Crissaegrim

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 19:00, 15 September 2011 by Morgan (talk | contribs) (Expanded and tweaked)

The Crissaegrim were home to the great Eagles of Thorondor.

The Crissaegrim formed a part of the southern Echoriath, the Encircling Mountains of Gondolin.

It was here that Thorondor, Lord of the Eagles lived, and from here he watched for spies in the vale of the River Sirion. Indeed, the Eagles were the chief source of information to Turgon and the Gondolindrim.

Etymology

Crissaegrim is a Sindarin name meaning "Cleft Mountain Peaks", but it is usually referred to as the "Eagles' Cleft" or "Abode of Eagles".[source?]

Other versions of the legendarium

In early versions of the Quenta Silmarillion, Tolkien used the name Gochressiel, which he amended to Crisaegrim (which later was spelt Crissaegrim). Christopher Tolkien has noted that the former name might not have referred to this particular section, but rather to the whole of Echoriath.[1]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", pp. 285, 290-1