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Dwarves

2009-05-11T17:44:54Z

95.76.17.218: /* Fourth Age */

{{sources}}
{{quote|Since they were to come in the days of the power of [[Melkor]], [[Aulë]] made the dwarves strong to endure. Therefor they are stone-hard, stubborn, fast in friendship and in enmity, and they suffer toil and hunger and hurt of body more hardily than all other speaking peoples; and they live long, far beyond the span of Men, yet not forever. . .|[[The Silmarillion]], [[Of Aulë and Yavanna]]}}
{{race
|image=[[Image:Simon Schmidt - A bunch of dwarves.jpg|300px]]
|name= Dwarves
|dominions= [[Erebor]], [[Khazad-dûm]], [[Belegost]], [[Nogrod]], [[Iron Hills]], [[Orocarni]], [[Glittering Caves]], [[Grey Mountains]], Northern [[Misty Mountains]], [[Blue Mountains]]
|languages= [[Khuzdul]] ([[Dwarvish]]), Iglishmek (sign language)
|height= 4 to 5 feet
|length=
|skincolor= Probably white
|haircolor= Red, white, grey, blonde, brown, black
|distinctions= Short in stature, beards
|lifespan= 250 years is the average
|members= [[Durin I]], [[Gimli]], [[Thorin II Oakenshield]]|}}

The '''Dwarves''', or '''''[[Khazâd]]''''', were beings of short stature, often friendly with [[Hobbits]] although long suspicious of [[Elves]]. They were typically blacksmiths and stoneworkers by profession, unrivaled in some of their arts even by the Elves.

While there were several tribes (Houses) of the Dwarves, the most prominent had been that of the [[Longbeards]].
==History==
===Origin===
Unlike Elves and [[Men]], the Dwarves are not counted among the [[Children of Ilúvatar]]. Their creator was [[Mahal]], known as [[Aulë]] the Smith. Aulë created the Seven [[Fathers of the Dwarves]] somewhere in [[Middle-earth]], from whom all other Dwarves are descended. Aulë though, did not have the divine power to grant independent life to any creation; Aulë repented and confessed to [[Ilúvatar]] and promised to destroy them; the voice of Ilúvatar though spoke to Aulë and agreed to grant them true life, and include them in His plan for [[Arda]]. Ilúvatar granted the Dwarves life, and therefore they are known as the Adopted Children of Ilúvatar and they were to awake after the [[Awakening of the Elves]].

[[Image:BFME2 - Dwarf 4.jpg|thumb||Dwarves as portrayed in [[The Battle for Middle-earth II]] game.]]
The Seven Fathers awoke in their places in pairs: the ''[[Firebeards]]'' and ''[[Broadbeams]]'' beneath [[Mount Dolmed]], where they built the cities of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]], ''[[Ironfists]]'' and ''[[Stiffbeards]]'', ''[[Blacklocks]]'' and ''[[Stonefoots]]'' in the [[Red Mountains]], and [[Durin I]] the father of the [[Longbeards]], who awoke alone under [[Gundabad]]. He settled in the caves above [[Kheled-zâram]]. Which later became the greatest of Dwarf realms, [[Khazad-dûm]].
===Contact and growth===
The Dwarves for many years did not know any other folk, until Firebeards and Broadbeams had their first meeting with the [[Elves]] in [[Beleriand]] in the year [[Years of the Trees 1250|1250]] of the [[Years of the Trees]]. From that time on there was friendship, between the [[Sindar]] and the Dwarves, creating ring-mails, and many other works; the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]] were unmatched in Middle-earth in smithing. They delved the caves of [[Menegroth]], and adopted the [[cirth|writing]] of [[Daeron]]. It was the Dwarves who told the Sindar about [[Orcs]] attacking their Elven kin on the other side of the mountains and King [[Thingol]], began a build up of arms which the Dwarves made for him.

Later on a great army of Orcs attacked the Elves, but in the [[First Battle of Beleriand]] were defeated and fled. Those that got away ran south right into a army of Dwarves who issued from Mount Dolmed and decimated them.

After the [[Return of the Noldor]], [[Finrod Felagund]] desired to settle himself in the [[Caves of Narog]] and the Dwarves of the Ered Luin aided him and gave him the dwarven name ''Felak-gundu'' (''[[Felagund]]''). They eventually made for him the [[Nauglamír]].

Things finally came to a head between the forces of Morgoth and the Elves, Men, and Dwarves in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]. The Dwarves fought for the [[Union of Maedhros]]

In early [[Second Age]] the [[Firebeards]] and [[Broadbeams]] clans migrated to [[Khazad-dûm]] from [[Blue Mountains]] which were perhaps destroyed during the sinking of Beleriand.

The Dwarves did not participate in any important event of history. However their friendship with the Elves perhaps became more close than ever; the Dwarves of [[Moria]] maintained close connections to the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]] of [[Eregion]]; The [[Doors of Durin]] of Moria were built to facilitate the communication between the two people, and was constructed jointly by both races.

When Eregion was sacked by [[Sauron]]'s forces, the Dwarves assailed them from behind however it was too late to stop him from conquering all [[Eriador]].

In [[Third Age 1980]], a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] awoke in the deeps of of the Misty Mountains and killed King [[Durin VI]]. The next year, his son [[Náin I]] was killed, and the Dwarves fled Khazad-dum, which from then on was called ''Moria'', which means "Black pit".

Most of Durin's folk left for the [[Grey Mountains]] in the North, while some followed the new king, [[Thráin I]], who went to [[Erebor]] on the eaves of Mirkwood in [[Third Age 1999]] and started his kingdom there. For a little over two-hundred years the Dwarves that followed the king lived in [[Erebor]], mining for gold and jewels and finding the most precious of jewels, the [[Arkenstone]]. When Thráin died in [[Third Age 2190]], his son [[Thorin I]] became [[King under the Mountain]]. In [[Third Age 2210]], when he heard that his kinsmen were gathering in the mountains to the North, and how rich and unexplored they were, he left Erebor for the [[Ered Mithrin]].

For more than 300 years the [[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains]] prospered. After many years, however, the Dragons in the far North started to gain strength; their population grew, and they made war against the Dwarves, plundering and destroying their works. At last, in [[Third Age 2589]], King [[Dáin I]], along with his second oldest son [[Frór]], was killed at the gates of his halls by a great [[Cold-drakes|Cold-drake]].

Once again the Dwarves were exiled from their homes. Most of the Dwarves left the Ered Mithrin. Some followed Dáin's youngest son [[Grór]] to the [[Iron Hills]], while most one being the king's brother [[Borin]] followed the the new king [[Thrór]] to Erebor again to start a new [[Kingdom under the Mountain]].

For over 200 years Durin's folk prospered, having friendship with Men who dwelt near; the [[Men of Dale]] were able to drive away all enemies from the East, until the dragon [[Smaug]] descended upon Erebor in [[Third Age 2770]]; not long after the kingdom was destroyed and Smaug made for himself a bed of gold in the Great Hall. Many of of the Dwarves escaped the sacking, last of all King Thrór with his son [[Thráin II]] from a secret passage. The King decided to wander South along with a small company of family and followers, while most of the survivors went to the Iron Hills.

Eventually Durin's folk settled in [[Dunland]], and in [[Third Age 2790]] King Thrór gave to his son the Last of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves, and departed with his old friend [[Nár]]; they travelled North over the [[Redhorn Pass]] to the [[East-gate]] of Moria, where he entered proudly into the ancient kingdom.

===Fourth Age===
Not much is known about the Dwarves in the [[Fourth Age]]. After the [[War of the Ring]], [[Gimli]] brought a part of Durin's Folk from Erebor to the Glittering Caves and started a colony. Gimli, was later permitted to go across the sea to Valinor with Legolas in the year 120 FA.

It is said that [[Durin VII]] (the Last), retook Moria and brought Khazad-dum back to its original splendor, and that the Dwarves lived there till the world grew old and the days of Durin's race ended.

It seems likely that the Dwarves' population increased during the FA like the Hobbits and Men.

==Nature==
The Dwarves were created by Aule to be strong, resistant to fire and durable to the evils of Morgoth. Thus they were secretive, proud and hardier than any other race, and never forgot a wrong or debt. They lived to 250 years or more and were generally less corruptible than Men.

Despite being 4.5-5 feet tall, they were known for their strength and endurance in battle, as well as their fury, particularly when avenging their fallen kin, and for being some of the greatest warriors in all of Middle-earth. They fought valiantly in many wars and battles over the Ages holding axes.

Also, as creations of Aule, they were attracted to the substances of Arda and crafts. They
mined and worked precious metals throughout the mountains of Middle-earth but were noted for their gold lust, which was augmented by the [[Seven Rings]]; they committed their share of rash and greedy acts. Among these are the slaying of Elu [[Thingol]] and the dispute over the [[Nauglamír]], which first brought suspicion and hate between Elves and Dwarves.

The Dwarves although sometimes flourished, were marked for their waning numbers, suffering heavily in the wars. Dwarves married around the age of 100; few women were born and not all did wed.

The Elves claim that the Dwarves will have no future in the [[Arda Unmarred]], but the Dwarves hope that Mahal will gather them to the [[Halls of Mandos]] with the other Children of Ilúvatar. About their death, some other peoples believe that Dwarves melt into the stones they are made of.

==Language==
The Dwarven language was created by Aulë, and was called [[Khuzdul]]. It was a strange language to Elves and Men, and few non-Dwarves learned it, also because they kept it secret. The Dwarves preferred to communicate with the languages of their neighbors, and did not reveal their names (the [[petty-dwarves]] were an exception). During the Third Age, the Longbeards used [[northern Mannish]] names in public.

The Dwarves also had devised a secret gesture language to communicate between themselves in silence, the ''[[iglishmêk]]''

However, one Dwarven phrase is well known: the ancient battle cry, going back to at least the First Age: "''Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!''", which means "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"

==Houses of the Dwarves==

Most Dwarves mentioned in Tolkien's works are of [[Durin's folk]], the clan founded by [[Durin I]] of Khazad-dûm, called the Longbeards. (A notable exception are the inhabitants of the dwarf-cities of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]] in the [[Ered Luin|Blue Mountains]], spoken of in ''[[The Silmarillion]]''). The seven different groups of Dwarf-folk originated in the locations where the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves first awoke before the First Age. There were three pairs of Dwarf Fathers that awoke together, and their Folk would build their halls near each other, though Durin himself had awoken alone. (In his letters, Tolkien adds that all the Dwarf Fathers except for Durin also had wives who awoke with them). Therefore the halls of the Longbeards at Khazad-dûm were not located near the halls of another Dwarf-kingdom. The seven clans of the Dwarves were:

* [[Longbeards]], Durin's Folk, originally from Khazad-dûm.
* [[Firebeards]], originally from [[Nogrod]]. Paired with the
* [[Broadbeams]], originally from [[Belegost]].
* [[Ironfists]], originated in the [[Orocarni]] in the far East. They were paired with the
* [[Stiffbeards]].
* [[Blacklocks]], originated in the Orocarni. They were paired with the
* [[Stonefoots]].

There was also an eighth group of Dwarves that was not a separate member from these seven kindreds, but composed of exiles from each: the [[Petty-dwarves]], who were hunted like animals to the point of extinction by the [[Elves]] in the First Age.

==Dwarf-women==
: ''Main article: [[Dwarf-women]]''
Dwarf-women made up only about a third of the total population. They seldom walked abroad, and that only in great need. Dwarf-women are also so alike in voice and appearance, and garb when they must travel, that it is hard to tell them apart from Dwarf-men. It is because of the fewness of women that the Dwarf population increases slowly. Dwarves only take one husband or wife in their lifetime, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of Dwarf-men that marry is actually less than a third, and not all the Dwarf-women take husbands either; some desire none, some want one they cannot have, and will have no other one. There are also many Dwarf-men that don't want a wife, because they are obsessed with their crafts.

They are also seldom named in genealogies. They join their husbands' families. But if a son is seen to be 110 years than his father, this usually indicates an elder daughter. Thorin Oakenshield's sister Dís was named simply because of the gallant death of her sons Fíli and Kíli. The sentiment of effection for sister's children was strong all peoples of the Third Age, but less so among Dwarves than Men or Elves among whom it was strongest.

==The Longbeards==
{{main|Longbeards}}
[[Image:Angelo Montanini - Dori.jpg|thumb|[[Dori]] by [[Angelo Montanini]].]]
[[Thorin Oakenshield]] brought twelve Dwarves to [[Bag End]] to recruit [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] for their treasure hunt in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. The Twelve Dwarves were:

*[[Dori]], [[Nori]], and [[Ori]].
*[[Bifur]], [[Bofur]], and [[Bombur]].
*[[Oin]], and [[Glóin]].
*[[Balin]], and [[Dwalin]].
*[[Fili]], and [[Kili]].

[[Dain II Ironfoot]], lead more than five-hundred heavily armed Dwarves, to the Lonely Mountain to aid Thorin Oakenshield, and ended up participating in the Battle of Five Armies. He would later become King Under the Mountain.

[[Gimli]] son of Glóin joined the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] and befriended [[Legolas of Mirkwood]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

==Names==

The Dwarves called themselves the ''[[Khazâd]]'', the name Aulë gave them; this is adapted as ''[[Hadhod]]rim'' in [[Sindarin]], and ''[[Casar]]i'' in [[Quenya]]. Casari was the common word for Dwarves among the [[Noldor]], but the [[Sindar]] usually called them ''[[Naugrim]]'' or ''[[Nogothrim]]'', the Stunted People.

In [[Westron]], the Dwarves were called ''*[[Narak|Naragin]]''.

==Inspiration==
Almost all the names of the dwarves of Middle-earth are taken from the Icelandic saga of Völuspá.

According to Tolkien, the "real 'historical'" plural of ''dwarf'' is ''dwarrows'' or ''dwerrows''. He once referred to ''dwarves'' as "a piece of private bad grammar" (''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien|Letters]]'', 17), but in Appendix F to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' he explains that if we still spoke of ''dwarves'' regularly, English might have retained a special plural for the word ''dwarf'' as with ''man''. The form ''dwarrow'' only appears in the word ''Dwarrowdelf'', a name for [[Moria]]. Tolkien used ''Dwarves'', instead, which corresponds with ''Elf'' and ''Elves'', making its meaning more apparent. The use of a different term also serves to set Tolkien's Dwarves apart from the similarly-named creatures in mythology and fairy-tales.

The enduring popularity of Tolkien's books, especially ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]],'' has led to the popular use of the term ''dwarves'' to describe this race in fantasy literature. Before Tolkien, the term ''dwarfs'' (with a different spelling) was used, as seen in ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''. In fact, the latter spelling was so common that the original editor of ''The Lord of the Rings'' "corrected" Tolkien's ''dwarves'' to ''dwarfs'' (''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', 138).

==Other versions==
In the earliest versions of Tolkien's Middle-earth mythology (see: ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'') the dwarves were evil beings created by [[Melkor]].

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

== Sources ==

*[[The Hobbit]]
*[[The Lord of the Rings]]
*[[The Silmarillion]]
*[[The History of Middle-earth]]
{{Dwarvenclans}}

[[Category:Dwarves|*]]
[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

[[de:Zwerge]]
[[fi:Kääpiöt]]

Minas Tirith

2009-05-11T15:52:28Z

95.76.17.218: /* Description */

{{disambig-more|Minas Tirith|[[Minas Tirith (disambiguation)]]}}
{{cleanup}}
{{location
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Minas Tirith at Dawn.jpg|300px]]
| name=Minas Tirith
| othernames=[[Minas Anor]]
| etymology=[[S.]] ''[[minas]]'' "tower" + ''[[tirith]]'' "guard"
| type=Tower/City
| location=East [[Gondor]]
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| realms=[[Gondor]]<br/>[[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=White city of seven levels
| events=[[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Siege of Minas Tirith]]
| references=
|}}
'''Minas Tirith''' ("Tower of the Guard") is the capital city of [[Gondor]].

==Description==
Minas Tirith was surrounded by the [[Rammas Echor]], a large ringwall encircling the [[Pelennor Fields]]. This wall was built by [[Ecthelion II]] but proved no match for the [[Orcs|Orc]] legions of [[Mordor]]. The city itself lies on a hill beneath Mount [[Mindolluin]]. The city is divided into seven one-hundred-foot high levels, each surrounded by white walls. The gates connecting the levels do not lay behind one another in a line, but face in different directions. A spur of rock, whose summit is level with the city's uppermost tier, juts out from the front of the city in an easterly direction, dividing all but the first level into two. Finally, within the seventh wall, is the Citadel with its White Tower, where the surviving Seeing Stones of Anor kept—three hundred feet high, so that its apex is one thousand feet above the plain gleaming when the light shone on it. Upon the saddle between the city and Mindolluin are the Houses of the Dead—tombs of the [[Kings of Gondor]] and their [[Stewards of Gondor|Stewards]]. Tolkien describes the main walls of Minas Tirith as of great height and marvellous thickness, made from a material alike to that of the tower of Orthanc: hard, dark, smooth, unbreakable and unconquerable by steel or fire.

==History==
Originally known as '''Minas Anor''' (the "Tower of the Sun"), it was in built in [[Second Age]] 3320 by [[Anárion]], brother of [[Isildur]] and second son of [[Elendil]], [[Kings of Arnor|High King]] of [[Arnor]]. It also known as the '''White City''' and '''[[City of the Kings]]'''. [[Ostoher]] rebuilt the city in [[Third Age]] 420, and it gradually became more important than [[Osgiliath]], the original capital. King [[Tarondor]] finally moved the King's House from Osgiliath to the city in 1640. In the year 2002, [[Minas Ithil]] (the "Tower of the Moon") was captured by the [[Ringwraiths]] and renamed [[Minas Morgul]]. Minas Anor was renamed Minas Tirith, meaning "Tower of the Guard", to indicate that since the fall of Minas Ithil, Minas Tirith was to guard Gondor against evil from [[Mordor]]. The [[Rohirrim]] sometimes translate this into [[Rohirric|their own language]] as '''Mundburg'''.

During the [[War of the Ring]] ([[Third Age 3018]] – [[Third Age 3019|3019]]), Minas Tirith was said to "have less than half of the population which could have dwelt at ease" in it.

In ''[[The Return of the King]]'', Minas Tirith is besieged by troops of Mordor, the [[Easterlings]] and the [[Haradrim]], under the Great Darkness generated by Mordor. The [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] takes place on March 15, 3019 in the fields surrounding the city. Despite heavy losses, the battle is finally won by Gondor.

On May 1, 3019, King [[Elessar]]'s coronation took place on the plain outside Minas Tirith, he then entered the city as King.

Minas Tirith is known to stand firm well into the [[Fourth Age]].

The eagle who brings the news of Sauron's defeat to Minas Tirith refers to the city as the Tower of Anor. Although this is nowhere described, it is possible that the city may have reverted to its original name once it no longer needed to guard against evil. An argument against this is that in the abandoned sequel ''[[The New Shadow]]'', which takes place during the time of Elessar's son [[Eldarion]], the city was clearly named Minas Tirith.

Map #40 in Barbara Strachey's ''[[Journeys of Frodo]]'' is a plan of Minas Tirith. Pages 138 & 139 in [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]]'s revised ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' is another plan of Minas Tirith. They are at variance with each other, as the only authoritative maps by Tolkien are just sketches.

==Proportions==
The sharp ship-like bastion is mentioned to be 700 feet above the [[Great Gate of Minas Tirith]]. The breadth of the city would have average 3100 feet.<ref>[[The History of Middle-earth]], ''[[Sauron Defeated]]'', Illustration on p. 64</ref>

==In Adaptations==
In [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King|The Return of the King]],'' the walls of the city are defended by a battery of 100 trebuchets. These played a significant role in the siege in the movie, as they were responsible for destroying many orcs, siege towers and catapults. Sadly, a number of them were smashed to bits by fell beasts, but all were repaired in the end.

[[Image:Ryszard_Derdzinski_-_Minas_Tirith.jpg|left|thumb|250px|''Minas Tirith'' by [[Ryszard Derdzinski]]]]
Tolkien's description of the physical layout of Minas Tirith is followed scrupulously in [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]] film, although there is no reason to suppose that the top of the rock is flattened and paved, and in the book it is not the location for the coronation of [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] which occurs on the Pelennor Field outside Minas Tirith, he then enters the city as King. In the film version it is within clear sight of the mountains surrounding Mordor and the fires of [[Mount Doom]], so much that in at least one night scene the light of it shines on the faces of viewers from the city walls. However, in the books the mountains were far enough away that from the city they looked like a low dark shadow over the land far away. As well, in the book the populace was almost entirely evacuated before the battle. In the movie, the women and children remained, and many were slaughtered in the lower levels.

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Minas Tirith|Images of Minas Tirith]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.minastirith-project.com/ The Minas Tirith Project]: A non-comercial project to make the whole city of Minas Tirith fully detailed in 3D.
* [http://www.minastirith.com Minas Tirith Forums]
* [http://missedmanners.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/battle-of-pelennor-fields/ The Battle of Pelennor Fields] - made out of candy
* [http://www.matchstickmarvels.com/Comingin2009.htm A model of Minas Tirith made from matchsticks]

[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Sieges]]