Gondolindrim

From Tolkien Gateway
Gondolindrim
People
Mysilvergreen - Gondolin party.jpg
"Gondolin party" by Mysilvergreen
General Information
Pronunciationgon-do-lin-drim
Other namesElves of Gondolin
OriginsThe Noldor and Sindar of Nevrast, led to the Hidden City by Turgon
LocationsGondolin
AffiliationUnion of Maedhros
LanguagesQuenya, Sindarin
MembersTurgon, Idril, Tuor, Maeglin, Ecthelion, Glorfindel
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
GalleryImages of Gondolindrim

The Gondolindrim were the people of Gondolin, a mixed population of Noldorin and Sindarin Elves under the rule of Turgon.[1][2] While they take their name from the city of Gondolin where they later dwelt, the Gondolindrim were in origin the Elves of Nevrast.[3] Ulmo seemed to take a special interest in the Gondolindrim throughout their history. The Gondolindrim were keen in arts and constructions but also valiant fighters.

History

The first Elves to dwell in Nevrast were Sindar, who had been drawn in days of old to the coasts near Mount Taras by the comings of Ulmo and Ossë. At the time the Noldor returned to Middle-earth, most of the Grey-elves of Nevrast still dwelt in the coastal region in the southwest. Turgon settled there with his own people, Noldor of the house of Fingolfin, taking up lordship of Nevrast and building Vinyamar. The first mingling of Sindar and Noldor took place in Nevrast, and they became one people.[1]

At Ulmo's urging and with his guidance Turgon, seeking a refuge from Morgoth, found the hidden vale of Tumladen within the Encircling Mountains. After Dagor Aglareb Turgon brought many of the most skilled of the Elves of Nevrast to Tumladen, where they set about building Gondolin in secret. When the city was finished, the people of Nevrast (including one third of the Noldor of Fingolfin, and even more Sindar) abandoned Nevrast and came in secret, in small companies one-by-one, through Ered Wethrin to Gondolin.[3]

Turgon Strengthens the Watch by Alan Lee

Because Gondolin was strictly separated from the rest of Beleriand by Ered Wethrin and it is unlikely that substantial numbers of other kindreds ever came to settle there. Only a few notable outsiders are known to have reached the hidden city: Huor and Húrin Thalion were the first Men to come to Gondolin and dwelt there for a year,[4] Tuor, son of Huor, made the city his home[5][2] and Maeglin, son of Eöl the Dark Elf and Turgon's sister Aredhel, fled there with his mother from Nan Elmoth.[6]

At the Fall of Gondolin, the survivors led by Tuor went to the Mouths of Sirion.

Etymology

Gondolindrim is a standard formation of Gondolin (S: "The Hidden Rock") and the Sindarin suffix -rim, denoting a people.[7]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the earliest version of the legendarium, the inhabitants of Gondolin were called Gondothlim in Gnomish[8] or Ondolië in Qenya.[9] Gondothrim (containing the plural suffix -rim) also appears in Gondothrimbar, another name for Gondolin.[10] The above plural nouns suggest a singular form Gondoth, although such a word never appears by itself.

They were those Noldoli who escaped from Melko's power after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.[11]:157 When Tuor arrived to their city, they are described in great detail:

Indeed the Gondothlim were not bent of back as some of their unhappy kin became, labouring without rest at delving had hammering for Melko, but small were they and slender and lithe. They were swift of foot and surpasing fair; sweet and sad were their mouths, and their eyes had ever a joy within quivering to tears; in in those times the Gnomes were exiles at heart, haunted with a desire for their ancient home that faded not.[11]:159

Despite their melancholic heart, the Gondothlim became proud and confident of their works, so when Melko withdraw his spies, they thought it was because of the strengtgh of their fortress. And when Idril warned some in secret, they laughed, saying that "Gondolin would stand as long as Taniquetil or the Mountains of Valinor".[11]:170-171 The Gondothlim are also described as being organised into a number of twelve houses, each one with a leader and different characteristics.[11]:174

See also

References