Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Faerie

2024-08-12T14:06:25Z

Council of the Rings: Added a quote from "On Fairy-stories" (expanded edition) explaining the term Faërie and how Tolkien used it. I hope the format is correct.

[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - The Shores of Faery.png|thumb|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] - "The Shores of Faery"]]'''Faerie''' was the lands of the [[Elves]] in [[Aman]] as known in [[Westron]] in the folklore of the [[Hobbits]].<ref>{{H|Flies}}</ref> It is possible that it referred to what is known as [[Eldamar]] (translated as '[[Elvenhome]]', '[[Elvenland]]' or '[[Elvenesse]]').

[[Bilbo Baggins]]' poem ''[[Errantry]]'' mentions the lands of [[Aerie]] and Faerie; Elven paladins challenged the mariner character of the song.<ref>{{AB|Errantry}}</ref>
==Inspiration==
The idea of Faërie actually encapsulates a much more profound notion explored by Tolkien in his lecture and essay ''[[On Fairy-Stories]]'', where it represents a realm on the edge of human experience in which fantastical creatures dwell.

{{Blockquote|- Faërie. Possibly the single most important term in Tolkien's critical lexicon, with a complex of referents. He used it to mean the Otherworld beyond the five senses - a parallel reality tangential in time and space to the ordinary world; he used it to mean the practice of enchantment or magic, especially through the use of words, for example spells or charms; and he used it to mean the altered mental or psychological state brought about by such practise. Tolkien deliberately employed the variant spelling in place of the more conventional "fairy", to distance himself and his reader from that spelling's connotations of daintiness and prettiness. Over the course of time, he experimented with various but always archaic spellings, including Faery and Fayery, but remained ever faithful to the same set of meanings.|"[[On Fairy-stories]], Editor's Commentary" in [[Tolkien On Fairy-stories]] Expanded edition, with commentary and notes
}}

The name 'Faerie' belongs to an early period of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s writings, and is never seen in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', but it does survive in a single usage in the earlier book ''[[The Hobbit]]'' where this high idea takes on a more concrete form, and there it relates specifically to the realms occupied by the Elves beyond the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]].<ref>{{H|Flies}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Fairies]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Eldamar]]
[[fi:Haltiamaa]]

Shelob

2024-04-29T19:12:17Z

Council of the Rings: fixed grammar mistake hear -> her

{{evil infobox
| name=Shelob
| image=[[File:John Howe - Sam and Shelob.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Sam and Shelob" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=She, Watcher
| titles=Her Ladyship Great
| position=
| location=[[Nan Dungortheb]] ([[First Age]]) [[Shelob's Lair|Torech Ungol]] (from [[Second Age]])
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=[[First Age]]
| birthlocation=[[Nan Dungortheb]]
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=Attacking [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]
| parentage=[[Ungoliant]] One of the "''other foul creatures of spider form''"
| siblings=[[Spiders]] of [[Nan Dungortheb]]
| spouse="''[[Spiders|Miserable mates]]''"
| children="''[[Spiders|Lesser broods]]''"
| race=[[Spiders|Spider]]
| gender=Female
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=beak, sting, claws
| steed=
}}

'''Shelob''' was a great spider-like creature akin to those of [[Nan Dungortheb]] in [[Beleriand]], the last offspring of [[Ungoliant]].

== Appearance ==
Shelob had an out-thrust head with two great clusters of many-windowed eyes<ref>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 720</ref> and great horns and a short stalk-like neck.<ref name=Body1>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 725</ref> Her head had a beak that dribbled venom.<ref name=Body2>{{TT|Choices}}, pp. 728-729</ref> She had a huge body that looked like a bloated bag. Her body was black and blotched with livid marks with a pale and luminous belly. She had bent legs with great knobbed joints that were located high above her back. Her legs had hairs that stuck out like steel spines and had a claw at each of their lower ends.<ref name=Body1/> Shelob also had a sting. Her skin was so thick that it could not be penetrated with the strength of a man, Elf or Dwarf, because it consisted of many layers of growth. It's still possible to make her impale or injure herself by making her apply her own weight on especially strong blades – a feat [[Sam]] accomplished with the sword [[Sting]]. Her eyes were the only softer spot, also very sensitive to light.<ref name=Body2/>

== History ==
Shelob was born as the last child of the spider-like being [[Ungoliant]]<ref name=Lair>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 723</ref>, who had mated with and devoured other creatures of spider form in the valley of [[Nan Dungortheb]] in the mountains of [[Ered Gorgoroth]] in [[Beleriand]] in the [[Elder Days]].<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref>

While dwelling in the Mountains of Terror, either Shelob or her kin fought [[Beren]] when he passed through to enter [[Doriath]].<ref name=Lair/>

Shelob fled from [[Beleriand|ruin]], and sometime during the [[Dark Years]], she came to [[Mordor]], though how she came to dwell there is unknown. However, she had already established her [[Shelob's Lair|lair]] high in the [[Ephel Dúath]] long before [[Sauron]] claimed Mordor as his own and started to build [[Barad-dûr]] around {{SA|1000}}.<ref>{{App|SA}}, entry for the year ''c.'' 1000, p. 1083</ref>

Shelob fed off of the blood of all living things, such as [[Elves]] and [[Men]], serving no one besides herself. Shelob mated with her offspring which she slew, and her lesser broods spread from valley to valley from the [[Ephel Dúath]] to the [[Eastern hills]], [[Dol Guldur]], and [[Mirkwood]].<ref name=Lair/><ref name=guide/>

As the power of Sauron grew, people left the borders of Mordor and [[Minas Ithil]] was [[Second Fall of Minas Ithil|conquered]] by the forces of [[Sauron]]. Elves and Men no longer came near to her lair and Shelob had to resort to hunt for [[Orcs]], which according to [[Gollum]], she considered to be poor food.<ref name=Lair/> Sauron knew that Shelob lived in her lair, but allowed her to dwell there, because she was an excellent guard of the pass of [[Cirith Ungol]] that led to Mordor and because he could spare the Orcs that she occasionally caught. He even sometimes had prisoners driven to her hole and ordered to report to him how she played with them and referred to her as ''his cat''.<ref>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 724</ref>

[[File:Eytan Eylul Guler - Shelob and Sam.jpg|230px|thumb|left|Eytan Eylul Guler - ''Shelob and Sam'']]

In {{TA|2980}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, enty for the year 2980, p. 1090</ref> while looking for [[the One Ring]], [[Gollum]] encountered Shelob. He had bowed to her and worshipped her, promising to bring her food.<ref name=Lair/> [[Shagrat]], the captain of the Orcs of the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] supposed that Gollum was not good to eat for Shelob and it seemed to him that Gollum had an understanding with her.<ref name=Sneak>{{TT|Choices}}, p. 738</ref> Some time between the years {{TA|3009}} and {{TA|3017|n}} Gollum went to Mordor and was captured by Sauron.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 3009, p. 1090</ref> It is possible that he entered Mordor through the pass of Cirith Ungol. When Gollum was released from Barad-dûr in {{TA|3017}} <ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 3017, p. 1090</ref>, the Orcs of the Tower of Cirith Ungol had been ordered to let him pass and Shagrat knew that Gollum had used the [[Stairs of Cirith Ungol]] once or twice since then and referred to Gollum as Shelob's Sneak.<ref name=Sneak/>

Indeed, Gollum slipped away while [[Samwise Gamgee]] and [[Frodo Baggins]] were resting after they had climbed the Stairs of Cirith Ungol on their way to [[Mount Doom]]<ref>{{TT|Stairs}}, p. 713</ref> and visited Shelob again, bowing low before her on [[11 March]] {{TA|3019}}.<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, March 11, p. 1093</ref> On the next day on [[March 12]] {{TA|3019}}.<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, March 12, p. 1093</ref> Gollum led Sam and Frodo into the tunnels of Shelob's Lair and abandoned them in the dark.<ref>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 719</ref>. He planned that Shelob would eat Sam and Frodo so that he could find the [[One Ring]] among the bones and clothes, which Shelob usually left behind.<ref name=Lair/>

After Frodo had used the [[Phial of Galadriel]] as a source of light and he and Sam were able to see two great clusters of many-windowed eyes of Shelob. When Frodo drew his sword and advanced on Shelob holding the phial up in the air, Shelob fled from the brightness of the phial.<ref>{{TT|Lair}}, pp. 720-721</ref> Frodo and Sam were able to flee from the tunnel to the outside to the pass of Cirith Ungol,<ref>{{TT|Lair}}, pp. 722-725</ref> but Shelob caught up with Frodo and stung him in the neck with her venomous sting, which caused a death-like coma.<ref>{{TT|Choices}}, p. 730</ref> Sam managed to defeat her by letting her impale herself upon [[Sting]] when she tried to crush him under her massive body and using all power of the Phial of Galadriel to blind her. Wounded, she fled to her lair and was not seen for the remainder of [[The Lord of the Rings]].<ref>{{TT|Choices}}, pp. 728-729</ref>

=== Legacy ===
Thinking Frodo was dead, Sam took the One Ring from him and left his body behind, but discovered later that Shelob's venom was not intended to kill its victims but only to render them unconscious to keep their meat fresh.<ref>{{TT|Choices}}, pp. 731-740</ref>

It is not known if Shelob lay for years in her lair to heal herself from within and to rebuild her eyes until with hunger like death she was able to hunt again in the valleys of the [[Ephel Dúath]].<ref>{{TT|Choices}}, p. 729</ref> She may also have eventually died of starvation caused by her inability to hunt while blind.<ref name=guide>{{HM|Guide}}, p. 353, entry "Shelob"</ref>

== Etymology ==
''Shelob'' is a [[Westron]] name, which means "female spider".<ref name=L144>{{L|144}}</ref> It is a combination of the English word "she" (a "female")<ref name=L144/> and the dialectal English word<ref name=N>{{HM|N}}, entry '''Shelob''', p. 763</ref> "lob" ("spider").<ref name=N/><ref name=L144/><ref>{{L|70}}</ref>

[[Robert Foster]] mistakenly classified the name as [[Sindarin]], failing to provide a translation.<ref name=guide/>

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | UNG |y| OTH | |UNG=[[Ungoliant]]''fl. {{YT|1495}}''|OTH=''Other foul creatures of spider form''}}
{{familytree| | | |,|-|^|-|.| | |}}
{{familytree| | | NAN | | SHE |y| MIS | | | |NAN=''[[Spiders]] of [[Nan Dungortheb]]''|SHE='''SHELOB'''''fl. {{TA|3019}}''|MIS=''[[Spiders|Miserable mates]]''}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | |:| | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | LES | | |LES=''[[Spiders|Lesser broods]]''}}
{{familytree/end}}

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In an earlier unpublished version of the chapter that would later have the title Shelob's Lair the description of the great spider-like creature was almost identical,<ref>{{WR|2|VIII}}, p. 196</ref> but its name was ''Ungoliant''<ref>{{WR|2|VIII}}, pp. 196, 199, 200, 205, 211</ref> or ''Ungoliante''<ref>{{WR|2|VIII}}, p. 199</ref>.

==Inspiration==
It has been considered that the giant spider which a hero fights is similar to creatures that appear in the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, but Tolkien explicitly denied a direct influence.<ref>[[Letter to Richard Lupoff]]</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Shelob in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Shelob's face.jpg|Shelob's face in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]''
|File:Shadow of War - Shelob as a woman.png|Shelob as a woman in ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]''
|File:Shadow of War - Shelob in her true form.png|Shelob in her true form in ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shelob.jpg|Shelob in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Gollum - Shelob's description.jpeg|Shelob's description in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Gollum]]''
}}
'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Shelob was voiced by [[Jenny Lee]]. Lee had no dialogue, but hissed to convey Shelob's menace, then made a bubbling noise to suggest the passing of her poison into Frodo. Finally, she made a roaring sound during her fight with Sam to convey her pain when Sam's thrusts found their mark.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]:'''
:Shelob can be seen to have a retractable venomous sting at the rear end between the spinnerets, resembling a wasp's sting. This is very much unlike real spiders which inject venom with their fangs but accurate relative to the novel. Shelob also appears to have a gaping mouth, whereas real spiders can ingest only liquid. In the book, "clusters" of eyes are mentioned,<ref>{{TT|Lair}}, p. 720</ref> which may suggest compound eyes like those of insects; the Shelob in the movie does ''not'' have compound eyes.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]:'''
:Shelob is a playable hero for the Goblins faction, and appears in the fifth level of the Evil Campaign, "Mirkwood", where she has apparently joined the [[Mouth of Sauron]] on his mission to take the [[Old Forest Road]]. During the level, Shelob can be used to recruit the Spiders of Mirkwood, as they are her children, and will obey her if she is sent to their nest. She also appears during the final mission, "Rivendell", alongside the other villains.

'''2014: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]:'''
:Though unseen, Shelob is identified in the Appendices as the mother of the Ungol spiders that are encountered throughout Mordor. She is also referred to as the Spider Queen, a title that wasn't given to her in the book. An artefact, a "Crushed Ungol Egg", shows that Shelob initially lived in Mordor itself with Sauron and his servants, until it became apparent that Shelob would disobey Sauron, so he banished her to the pass of Cirith Ungol, and forbade her from laying any more eggs on his land. According to the "Ungol" article in the Appendices, Shelob has taken an interest in the recent events occurring in Mordor, though it is unclear to what extent.

'''2017: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]:'''
:Shelob is voiced by Pollyanna McIntosh, and plays a prominent role early in the game. This portrayal of Shelob is unique in that she is able to assume a fair form, as a raven-haired woman in a black dress. She can also project visions of the future into a person's mind. She ensnares the wraith of [[Celebrimbor]] and holds him prisoner at the start of the game. She releases him after Talion surrenders their newly-forged Ring of Power to her. After Minas Ithil is conquered by Sauron's forces, the Ringwraiths are sent to seize the Ring from her. After the Nine are driven away, she gives the Ring back to Talion and tells him to forge an army to conquer Mordor.
: Reading her memories, which are found throughout Mordor, reveals a number of details of her life, including a romantic relationship she once had with Sauron.

'''2019: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
: Shelob is known to [[Elves]] as "Ungwetári" and Lord [[Celeborn]] had hunted her down in the early years of the [[Third Age]], to no avail. Shelob has a mental link to her children and after being stabbed by [[Samwise]] she summons all of her children to her side for nourishment and protection. Places formerly infested with [[spiders]] such as [[Mirkwood]] become empty as whole nests of them travel south to the call of their mother. Shelob herself is depicted as much larger than other giant spiders, which are encountered in the game on numerous occasions. Shelob herself is the last boss in the main raid of the [[Minas Morgul]] expansion.

{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Spiders]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Kankra]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/animaux/araignees/arachne]]
[[fi:Lukitari]]

Brodda's hall

2023-08-25T23:47:18Z

Council of the Rings: I included more info about the hall and events that took place in the hall, found in The children of Húrin, as cited. I've also linked to more pages that might be relevant to this article.

{{incomplete}}
{{location infobox
| name=Brodda's hall
| image=[[File:Alan Lee - Hall of Brodda Burning.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Hall of Brodda Burning" by [[Alan Lee]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=[[Dor-lómin]]
| type=Hall
| description=
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Brodda]], [[Aerin]]
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
'''Brodda's hall''', or the '''Hall of Brodda''', was the dwelling of the [[Easterlings|Easterling]] [[Brodda]] and his wife [[Aerin]], who he forcefully wedded after the invasion of Dor-lómin in [[First Age 472|472]] of the First Age.<ref name=":0">{{CH|12}}</ref>

As [[Túrin]] returns to [[Dor-lómin]], in [[First Age 496|496]] F.A., he confronts Brodda in his [[Brodda's hall|halls]], where he is also reunited with his old friend [[Sador]]. In his rage Túrin killed Brodda, thereby also sealing Aerin's fate, who burnt herself alive in her [[Brodda's hall|hall]]. After this even the remainder of the [[House of Hador]] was persecuted even more cruelly<ref name=":0" />.

{{References}}
[[Category:Beleriand]]
[[Category:Buildings]]

The Fall of Gil-galad

2023-08-25T23:15:13Z

Council of the Rings:

{{disambig-more|The Fall|[[The Fall (disambiguation)]]}}
[[File:Miriam Ellis - For into darkness fell his star.jpg|thumb|''For into darkness fell his star'' by [[Miriam Ellis]]]]
'''The Fall of Gil-galad''' was a lay that told of the loss of [[Gil-galad|Ereinion Gil-galad]], the last Great Elf-king of Middle-earth, in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[War of the Last Alliance]].

==History==
According to [[Aragorn]], it was originally written in an ancient tongue. It seems to be a long poem, telling the story of the [[War of the Last Alliance]], at least to the point where [[Gil-galad]] aided in the overthrow of [[Sauron]], and was himself slain.

[[Bilbo Baggins]] later translated it into the [[Westron|Common Tongue]], and taught it to [[Samwise Gamgee]] in his youth, who mistakenly thought that Bilbo was the composer.

Sam narrated the three introductory stanzas while approaching [[Weathertop]], but he did not recall the following verses, which were "all about [[Mordor]]". Aragorn and Frodo knew more of the text.<ref name="FKnife">{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

==Song==
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
Gil-galad was an elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing;
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.

His sword was long, his lance was keen.
His shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.

But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
</poem>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
: Sam sang the song during his trip to Rivendell.

==External links==

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUPFwrmgLvQ Fall of Gil-Galad] sung by [[Clamavi De Profundis]]

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xpyuTRmyKM Fall of Gil-Galad] sung by Anois
{{references}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fall of Gil-galad}}
[[Category:Poems in The Fellowship of the Ring]]
[[Category:Songs]]

[[de:Gil-galad#Sonstiges]]
[[fi:Gil-galadin tuho]]

The Fall of Gil-galad

2023-08-25T23:14:43Z

Council of the Rings: Added an external link to a dutch band singing The Fall of Gil-galad. Equally great to Clamavi De Profundis

{{disambig-more|The Fall|[[The Fall (disambiguation)]]}}
[[File:Miriam Ellis - For into darkness fell his star.jpg|thumb|''For into darkness fell his star'' by [[Miriam Ellis]]]]
'''The Fall of Gil-galad''' was a lay that told of the loss of [[Gil-galad|Ereinion Gil-galad]], the last Great Elf-king of Middle-earth, in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[War of the Last Alliance]].

==History==
According to [[Aragorn]], it was originally written in an ancient tongue. It seems to be a long poem, telling the story of the [[War of the Last Alliance]], at least to the point where [[Gil-galad]] aided in the overthrow of [[Sauron]], and was himself slain.

[[Bilbo Baggins]] later translated it into the [[Westron|Common Tongue]], and taught it to [[Samwise Gamgee]] in his youth, who mistakenly thought that Bilbo was the composer.

Sam narrated the three introductory stanzas while approaching [[Weathertop]], but he did not recall the following verses, which were "all about [[Mordor]]". Aragorn and Frodo knew more of the text.<ref name="FKnife">{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

==Song==
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
Gil-galad was an elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing;
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.

His sword was long, his lance was keen.
His shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.

But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
</poem>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
: Sam sang the song during his trip to Rivendell.

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUPFwrmgLvQ Fall of Gil-Galad] sung by [[Clamavi De Profundis]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xpyuTRmyKM Fall of Gil-Galad] sung by Anois
{{references}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fall of Gil-galad}}
[[Category:Poems in The Fellowship of the Ring]]
[[Category:Songs]]

[[de:Gil-galad#Sonstiges]]
[[fi:Gil-galadin tuho]]

Kingdoms of Arda

2023-08-15T08:16:25Z

Council of the Rings: Added a line about the mod still being in development and an external link to a playlist with all the soundtracks created for the mod.

'''Kingdoms of Arda''' is a Singleplayer & Multiplayer total conversion of ''Mount & Blade II Bannerlord'', that brings the world of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] into the game. This includes: characters, locations, weapons etc. from [[The Lord of the Rings]], [[The Hobbit]], [[The Silmarillion]] and other works by Tolkien and media made for his universe. The visuals is mainly inspired by [[Peter Jackson]]'s film adaptations.

In December 2020 the mod won the award 'Players Choice – Best Upcoming Mod 2020' on Moddb<ref>https://www.moddb.com/mods/a-lord-of-the-rings-mod-kingdoms-of-arda/features/players-choice-best-upcoming-mod-2020</ref>.

''The mod is still in development with regular updates on Discord and Moddb along with YouTube videos created by team-members.''

'''<big>External links:</big>'''

* [https://www.moddb.com/mods/a-lord-of-the-rings-mod-kingdoms-of-arda Kingdoms of Arda on Moddb]
* [https://discord.gg/erGtK3RyzR Discord Server]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkLMOvLG8q6bUjwY9221Fc9pgN_vJTNq3 Soundtracks playlist]

{{Modifications}}
[[Category:Modifications]]

Gollum

2023-08-15T08:10:28Z

Council of the Rings: /* External links */ I've added two external links to YouTube videos on my channel. I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I saw on the Balrog page there was an external link to Geekzone's YouTube video on the topic.

{{hobbit infobox
| name=Gollum
| image=[[File:John Howe - Gollum.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Gollum" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Sméagol ''[[Trahald]]'' ([[Westron|W]]) [[Stinker]] [[Slinker]]
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Vales of Anduin]], [[Misty Mountains]], [[Mordor]], [[Woodland Realm]], [[Desolation of the Morannon]], [[North Ithilien]], [[Shelob's Lair]], [[Cracks of Doom|Sammath Naur]]
| affiliation=[[Stoors]], [[Ring-bearers]]
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=c. {{TA|2430}}<ref name=guide>{{HM|Guide}}, p. 167, entry "Gollum"</ref>
| birthlocation=Near [[Gladden Fields]], [[Vales of Anduin]]
| rule=
| death=[[25 March]] {{TA|3019}}
| deathlocation=[[Mount Doom]], [[Plateau of Gorgoroth]]
| age=c. 589
| notablefor=
| family=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=Thin, lank<ref name="Taming">{{TT|Taming}}</ref>
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}

{{Quote|And when he said 'gollum' he made a horrible swallowing noise in his throat. That is how he got his name, though he always called himself 'my precious.'|''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[Riddles in the Dark]]"}}

'''Gollum''', also known as '''Sméagol''', was a creature (originally a [[Stoors|Stoorish]] [[Hobbits|Hobbit]]) who bore [[the One Ring]]. He lived in the [[Misty Mountains]] for most of his life. In {{TA|2941}} he lost the Ring to [[Bilbo Baggins]]. For the rest of his life he sought to recover his "precious" "birthday present". In {{TA|3019}} he followed the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] and met [[Frodo Baggins]]. After leading Frodo into [[Mordor]] and betraying him to [[Shelob]] he finally seized the Ring in [[Cracks of Doom|Sammath Naur]]. In his euphoria he died and destroyed the Ring after falling into the fires of [[Mount Doom]].

==History==
===Early life===
Sméagol was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of riverland [[Stoors|Stoor-kind]] who lived on the banks of the [[Anduin]] in the later [[Third Age]]. Sméagol belonged to the reputable family of the stern and wise Matriarch.<Ref name=shadow/> He spent the early years of his life living with his extended family during the [[Watchful Peace]], when [[Sauron]] was in the [[East]].<ref name=ta/>

He had some amount of education in lore, as during his youth he had learned of the events concerning the [[War of the Last Alliance]] against [[Sauron]].<ref name=Passage>{{TT|IV2}}</ref> He also knew the [[riddle-game]], and riddles that were known to their cousins in [[the Shire]].<Ref name=shadow/><ref name=riddles>{{H|Riddles}}</ref>

[[File:Anke Eißmann - Sméagol and the Ring.jpg|left|thumb|''Sméagol and the Ring'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]

Around the year {{TA|2463}}, on his birthday, his friend (and close relative) [[Déagol]] offered him a cheap present.<ref name=L214>{{L|214}}</ref> Later that day they went boating in the [[Gladden Fields]], and as Sméagol was nosing at the banks, Déagol was pulled into the water by a large fish, and found a gold ring. Sméagol demanded the ring as a birthday present and strangled Deágol when he refused, and hid his body.<Ref name=shadow/> Sméagol became the fourth [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] after Sauron, [[Isildur]], and [[Déagol]].<ref name=ta>{{app|TA}}</ref>

After this event, he returned home and understood he was invisible. He kept his treasure a secret and used it in malicious ways, to see and hear secrets and hurtful things. and was corrupted further by the ring. Soon he became unpopular and his peers avoided him; they often cursed and kicked him, and he bit their feet. Becoming a loner, he muttered to himself and gurgled in his throat, for which they called him ''gollum'', and he survived by stealing. Eventually even his grandmother, desiring peace, banished him from their family and [[hobbit-hole]].<Ref name=shadow/>

===Exile===
Sad for the hard world, he wandered in loneliness up the River, and followed a stream. He spent time by some deep pools, aided by the invisibility of the Ring, he caught fish which he ate raw. [[Third Age 2470|Some time later]]<ref name=ta/> eventually forgotten by him, the [[Sun]] started to scorch his skin and eyes, and as he looked up he noticed the [[Misty Mountains]] from which the stream ran down. He decided to go there, in the desirable darkness, safe from the scorching sun, with more "roots" and secrets to discover there. Indeed, by night he climbed up the highlands, and wormed into the little cave out of which the stream flowed.<Ref name=shadow/>

The Ring's malignant influence twisted his Hobbit body and mind and prolonged his life far beyond its natural limits. The murder of Déagol haunted him, and as a psychological defence he repeated to it (as he talked to it) that it turned up to him so as to be his "Birthday Present" and his "[[precious]]".<ref name=shadow/>

[[File:Michael Hague - Riddles in the Dark.jpg|thumb|right|''Riddles in the Dark'' by [[Michael Hague]]]]

Gollum lived longer than any other Hobbit could, and for over four hundred years he managed to live on a small island surrounded by a subterranean [[Gollum's lake|lake]]. He preyed upon any raw [[fish]] that he caught from his small raft, though sometimes he manages to catch [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains|Goblins]] from the nearby [[Goblin-town]]. In later years he found Hobbit and [[Elves|Elven]] food repulsive. The Ring's corrupting influence as well as centuries of isolation in the Misty Mountains took a deep toll on him both physically and mentally. He became disfigured and grotesque in appearance, and by the time he met the Hobbit [[Bilbo Baggins]] he was afflicted with almost complete madness.

===Departure of the Ring===
In July {{TA|2941}}, during the [[Quest of Erebor]], Bilbo stumbled upon Gollum's lake and found the Ring. Gollum had lost the Ring in the network of caves leading to the lake, though in fact it is more proper to say that the Ring abandoned Gollum, for it was known to have a will of its own. As [[Gandalf]] said later, the [[Necromancer]] was becoming more powerful, and it was a good time for the Ring to change hands and get back to Sauron.<ref name=shadow/>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Gollum is Defeated.jpg|thumb|left|''Gollum is Defeated'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

While he was unaware of his loss, he met [[Bilbo Baggins]] who was lost, and it's possible that Gollum's own part of his mind was pleased to hear again a kindly voice that reminded him of the outside world, but this also made his evil part angrier.<ref name=shadow/>

After the famous [[Riddle-game]], Gollum refused to show Bilbo the promised way out and plotted to murder him. When he went to get his "''birthday present''", however, he found that it was gone. He suddenly realised the answer to Bilbo's last riddle - "''What have I got in my pocket?''" - and became furious. Bilbo inadvertently stumbled across the Ring's power of invisibility as he ran, allowing him to follow Gollum to the entrance of the cave. There, Bilbo at first thought to kill Gollum, but was overcome with pity, so he jumped over him to escape. As Bilbo ran, Gollum cried out, "''Thief! Thief, Baggins! We hates it forever!''"<ref>{{FR|Ring}}</ref>

===Into the wild===
He stayed two more years in the Mountains although he was disgusted by the empty night, nasty furtive eating and resentful remembering. He hated darkness, light and the Ring most of all, but his addiction to it was so great that he overcame his hatred and fear of the light and the Orcs. He left and pursued Bilbo,<ref name=shadow/><ref name=ta/> but the trail was cold.

Hiding from the Sun and [[Moon]], quickly and silently he moved by night, hunting small creatures. As the Ring was no longer devouring him, he was a bit revived, and new food and air made him stronger. He followed Bilbo's trail through [[Mirkwood]] and even reached [[Esgaroth]] and [[Dale]]. Spying on the [[Men of Dale]] he learned more about the thief and [[the Shire|where he was from]]. Then apparently he decided to turn back and go [[Eriador|West]] to find the thief, again through Mirkwood. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]], apparently cooperating with [[Gandalf]], tracked him. His presence terrified the beasts and birds, as he ate eggs and the young animals from nests and holes, even broke into houses and approached cradles of the babies of the [[Woodmen]], who spoke about a blood-drinking ghost, until he reached again the Great River; then for some reason, as the Wood-elves say, he turned southwards and his traces were lost. And then Gandalf neglected the matter because he had much else to think at that time, which was a great mistake because it was the year [[Third Age 2951|when]] [[Sauron]] declared himself openly, and Gollum turned towards [[Mordor]].<ref name=shadow/><ref name=ta/>

[[Third Age 2980|Thirty years later]] he reached the confines of Mordor, and met [[Shelob]], who would help him take his revenge. As he ventured into Mordor he was captured by Sauron and for the next years he was forced to reveal what he knew about the Ring.<ref name=ta/> Thus Sauron's spies learned from him that the One Ring was found, and the names "[[The Shire|Shire]]" and "hobbits". Meanwhile ({{TA|3001|n}}) Gandalf suspected that Bilbo's Ring was one of the [[Rings of Power]] and changed his plans to resume his search for Gollum, but that was in vain as his tracks had been too old now,<ref name=shadow/> and Gollum was in Mordor. By {{TA|3017}} Gollum was set free, only to be caught at last by [[Aragorn]] at the skirts of the [[Dead Marshes]]. After many perils Aragorn led and turned him over to [[Gandalf]].<ref name=shadow/><ref name=ta/> Gollum whined and cringed and licked his wounded hands and fingers.<ref name=shadow/>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Gollum Held Captive by the Elves.jpg|thumb|right|''Gollum Held Captive by the Elves'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]

The [[Wizards|Wizard]] attempted to interrogate him and among Gollum's growling, snorting, curses and lies (he talked about his "birthday present", which his grandmother gave him among her [[Rings of Power|magic rings]]) Gandalf endured many weary days. He had to threaten him with fire, and managed to learn of the story he didn't know bit by bit, but Gollum didn't say much after the departure of Bilbo as he feared Mordor more. Gollum felt misunderstood and ill-treated, exiled into a hole and then "robbed"; and spoke about revenge, thanks to his new friends.<ref name=shadow/> Gandalf placed him in the care of the [[Silvan Elves]] living in [[Thranduil]]'s [[Woodland Realm]] of [[Mirkwood]].<ref name=b3>{{App|B3}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
In June of {{TA|3018}}, Orcs raided the [[Elves of Mirkwood]] (in an obviously coordinated attack) allowing Gollum to escape. He resumed his search of the Ring and presumably, he decided to hide into [[Moria]] in [[August]], in order to lose his pursuers, the [[Elves]] and the servants of [[Sauron]]. However he could not open the [[Doors of Durin]] from the inside so didn't exit into [[Eriador]] to reach [[the Shire]].<ref name=b3/>

Presumably he stayed there for months, until the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] entered Moria from the Door on [[13 January]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], and Gollum picked up the trail of the new [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], [[Frodo Baggins]], as they travelled through Moria.<ref name=b3/> [[January|Two days later]] Gandalf was lost while fighting a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] and breaking the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]; it is unknown how he crossed the chasm or the Bridge, but he came with them to [[Lothlórien]] without their knowing. Hiding somewhere around the shores of [[Anduin]], Gollum spied their departure,<ref name=b3/> and floating on a log, followed their boats down Anduin to [[Rauros]].

He pursued [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] across the [[Emyn Muil]] when they struck out on their own towards Mordor. Gollum followed them, but after a confrontation in which he bit and nearly strangled Sam, Frodo subdued him. Frodo tied an [[Elves|Elvish]] rope around Gollum's ankle for a leash, but the mere touch of the rope pained him. Taking pity on the wretched creature, Frodo made Gollum swear to help them. Agreeing to the oath, Gollum swore by the "Precious" itself, and Frodo released him. The unlikely company, guided by Gollum, made their way to the [[Black Gate]], the entrance to Mordor.

Frodo's kindness brought out the "Sméagol" personality, and he made at least some effort to keep his promise. The two had a strange sort of bond from both having been Ringbearers; in Gollum, Frodo saw his possible future, and so wanted to save him so he could save himself. Gollum also feared Frodo, and also thought that helping him would deprive Sauron of the Ring.

When the Black Gate was reached and found to be well guarded, Gollum convinced them not to go that way, saying that they would be caught and Sauron would regain the Ring. Gollum said he would lead them south, where he knew of another entrance into Mordor.

Frodo and Sam were caught by [[Faramir]], and Gollum followed them, getting caught in the [[Forbidden Pool]] beneath [[Henneth Annûn]]. When Frodo allowed Faramir to briefly take Sméagol prisoner, however, he felt betrayed, allowing the "Gollum" personality to take control. Faramir found out that the place Gollum was taking them was called [[Cirith Ungol]]. He then warned Frodo and Sam of the evil of that place.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Gollum at the Forbidden Pool.jpg|thumb|''Gollum at the Forbidden Pool'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum left Faramir and began crossing the pass of Cirith Ungol in the border-mountains of the [[Ephel Dúath]]. On [[11 March]] Gollum visited the great spider [[Shelob]], because he was planning to betray the Hobbits to her and then get the Ring for himself. When he returned the Hobbits were asleep. The sight of Frodo sleeping nearly moved Gollum to repent.<Ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> However, Sam woke up and spoke harshly to Gollum, and all hope of redemption was lost. Gollum followed through with his plan and led Frodo and Sam into [[Shelob's Lair]]. For this service to Shelob, the Orcs of Cirith Ungol knew Gollum as "Her Sneak".

Just as Frodo warned him, Gollum's betrayal of his oath ultimately led to his undoing, for Frodo and Sam escaped from Shelob's lair and came against all odds to the volcano [[Mount Doom]]. Gollum followed them all the way, seeking a chance to surprise them and take the Ring. When Frodo and Sam had almost reached their destination, he attacked, but failed to get the Ring. Sam, who had hated Gollum on sight, tried to bring himself to kill him, but relented out of sheer pity and disgust, turning his back on the beaten creature.

Moments later, Frodo was standing on the edge of the [[Cracks of Doom]], but, unwilling to destroy the Ring, claimed it for himself and put it on. Then Gollum attacked again. The two fought whilst Frodo was invisible and finally Gollum bit off Frodo's finger.

Here Frodo's kindness in sparing Gollum's life was rewarded, for Gollum then teetered on the edge of the great pit, lost his balance and fell in, taking the Ring and finger with him with a last cry of "Preciouss!". Had Gollum not lived to play this final part, there would have been a good chance that Sauron would have regained the Ring, as he knew where Frodo was as soon as he put the Ring on.

==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
[[File:Peter Xavier Price - The Stairs of Cirith Ungol.jpg|left|thumb|''The Stairs of Cirith Ungol'' by [[Peter Xavier Price]]]]
Sméagol was a Hobbit, but he spent long centuries (thanks to the Ring) in darkness and damp, influenced by its evil power. It is possible that thanks to his hardy Hobbitish nature that he was not reduced to a [[Wraiths|wraith]].<ref>
{{webcite|author=Stan Brown|website=FAQ of the Rings|articleurl=http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/ringfaq.htm#Q1-GollumWraith|articlename=Why hadn’t Gollum turned into a wraith long ago?}}</ref> However, he was reduced to a small, extremely thin and wiry person, with scrawny neck, pale skin, flat feet, long thin hands with clammy fingers, and large pale eyes that seemed to glow. His sense of sight, as well as his hearing and smelling, were very good, due to the time he spent underground.

He could move and climb silently like a spider, and although he had only six teeth left,<ref>{{H|5}}</ref> he could give deep bites, even able to bite off Frodo's finger.

===Personality===
Sméagol was quick and strong, the most inquisitive and curious-minded of his community. He was interested in roots and beginnings. He owed [[#Etymology|his name]] to his interest in roots and deep pools; he dove, burrowed and tunnelled under trees, plants, and mounds. He tended to neglect anything that was higher, like the flowers, the trees and looking at the hills.<ref name=shadow/>

During his centuries of loneliness and under the Ring's influence, he seems to have developed something similar to a personality disorder: his "Gollum" personality was a slave to the Ring and would kill for it, overwhelming his former self, who still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love. Not having anyone else to speak to, he often quarreled with himself. Gollum both loved and hated the Ring and himself. He often referred both to the Ring and himself as "my Precious", perhaps confusing the two entities.<ref name=guide/>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Endgame on the Mountain.jpg|thumb|right|''Endgame on the Mountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

Years later, [[Samwise Gamgee]] would name the "Sméagol" personality "[[Slinker]]" (for his fawning, eager-to-please demeanour), and the "Gollum" personality "[[Stinker]]".

Other aspects of the Ring's corruption was the aversion to all living creatures, especially the [[Elves]] and all things Elven. The [[Elven rope]] burnt his skin, and [[lembas]] tasted like dust to him and choked him.

Sméagol, as a Hobbit, was perhaps good at heart, but he was relatively greedy and mean.<ref name=L214/> Bilbo was corrupted far more slowly by the Ring because his adventures with it began with an act of mercy, while Gollum began his with murder.<ref name=shadow>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Turner Mohan - The Ringbearers.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''The Ringbearers'' by [[:Category:Images by Turner Mohan|Turner Mohan]]]]

Sméagol's name (pron. {{IPA|[ˈsmæ͡ɑːɣoɫ]}}), deriving from [[Old English]] ''sméah'', is an adjective meaning "creeping in, penetrating". It is etymologically related to the word ''[[smial]]''. This title was also applied by the Anglo-Saxons to the Biblical Cain, from the story of Cain's murder of his brother Abel in Genesis. This draws a clear connection between the two.{{fact}}

''Sméagol'' is the translation of an actual [[Westron]] name ''[[Trahald]]'', the meaning of which was "burrowing, worming in" or "apt to creep into a hole". In both [[Westron]] and Old English, Sméagol's name is related to [[Smaug]]'s: Smaug's name in "true [[Dalish]]" was ''[[Trāgu]]'', and the ''Trah-'' stem in ''Trahald'' and ''Trâgu'' is thus an analogue of the Germanic stem present in both ''Sméagol'' and ''Smaug''.

[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] explained in his "[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings|Guide to the Names in ''The Lord of the Rings'']]" the origin of the name ''Sméagol'' in the lemma on [[smials]]:
{{blockquote|'''Smials'''. A word peculiar to hobbits (not Common Speech), meaning 'burrow'; leave unchanged. It is a form that the Old English word '''smygel''' 'burrow' might have had, if it had survived. The same element appears in Gollum's real name, '''Sméagol'''.}}

The name ''[[Smaug]]'', which means "''squeezed through a hole''", is thus related.<ref>{{L|31}}</ref>

===Pronunciation===
{{Pronounce|Anglo-Saxon - Sméagol.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
In both the 1981 BBC radio adaptation and in Peter Jackson's films ''Sméagol'' is pronounced as "SMEE-gol", although the placement of the acute accent suggests that the correct pronunciation is "SMAY-uh-gol". On the other hand, in [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s recordings of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' he also pronounced it "SMEE-gol" or "SMEE-AH-GOL", suggesting that ''éa'' should either be pronounced as a long "i"-sound or as a diphthong ''ea'', and not as two distinct vowels "e" and "a"<ref>{{webcite|author=J.R.R. Tolkien|website=J.R.R. Tolkien reads from 'The Lord of the Rings' #1|articleurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBQJTaMMMhI&feature=youtu.be&t=95|articlename=J.R.R. Tolkien reads from 'The Lord of the Rings' #1}}</ref>. Tolkien had a habit in his writing to put diacritics in varying places, as can also be seen in the name ''[[Eärendil]]'', which also occurs spelt ''Ëarendil''.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the first edition of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Gollum did not appear quite as wretched or as bound to the Ring. Tolkien revised this characterisation to fit the concept of the Ruling Ring developed during the writing of ''The Lord of the Rings''. Tolkien then explained the version given in the first edition as a lie that Bilbo made up to tell the [[Thorin and Company|Dwarves]] and [[Gandalf]].<ref name="Christensen">[[Bonniejean Christensen]], [[Jared Lobdell]] (ed.), "Gollum's Character Transformation in ''The Hobbit''", published in ''[[A Tolkien Compass]]'', pages 7-26</ref>

In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', it is mentioned that [[the One Ring]] was found "''ere the Kings failed in Gondor''". This can mean that originally, Gollum's age was intended to be considerably more than six hundred years (further reinforced by certain places in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' like Gollum referring to tales about an uncorrupted [[Minas Ithil]] or Gandalf comparing his people to "fathers of the fathers of the [[Stoors]]"). In fact it seems likely that Sauron leaving the Mirkwood in 2063 T.A. and some Hobbits settling there after that are details added for the purpose of making the smaller age possible; perhaps in order to make it possible for Gollum and the other characters to have the same language.

==Inspiration==
[[John Garth]] has suggested that the character of Gollum carries echoes of the "''night-haunting, man-eating''" [[Ogres|ogre]] [[Wikipedia:Grendel|Grendel]] in ''[[Beowulf (disambiguation)|Beowulf]]''.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[John Garth]]|articleurl=http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/05/j-r-r-tolkien-beowulf-one-mans-passion-threshold-between-myth-and-reality|articlename=J R R Tolkien's Beowulf: one man's passion for the threshold between myth and reality|dated=29 May 2014|website=[http://www.newstatesman.com/ newstatesman.com]|accessed=29 May 2014}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Gollum in adaptations
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=3
|File:The Hobbit (1966 film) - Gollum.jpg|[[The Hobbit (1966 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1966 film)]]
|File:The Hobbit (1977 film) - Gollum.jpg|[[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Gollum.jpg|[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:David T. Wenzel - Gollum.jpg|[[The Hobbit (comic book)|''The Hobbit'' (comic book), 1989]]
|File:The Hobbit (2003) Gollum.JPG|[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings- The Treason of Isengard - Concept art Gollum.jpg|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Treason of Isengard]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Gollum poster.jpg|[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Sméagol2.jpg|As Sméagol in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gollum.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Gollum.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:Lego - Gollum poster.png|Gollum as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
|File:Guardians of Middle-earth - Gollum.png|''[[Guardians of Middle-earth]]
|File:Shadow of Mordor - Gollum.jpg|''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Gollum - Gollum's description.jpeg|Gollum's description in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Gollum]]''
}}

===Films===
'''1977: [[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]:'''
:Gollum is a frog-like green creature, voiced by [[Theodore Isidore Gottlieb|Brother Theodore]]. Here, his "Gollum" noise sounds like muttering instead of swallowing.

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Gollum is depicted as a skinny, dark grey creature, voiced by [[Peter Woodthorpe]].

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Brother Theodore reprised his role from the earlier [[Rankin/Bass]] production. Some footage from ''The Hobbit'' was reused to introduce the viewer to the story.

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Gollum is a CGI-motion capture creature voiced by actor [[Andy Serkis]]. He is barely glimpsed in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', where he is voiced by [[Dominic Monaghan]] in absence of Serkis. Gollum becomes a central character in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''. The ground-breaking CGI character was built around Serkis's voice, movements and expressions, sometimes by using a motion capture suit which recorded his movements and applied them to the digital character, and sometimes by the more laborious process of digitally "painting out" Serkis's image and replacing it with Gollum's. In one such shot in ''The Two Towers'', Serkis' real spittle can be seen emerging from Gollum's mouth.

:In ''The Return of the King'' Serkis himself appears in a flashback scene as Sméagol before his degeneration into Gollum. This scene was originally earmarked for ''The Two Towers'' but held back because it was felt that audiences would relate better to the original Sméagol once they were more familiar with who he became. The decision to include this scene meant that Gollum's face had to be redesigned for the second and third movies so that it would more closely resemble Serkis'.

'''2012: [[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]:'''
:[[Andy Serkis]] reprised his role as Gollum.<ref name="PJCasting1">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150168211921558|articlename=Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit|dated=20-March-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=21-Dec-2011}}</ref>

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Gollum is depicted as an old, white creature, portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]],the same actor who played [[Aragorn]] in the series.

===Radio series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gollum is provided by [[Gerik Schjelderup]].<ref name="RT1723">Radio Times, Volume 133, No. 1723, [[16 November|November 16]], [[1956]]</ref>

'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
:The narrator refers to Gollum (voiced by [[Wolfe Morris]]) as "Galloom", even though Gollum himself manages to pronounce his name correctly. Gollum's role is based on that of the second edition of ''The Hobbit''.<ref>[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]], "Riddles in the Dark"
</ref>

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Gail Chugg]] provided the voice of Gollum.

'''1980: [[Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series)|''Der Hobbit'' (1980 German radio series)]]:'''
:Gollum is played by Jürgen von Manger.

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Gollum, again performed by [[Peter Woodthorpe]], has the first lines of the play (save [[Gerard Murphy|the narrator]]). He is described as "''slimy and as dark than darkness''".<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)]], "The Long Awaited Party"</ref>

'''1989: [[Hobit (1989 Slovak radio series)|''Hobit'' (1989 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gollum is provided by Karol Čálik.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Gollum is played by Dietmar Mues.

'''2002-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gollum is provided by Ibrahim Maiga.

===Games===
'''1982: ''[[The Hobbit (1982 video game)]]'''''
:Gollum appears in the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. He will persistently speak riddles to Bilbo, and strangle him to death if he fails to answer them in time. However, if Bilbo puts the [[One Ring|Ring]] on, then Gollum will not be able to see him. He can also be killed by Bilbo or his companions, even though doing so would seriously conflict with established canon.
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gollum, voiced by [[Quinton Flynn]], is seen thrice: first, in the introduction scene, he is stooping over his precious, dashing away from the camera. He is a creature in colour and clothing much like Jackson's version. He is briefly glimpsed again in [[Moria]], but not more than a dark shape with a green outline can be seen.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]], "3 Passages"</ref> His most important role is in the final stages of the game: he can be seen atop several ridges, and can even be visited on a rock on the shores of [[Nen Hithoel]]. He throws a [[fish]], the "Xiphiidae", at "[[Aragorn|Ranger]]". This will become the most deadly weapon in the game, and replaces [[Andúril]] in the weapon slots.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]], "Amon Hen"</ref>

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gollum is accompanying Sam and Frodo during [[Osgiliath]] mission and the is the final boss of the game at the Crack of Doom. Unlike all other enemies of the game, he takes no damage from any attacks - instead the players must perform combinations to push him into lava below.

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit'']]:'''
:Gollum appears in a cut scene after the level "Riddles in the Dark". Only Bilbo's last riddle - "''What have I got in my pocket?''" - is shown, after which Gollum spouts out all possible answers in one sentence rather than in three turns. Gollum is a dark grey, hobbit-like creature with seven spiky teeth, who walks on all fours like an ape would, and like his Rankin/Bass counterpart, his "Gollum" noise is a muttering instead of a swallowing. He is voiced by [[Daran Norris]].<ref>[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]], "Riddles in the Dark"</ref>

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gollum is a "Hero" unit for the Servants of the Enemy, used primarily for scout missions.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Gollum is a "Hero" for the Mordor factions. His health is extremely low and his attacks extremely weak, but has value for the scout missions.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:In non-storyline battles, stealthed Gollum is roaming the map. If detected and killed, he drops The One Ring, which can give huge advantage to the side that gets it.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Gollum is encountered thrice, though the player has yet to know his name. The first time he is met in southern [[Trollshaws]], where the player prevents him from attacking the baby of two Fishermen; the second time he is seen in southern Mirkwood, where the player must defeat the Orcs who attempts to capture him, the third time is on the Shores of Anduin, where the player has to make sure he does not fall prey to the spiders.

'''2012: ''[[Guardians of Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Gollum is a striker-type "guardian" with four abilities: ''Throttle'', ''My Precious'', ''Coward'' and ''We are starved''.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.guardiansofmiddleearth.co.uk/guardians/gollum|articlename=''Guardians of Middle-earth'': Gollum|dated=|website=[http://www.guardiansofmiddleearth.com/ ''Guardians of Middle-earth'' official website]|accessed=16 July 2012}}</ref>

'''2014: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]'':'''
:Gollum is featured in the game as a supporting character. In the game, set between ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Gollum is searching for [[the One Ring]] and encounters [[Talion]], the protagonist of the game and helps him in his Quest.

'''2017: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]'':'''
:Gollum is featured in the game as a supporting character.

'''2023: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Gollum]]'':'''
:Gollum will appear in the game as the player character.

==External links==
*[http://lingwe.blogspot.se/2012/12/smeagol-whats-in-name.html Sméagol — what's in a name?] by [[Jason Fisher]]
*[[Council of the Rings]] LOTR Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f4ye3BC8ng Gollum - Full story]
*[[Council of the Rings]] LOTR Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50AuzKeMnHs Did Gollum eat babies?]

{{References}}

{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=hobbit
| born=c. {{TA|2430}}
| died=[[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Déagol]]
| list=[[Ring-bearer]]
| dates=c. {{TA|2463}} - {{TA|2941|n}}
| next=[[Bilbo Baggins]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Frodo Baggins]]
| list=[[Ring-bearer]]
| dates=briefly, [[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| nvac=None
| next=Ring destroyed
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{ringbearers}}
{{hobbitfilms}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Stoors]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Gollum]]
[[fi:Klonkku]]

Ralph Damiani

2023-06-05T09:44:42Z

Council of the Rings: Added a link to images by Ralph Damiani

'''Ralph Damiani''' is a Brazilian artists known for his many artworks of [[Middle-earth]] and the Harry Potter universe. Ralph have worked together with a number of well-known Tolkien YouTubers such as [[Council of the Rings]], [[Nerd of the Rings]], [[Lore of the Rings]] and [[The red book|The Red Book]].

In 2022 he was nominated for [[The Tolkien Society]] Awards 2022 Best Artwork for his 'Across Arda' artworks<ref>https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2022/04/winners-of-the-tolkien-society-awards-2022-announced/</ref>.

'''<big>See Also:</big>'''

[[:Category:Images by Ralph Damiani|Images by Ralph Damiani]]

'''<big>External Links:</big>'''

* [https://www.artstation.com/ralphdamiani ArtStation]
* [https://www.instagram.com/art_ralphdamiani/ Instagram Profile]

Ralph Damiani

2023-06-05T09:42:19Z

Council of the Rings: Created a page for the artist Ralph Damiani

'''Ralph Damiani''' is a Brazilian artists known for his many artworks of [[Middle-earth]] and the Harry Potter universe. Ralph have worked together with a number of well-known Tolkien YouTubers such as [[Council of the Rings]], [[Nerd of the Rings]], [[Lore of the Rings]] and [[The red book|The Red Book]].

In 2022 he was nominated for [[The Tolkien Society]] Awards 2022 Best Artwork for his 'Across Arda' artworks<ref>https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2022/04/winners-of-the-tolkien-society-awards-2022-announced/</ref>.

'''<big>External Links:</big>'''

* [https://www.artstation.com/ralphdamiani ArtStation]
* [https://www.instagram.com/art_ralphdamiani/ Instagram Profile]

Kingdoms of Arda

2023-06-05T09:25:09Z

Council of the Rings: I've added a page for the LOTR mod Kingdoms of Arda and used the description found on that page, while also adding the detail that the visuals are mainly inspired by the PJ film adaptation. There's also an external link to the Moddb page and their Discord server.

'''Kingdoms of Arda''' is a Singleplayer & Multiplayer total conversion of ''Mount & Blade II Bannerlord'', that brings the world of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] into the game. This includes: characters, locations, weapons etc. from [[The Lord of the Rings]], [[The Hobbit]], [[The Silmarillion]] and other works by Tolkien and media made for his universe. The visuals is mainly inspired by [[Peter Jackson]]'s film adaptations.

In December 2020 the mod won the award 'Players Choice – Best Upcoming Mod 2020' on Moddb<ref>https://www.moddb.com/mods/a-lord-of-the-rings-mod-kingdoms-of-arda/features/players-choice-best-upcoming-mod-2020</ref>.

'''<big>External links:</big>'''

* [https://www.moddb.com/mods/a-lord-of-the-rings-mod-kingdoms-of-arda Kingdoms of Arda on Moddb]
* [https://discord.gg/erGtK3RyzR Discord Server]

Council of the Rings

2023-06-05T09:14:56Z

Council of the Rings: Added more external links and some deeper background description of myself/ Council of the Rings.

{{stub}}
{{website
| name=Council of the Rings
| image=[[File:Council of the Rings logo.webp|200px]]
| URL=[https://www.youtube.com/@CounciloftheRings YouTube Channel]
| slogan=
| commercial=
| revenue=
| type=
| language=English
| license=
| articlecount=
| registration=
| owner=
| creator=
| keypeople=
| launch=[[November 20]]th, [[2021]]
| status=Active
}}
'''Council of the Rings''' is a Tolkien content creator that hosts an online community of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] fans on YouTube, Reddit, Discord, Instagram and Twitter. On his YouTube channel various topics around J.R.R. Tolkien and his works are covered. The channel is especially known for its reviews of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power|The Rings of Power]] series, his own Second age series, the community posts and the commissioned artworks created by [[Ralph Damiani]].

Council of the Rings is also known under a different alias, Macbeth of Gondor, which is a different YouTube channel run by the same content creator. On that channel development and news around [[Kingdoms of Arda]] is shared with the public. Kingdoms of Arda is a [[The Lord of the Rings]] mod for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Macbeth is currently an active member of the development and head of the Scene Department. In the past he has also worked on other The Lord of the Rings mods for other games such as; Minecraft, Mount & Blade: Warband, Europa Universalis IV, Crusader Kings II and Crusader Kings III.

== External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/@CounciloftheRings YouTube Channel]
* [https://discord.gg/6ZMVxUBYpK Discord Server]
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/counciloftherings/ Subreddit]
* [https://www.patreon.com/counciloftherings Patreon]
* [https://council-of-the-rings.myspreadshop.dk/ Store]
* [https://twitter.com/CouncilofRings Twitter Profile]
* [https://www.instagram.com/counciloftherings/ Instagram Profile]
* [https://www.youtube.com/@MacbethofGondor Macbeth of Gondor's YouTube Channel]

[[Category:Websites]]