Aeglos (spear)
Aeglos | |
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Weapon | |
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"Aiglos" by Audrey Corman | |
Pronunciation | eye-glos |
Other names | Aiglos |
Owner | Gil-galad |
Appearance | Spear |
Notable for | helping to destroy Sauron during the War of the Last Alliance |
Gallery | Images of Aeglos |
Aeglos was the spear of King Gil-galad which was greatly feared by the enemy. It was carried by the High King to the War of the Last Alliance, until Gil-galad fell in combat against Sauron himself, on the slopes of Mount Doom S.A. 3431.[1][2]
Etymology and names[edit | edit source]
Aeglos is the name of a plant and means "snow-point"[3] or "icicle".[4] The element aeg means "point", from root AYAK ("sharp, pointed");[5] and the element los means "snow".[6]
In editions of The Lord of the Rings prior to 2005, the spear is spelled Aiglos. Tolkien, however, commented in a manuscript that the more correct Sindarin spelling is in fact Aeglos.[7][8]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Aiglos is a Holy weapon with magical abilities.[9]
1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- Aiglos, only playable by Warriors, gives a direct influence against Elves.
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Gil-galad is seen wielding the spear. Warren Mahy desgined the weapon.[10]
2017: Middle-earth: Shadow of War:
- Aeglos is wielded by Celebrimbor's wraith. The blade bears the inscription: "Gil-galad wields a well made spear / The Orc will fear my point of ice / When he sees me, in fear of death / He will know my name: Aeglos"[11]
2018: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Gil-galad wields the spear during the Battle of Dagorlad. After Sauron's fall, Aeglos is discovered perched atop a pillar-like pinnacle in the Plateau of Gorgoroth, where it continues to emit a bright light. It is left as a beacon of hope to those who traverse the scorched plains of Mordor.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings Index
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "AYAK"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entry loss
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, p. 11
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 231
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (1994), Treasures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2010)
- ↑ Gary Russell, The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring
- ↑ Shadow of War, 2017, Appendices
Weapons of Middle-earth |
Aeglos · Andúril · Anglachel · Angrist · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Barrow-blades · Belthronding · Black Arrow · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim · Dagmor · Dailir · Dramborleg · Durin's Axe · Glamdring · Grond · Gúthwinë · Gurthang · Herugrim · Morgul-knife · Narsil · Orcrist · Red Arrow · Ringil · Sting |