Belegost

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Belegost
File:Belegost map.gif
General information
LocationNortheast of Mount Dolmed
CapitalBelegost
People
LanguageKhuzdul, Sindarin

Belegost was one of two great Dwarven cities in the Ered Luin.

Description

Belegost lay the north central part of the Ered Luin, north of Nogrod and northeast of Mount Dolmed.[1] It was home to the Dwarves of Belegost. During the mid First Age its king until Nirnaeth Arnoediad was Azaghâl.[2]

History

The Dwarves of Belegost were friends to the Sindar[3] and later allies of the Noldor of Beleriand.[4] They did not join the Dwarves of Nogrod in the Sack of Doriath, and actually attempted to dissuade them from from doing so.[5] After the Battle of Sarn Athrad the Dwarves of Belegost hastened their departure to Khazad-dûm.[6]

At the end of the Fist Age, Belegost was ruined in the War of Wrath,[7] and apparently abandoned. Many Dwarves from Belegost joined Durin's folk in Khazad-dûm around T.A. 40,[8] however there were always Dwarves on the Eastern side of the Blue Mountains.

Etymology

Belegost (beleg + ost) was a Sindarin translation of the original Dwarvish name Gabilgathol and both mean "Great City". Unlike other names of the Silmarillion, the text also gives us an English rendering, which was possibly from Westron: Mickleburg.[3] Mickle is a root meaning "big"; see also Michel Delving.

The city's Khuzdul name Gabilgathol contains the elements gabil "great" and gathol "fortress".

Túrosto was the name in Quenya for Belegost.[9]

In adaptations

In The Atlas of Middle-earth the fortress is incorrectly called Gabilgathod.[10]

References