 February 2014 (UTC)

::Yes, I meant, is there any source that says that the name "Moria" was given to the mines after the appearance of the Balrog? The Silmarillion only says "in the days of its darkness", but this could mean also after the war in Eregion, when they shut the mines.

Talk:Moria

2014-02-22T23:09:05Z

95.22.55.54: