{{object infobox
| name=Barrow-blades
| image = Stefano Baldo - Dagger of Westernesse.jpg
| caption="Dagger of Westernesse" by [[:Category:Images by Stefano Baldo|Stefano Baldo]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=Found in the [[Barrow-downs]]
| owner=[[Frodo Baggins]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]], [[Peregrin Took]], and [[Samwise Gamgee]]
| type=Sword
| appearance=Long, leaf-shaped, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold
| creator=[[Dúnedain]] of [[Cardolan]]
| created=During the [[Angmar conflict|conflict]] with [[Angmar]]
| createdlocation=[[Cardolan]]
| destroyer=
| destroyed=[[13 October]] {{TA|3018}}, [[15 March]] {{TA|3019}}
| destroyedlocation=[[Ford of Bruinen]], [[Pelennor Fields]]
| notablefor=Cutting a sinew of the [[Witch-king]]
}}

The '''Barrow-blades'''<ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}, p. 325</ref> were weapons that [[Tom Bombadil]] brought out of the mound in which [[Frodo Baggins]] and his friends had been imprisoned. Each Barrow-blade had a long, leaf-shaped blade, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold. They had black sheaths of an unknown metal, light and strong, adorned with fiery stones. Despite their great age they were sharp and unrusted by time.<ref name="Barrow">{{FR|Barrow}}, pp. 145-6</ref>

==History==
The Barrow-blades were created by the [[Dúnedain]] of [[Cardolan]] during their war against the [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]]. They were made for fighting forces sent from [[Angmar]].<ref name="Barrow" /> After the fall of Cardolan, at least four of these Barrow-blades ended up in the tomb<ref name="Barrow" /> of which it was said that it was the grave of the last prince of that realm who fell in {{TA|1409}}.<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, entry for King Argeleb II, p. 1041</ref>

On [[28 September]] {{TA|3018}},<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref>{{rp|1091}} Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] became lost in the [[Barrow-downs]] and were captured by one of the [[Barrow-wights|wights]] and imprisoned in the tomb. Frodo was able to call [[Tom Bombadil]] to their aid, and he opened the tomb and drove the wight away. Tom gave each of them a Barrow-blade from the tomb and told them their history.<ref name="Barrow" />

On [[13 October]],<ref name="Great" />{{rp|1092}} at the [[Ford of Bruinen]] the Witch-king raised up his hand and Frodo's Barrow-blade broke and fell out of his shaking hand.<ref>{{FR|Flight}}, p. 214</ref> The pieces were recovered and passed into the possession of [[Bilbo Baggins]]. Failing to have the blade repaired by elven-smiths, he gifted Frodo with [[Sting]] as a replacement.<ref>{{FR|South}}</ref>

On [[15 January]] {{TA|3019}},<ref name="Great" />{{rp|1092}} Sam felled an [[Orcs|Orc]] with a thrust with his Barrow-blade in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].<ref name="Bridge" />

On [[26 February]],<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, February 26, p. 1092</ref> Pippin and Merry had drawn their swords to defend themselves against a group of Orcs in the woods near [[Amon Hen]] and Merry cut off several of the arms and hands of the Orcs with his Barrow-blade before they were captured by the Orcs.<ref>{{TT|Uruk}}, p. 444</ref> The Orcs cast the weapons away in fear, and they were found and recovered by [[Aragorn]].<ref>{{TT|Departure}}, p. 415</ref> He would return the weapons to Merry and Pippin upon their reunion at [[Isengard]].<ref>{{TT|Flotsam}}, p. 564</ref>

On [[6 March]],<ref name="Great" />{{rp|1093}} in the [[Hornburg]] Merry laid his sword in the lap of King [[Théoden]] offering service to him. The king gladly made Merry an esquire of [[Rohan]] of the household of [[Meduseld]].<ref>{{RK|Company}}, p. 777</ref>

When Pippin came before [[Denethor]] in [[Minas Tirith]] on [[9 March]],<ref>{{App|Great}}}, entry for the year 3019, March 9, p. 1093</ref> he offered his sword to the Steward in token of service. Denethor smiled at first but was impressed by the Barrow-blade, recognizing it as coming from his own [[Dúnedain of Arnor|kindred in the North]].<ref>{{RK|MT}}, pp. 755-6</ref>
[[File:Anke Eißmann - The Ride of the Rohirrim.jpg|left|thumb|''The Ride of the Rohirrim'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
On [[13 March]],<ref name="Great" />{{rp|1093}} the the monstrous spider [[Shelob]] stung Frodo and Sam picked up Frodo's sword [[Sting]], which had fallen to the ground, to fight against Shelob. Sam believed Frodo to be dead who had been incapacitated by the poison on Shelob's sting and left his Barrow-blade beside the unconscious Frodo. A patrol of Orcs found the unconscious Frodo and took him and Sam's Barrow-blade with them to the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]]. The Orcs were under orders to send a full description of every weapon or ring of any trespasser they had found to [[Barad-dûr|Lugbúrz]].<ref>{{TT|Choices}}, pp. 731, 735-40</ref> Sam's Barrow-blade was probably taken by [[Shagrat]] to Barad-dûr after Shagrat had fled from the Tower of Cirith Ungol with a heavy bundle.

On [[15 March]],<ref name="Great" />{{rp|1094}} during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], Merry stabbed the Witch-king from behind and pierced his sinew in the back of the knee with his Barrow-blade, which enabled [[Éowyn]] to thrust her sword into his face.<ref name="Battle">{{RK|Battle}}, pp. 841-4</ref>

The Barrow-blade that Merry stabbed into the Witch-king had a power beyond mere metal, for it broke the spell that linked the will of the Ringwraith to his unseen sinews. However, after Merry's blow the blade of the sword writhed and withered, vanishing like a dry branch in a fire. Thus while the Barrow-blade was created centuries before to battle against the forces of Angmar, it contributed to the demise of the Witch-king.<ref name="Battle" />

{{blockquote|So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dúnedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will.|''The Return of the King'', "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"}}

On [[25 March]],<ref name="Great" />{{rp|1094}} the [[Mouth of Sauron]] showed Sam's sword to [[Gandalf]] during a parley in front of the [[Black Gate]] and Gandalf seized it from him before he rejected the terms offered by [[Sauron]]. During the following [[Battle of the Morannon]], Pippin stabbed the great troll-chief of a company of [[Hill-trolls]] from [[Gorgoroth]] with his barrow-blade causing the troll to lose a lot of blood and to crash down.<ref>{{RK|Gate}}, pp. 889-92</ref>

On [[8 April]],<ref name="Chief">{{App|Chief}}, pp. 1095-6</ref> Gandalf returned Sam's Barrow-blade to Sam when they rested in the [[Field of Cormallen]] after the Battle of the Morannon.<ref>{{RK|Cormallen}}, p. 954</ref>

On [[2 November]],<ref name="Chief" /> Pippin drew his Barrow-blade and threatened to use it, referring to it as "this troll's bane", and Sam also drew his sword to support him when they were confronted by [[Ruffians]] at [[Bywater]].<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}, p. 1005</ref>

On [[3 November]],<ref name="Chief" /> during the [[Battle of Bywater]] in [[The Shire]] Pippin probably used his Barrow-blade when he and Merry charged the Ruffians.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}, p. 1015</ref>

==Inspiration==
Swords that dwindle can be seen in the ''Volsungasaga'' and the ''Nibelungenlied''. In ''[[Beowulf (poem)|Beowulf]]'', the sword melts "like ice" after decapitating Grendel and his mother.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.tolkiensociety.org/app/uploads/2016/11/Anglo-Saxon-Part-2.pdf|articlename=Tolkien Society Anglo-Saxon Study Pack 2|website=TS|accessed=30 May 2022}}</ref>

{{references}}

{{weapons}}

[[Category:Knives]]

[[fi:Hautakumpujen miekat]]

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{{Incomplete}}{{Quote|Beyond the fire he saw swarming black figures: there seemed to be hundreds of orcs. They brandished spears and scimitars which shone red as blood in the firelight.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]}}
A '''scimitar''' is a type of curved [[Sword|sword]] used by [[Orcs]]<ref>{{FR|II5}}, p. 321</ref><ref name=":0">{{TT|III1}}, p. 415</ref> and [[Haradrim]]<ref name=":1">{{RK|V6}}, p. 839</ref>.

==History==
[[File:Abe Papakhian - Orcs and Uruks.jpg|thumb|329x329px|Orcs with curved scimitars as depicted in Abe Papakhian's ''The Fighting Uruk-hai and Orcs of Lugburz'' ]]
In the [[First Age]], Orcs of [[Morgoth]] are said to have used "sickle scimitars"<ref>{{LB|1f}}, p. 116</ref> and "reddened scimitars".<ref>{{LB|C4}}, p. 193</ref> Scimitars were also wielded by Orcs during the [[Fall of Gondolin]] in {{FA|510}}.<ref>{{FG|Original}}</ref>

The bodyguard of [[Bolg]] was said to consist of "Goblins" of huge size who wielded scimitars of steel in {{TA|2941}}.<ref>{{H|17}}</ref>

With the exception of the broad blades of the [[Orcs of Isengard]], Orcs are said to have usually carried "curved scimitars" as of {{TA|3019}}.<ref name=":0" />

Haradrim are said to have wielded scimitars during the [[Battle of Pelennor Fields]] on [[15 March]] {{TA|3019}}.<ref name=":1" />

==Etymology==
Scimitar is an English word that refers to a sword with curved blade which has an edge on the convex side, and is generally to describe curved swords used by Middle Eastern and North African swordsmen. It is borrowed from the Italian ''scimitarra'' which was likely borrowed, by uncertain origin, from the Persian ''šamšer'' ("sword, scimitar").<ref>{{Cite web|articleurl=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scimitar#h1|articlename=Scimitar|accessed=10 December 2024}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:Lurtz Scimitar.png|thumb|The Orc Lurtz carrying an "Uruk-Hai scimitar" in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'']]|344x344px]]'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'''''
:The "Orc Scimitar" and "Goblin Scimitar" cards were included in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' base set of the card game.

'''2001: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'']]'''
:The [[Uruk-hai]] of [[Saruman]] carry swords described in merchandise as "Uruk-hai scimitars". This blade-type is notably carried by the Orc [[Lurtz]]. However, "scimitar" is a misnomer given that it is a straight blade with a spike at the end, and neither of these features are characteristic of historical scimitars.
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'''''

:The "Isengard Scimitar" card was included in the ''Battle of Helms Deep'' set of the card game.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'''''

:The "Corsair Scimitar" card was included in the ''Treachery and Deceit'' set of the card game.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]

File:The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game - Orc Scimitar.jpg

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An image of the "Orc Scimitar" card from the Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game.

Scimitar

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Scimitar

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Scimitar

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File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Lurtz Scimitar.png

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I will edit this with Templates etc.

Scimitar

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Scimitar

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2024-12-07T00:45:40Z

MOONBOLT: Links and italicization

{{scene
| name = The Foundations of Stone
| film = [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]
| image = The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - The Foundations of Stone.jpg
| number = 1
| duration = 4:06
| event = [[Gandalf]] falls with the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] under [[Moria]].
| characters = [[Gandalf]], [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]], [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]
| previous = [[The Road Goes Ever On... (scene)|The Road Goes Ever On...]]
| next = [[Elven Rope (scene)|Elven Rope]]
}}
'''The Foundations of Stone''' is the first scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' and [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (extended edition)]].

==Synopsis==
The film begins with an aerial view of the [[Misty Mountains]]. We then see a recap of [[Gandalf]]'s confrontation with the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] in the scene "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm (scene)|The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]" from [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|''The Fellowship of the Ring'']]. Gandalf tells the Balrog it cannot pass, then breaks the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm|bridge]], sending it falling into the abyss. However, as it falls, it swings its whip upwards and pulls Gandalf over the edge.

Gandalf and the Balrog fall together, fighting, into a seemingly bottomless chasm, until finally they plunge into water. At that moment, the scene switches to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] in the [[Emyn Muil]], where Frodo jerks awake, calling Gandalf's name. Reassuring Sam that nothing is wrong, just a dream, Frodo lies down again.

==Differences==
The confrontation at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm follows the account in the chapter [[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]] from ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' fairly closely. Gandalf's fall into the abyss with the Balrog reflects the beginning of Gandalf's account in the chapter [[The White Rider]] from ''[[The Two Towers]]'': "''Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned. Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark''."<ref>{{TT|White}}, p. 501.</ref> The main deviation from the source material is presenting this fall separately from the [[Battle of the Peak]], which will be shown later.

Frodo does not dream about Gandalf's fight with the Balrog in the book. However, in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', he has what appears to be a visionary dream about Gandalf's imprisonment in [[Orthanc]].<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 261.</ref>

{{references}}

[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scenes|01]]

Elves of Rivendell

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{{sources}}
{{expansion}}
{{unnamed}}
The '''Elves of Rivendell''' were [[Elves]] who dwelt in [[Rivendell]] between its founding in the [[Second Age]] and abandonment in the early [[Fourth Age]]. Most of them were [[Noldor]].<ref>{{RGEO|Notes}}, p. 64</ref>

==History==
===Second Age===
Previously having been affiliated with either the [[Elves of Lindon]] or the [[Elves of Eregion]], the original Elves of Rivendell came together during the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]].

Around the year {{SA|750}} the realm of [[Eregion]] was founded<ref>{{App|SA}}, entry for the year 750, p. 1083</ref> primarily, but not solely by [[Noldor]] [[Elves]]<ref name="UTC">{{UT|Concerning}}</ref>.

In {{SA|1695}}, the forces of [[Sauron]] invaded [[Eriador]]. In response, King [[Gil-galad]] sent a host of Elves under the command of [[Elrond]] from [[Lindon]] to the help of the Elves of Eregion.<ref>{{App|SA}}, entry for the year 1695, p. 1083</ref> A force of Elves led by [[Celeborn]] sortied from Eregion, drove back the scouts and vanguard of the army of Sauron and joined the host of Elves of Elrond. However, they were not able to retreat to Eregion, because Sauron's army held them off and besieged Eregion.<ref name="UTC" />

At last, in {{SA|1697}}<ref name="UTC" /><ref>{{App|SA}}, entry for the year 1697, p. 1083</ref>, the forces of Sauron broke into Eregion and [[Sack of Eregion|sacked]] it. Sauron took the [[Nine Rings]], captured [[Celebrimbor]], the Lord of Eregion, and tortured him to divulge where the [[Seven Rings]] had been bestowed. He then attacked the host of Elrond who had assembled the few Elves that had been able to escape from Eregion. A force of [[Dwarves]] from [[Moria]] and Elves from [[Lothlórien]] led by [[Amroth]] sallied from Moria and attacked the rear of Sauron's army. Elrond was driven to the north and the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|Dwarves of Moria]] and the [[Galadhrim|Elves of Lothlórien]] had to retreat into Moria and shut the [[Doors of Durin]]. Elrond and his forces retreated to the valley of Rivendell, where Elrond oversaw the creation of a refuge as a stronghold of the Elves in the east of Eriador.<ref name="UTC" />

In {{SA|1700}}, a fleet from [[Númenor]] landed in Lindon and at the mouth of the [[Gwathló]]. Subsequently, the [[Númenóreans]] and the Elves of Lindon defeated the army of Sauron in three battles at the River [[Lhûn]], at [[Sarn Ford]] and at the [[Battle of the Gwathló|Gwathló]]. After that, the force of Sauron that was besieging Rivendell was attacked on two fronts by the forces of Gil-galad and Elrond and annihilated. It was decided that Rivendell rather than Eregion should be an Elvish stronghold in the east of Eriador. Gil-galad appointed Elrond as his vice-regent in Eriador and gave [[Vilya]], one of the [[Three Rings]] [[Rings of Power|of Power]] of the Elves, to him.<ref name="UTC" />

More than 1,700 years later, in {{SA|3431}} he hosts of Gil-galad and [[Elendil]] of [[Arnor]] joined together in the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] and journeyed to Rivendell where they spent three years to prepare for war before continuing their march to [[Mordor]].<ref>{{App|SA}}, entries for they years 3431 and 3433, p. 1084</ref>

===Third Age===
The Elves of Rivendell lived in peace for more than 1,300 years. Around {{TA|1300}}, [[Sauron|Sauron's]] [[shadow]] became stronger and evil things multiplied, heralded by the reappearance of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year ''c.'' 1300, p. 1086</ref> The [[Witch-king|lord of the Nazgûl]] came north and established the evil realm of [[Angmar]] between the [[Ettenmoors]] and the [[Mountains of Angmar]] on both sides of the [[Misty Mountains]], because he intended to destroy the [[Dúnedain of the North]] and to exploit the disunity of the splinter realms of [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]]. He gathered many evil Men, Orcs and other fell creatures in Angmar and became known as the Witch-king of Angmar, but it was not known at that time that he was the lord of the Nazgûl.<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, entry about King Malvegil, p. 1040</ref>

It is said that sometime between {{TA|1356}} and {{TA|1409|n}} Rivendell was under a siege.<ref name="ArvelegI">{{App|Eriador}}, entry for King Arveleg I, p. 1040</ref> The identity of the besiegers is unknown, but it is possible that they were forces from Angmar. Eventually the forces of Angmar were subdued for a while by Elves from Lindon and Elves from Rivendell aided by [[Galadhrim|Elves from Lothlórien]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, entry for King Araphor, p. 1041</ref>

In the autumn of {{TA|1973}}, the kingdom of [[Gondor]] received messages that Arthedain was in great danger, because the Witch-king of Angmar was preparing an attack against it. In response, King [[Eärnil II]] of Gondor sent his son [[Eärnur]] north with a fleet as fast as he was able.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}, entry about King Eärnil II, p. 1050</ref> Before the end of the winter of {{TA|1974|n}}, Angmar invaded Arthedain from the north.<ref name="Arvedui">{{App|Eriador}}, entry about King Arvedui, pp. 1041-43</ref> The Witch-king overran Arthedain and conquered [[Fornost]] before the end of the year<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1974, p. 1086</ref> and drove away most of the remaining [[Dúnedain]] over the River<ref name="UTC" /> [[Lhûn]], including the sons of the king.<ref name="Arvedui" /> King [[Arvedui]] of Arthedain defended the North Downs as long as he could until he had to flee to the north with some of his guards on horses. Arvedui hid in tunnels of old dwarf-mines at the northern end of the [[Blue Mountains]] until his supplies ran out and then fled to a camp of the [[Lossoth]] at the southern shore of the [[Icebay of Forochel]] where he was forced to wait. The Elves of Lindon heard of the flight of Arvedui to the north and sent a ship to rescue him, but it sank shortly after retrieving Arvedui in the bay of [[Forochel]] when the ship was driven back to the ice by a storm and was crushed by further ice that was piled up against it in March<ref name="Arvedui" /> of {{TA|1975}}.<ref name="TA1975">{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1975, p. 1086</ref>

When Prince Eärnur of Gondor arrived with his fleet at the havens of [[Lindon]] in {{TA|1975}}<ref name="TA1975" /> it was too late, because Arthedain had already been conquered and King Arvedui was already dead. [[Círdan]] gathered a force from [[Lindon]] and [[Arnor]] and the combined forces of Lindon, Arnor and Gondor, which included tall and fair riders, princes from Rhovanion and horses from the [[Vales of Anduin]] crossed the River Lhûn and marched north. The Witch-king came from Fornost with the forces of Angmar to meet them, but was defeated in a battle on the plain between [[Lake Evendim]] and the North Downs. The Witch-king fled northwards with a remnant of his forces in the direction of Angmar, but his forces were overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor and by forces led by the Elf-lord [[Glorfindel]] who came north from Rivendell before they could reach the shelter of [[Carn Dûm]]. The Witch-king was able to escape from the north on a black horse, but the realm of Angmar was utterly defeated so that no Men and Orcs of Angmar remained on the west side of the Misty Mountains.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}, entry about King Ondoher, p. 1049 and entry about King Eärnil II, pp. 1049-51</ref>

{{references}}

[[Category:Elven peoples]]