Lungorthin: Difference between revisions

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{{Quote|But Lungorthin Lord of Balrogs<br>on the mouth smote him, and Morgoth smiled:<br>‘Nay, fear when thou feelest,  when the flames lick thee.<br>and the whistling whips thy white body<br>and wilting flesh weal and torture!’|''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', Lines 96-100}}
{{Quote|But Lungorthin Lord of Balrogs<br>on the mouth smote him, and Morgoth smiled:<br>‘Nay, fear when thou feelest,  when the flames lick thee.<br>and the whistling whips thy white body<br>and wilting flesh weal and torture!’|''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', Lines 96-100}}


'''Lungorthin''' was the lesser Lord of [[Balrogs]] in an early stage of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', second only to the greater Lord of Balrogs, [[Gothmog]]. Lungorthin commanded many orcs during the first age, and was feared for his whistling fiery whips used to smote and torture his foes. He aided Gothmog in the slaying of High King [[Fingon]], he tortured [[Hurin]] within the fortress of [[Angband]], and (most famously) he dueled with [[Glorfindel]] on the mountain passes above the besieged city of [[Gondolin]].  He is not mentioned in the later ''Silmarillion'', or the published ''Simarillion''. If Lungorthin had not aided Gothmog or Morgoth so crucially, then multiple First Age Heroes may have lived on, and the forces of darkness may have been more easily weakned.
'''Lungorthin''' was a Lord of [[Balrogs]] in an early stage of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. He is not mentioned in the later ''Silmarillion'', or the published ''Simarillion''.


== History ==
== History ==
Lungorthin is first seen during the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], where he aids Gothmog's duel with Fingon, bounding the High Noldor king in his  whips of flame, allowing Gothmog to slay Fingon with his axe of shadow.
Lungorthin is mentioned only once, in ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]''; after [[Húrin]] was captured by [[Morgoth]], Lungorthin smote him on the mouth.<ref>{{LB|1}}, pp. 98, 102-3</ref>
 
Lungorthin is next seen in ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]''; after Húrin was captured by Gothmog and brought before the dark lord [[Morgoth]], Lungorthin smote him on the mouth.<ref>{{LB|1}}, pp. 98, 102-3</ref>.
 
The final time we see Lungorthin is during the [[Fall of Gondolin]], where he leads a contingent of orcs to ambush the [[Exiles of Gondolin]] lead by Tuor, within the [[Cristhorn]]. Glorfindel was protecting the rear of the exiles, and he fought a legendary duel with Lungorthin so Tuor and company could escape. Glorfindel dodged the whips and claws of Lungorthin and stabbed the demon in the stomach. Lungorthin stumbled down the cliff, dragging Glorfindel by the hair with him so they both fell off to their deaths. This duel and sacrifice by Glorfindel was still remembered by the Noldor, and everytime a high elf witnesses a fight between a force of pure good and evil, they cry "Alas! 'Tis Glorfindel and Lungorthin".
 
| image=[[Image:Oleg Kuzmin - Glorfindel and the Balrog.jpg|250px]]
| caption= "Glorfindel and the Balrog" by [[Oleg Kuzmin]]


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
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The name '''''Lungorthin''''' is in [[Noldorin]], according to ''[[Eldamo]]'', but its meaning is unclear. [[LUNG]] in [[Sindarin]] means “Heavy.” [[GAR]] means “fenced.” [[or]] means “above.”<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Paul Strack]]|articleurl=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-3398493419.html|articlename=ᴱN. ''Lungorthin'' m.|website=Eldamo|accessed=24 March 2022}}</ref>
The name '''''Lungorthin''''' is in [[Noldorin]], according to ''[[Eldamo]]'', but its meaning is unclear. [[LUNG]] in [[Sindarin]] means “Heavy.” [[GAR]] means “fenced.” [[or]] means “above.”<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Paul Strack]]|articleurl=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-3398493419.html|articlename=ᴱN. ''Lungorthin'' m.|website=Eldamo|accessed=24 March 2022}}</ref>


== Other versions of the legendarium ==
== Other versions of the legendarium ==

Revision as of 20:24, 19 March 2023

Lungorthin
Balrogs
Anastasiya Cemetery - Lungorthin.jpg
"Lungorthin" by Anastasiya Cemetery
Biographical Information
TitlesLord of Balrogs
PositionBalrog lord
LocationAngband
AffiliationMorgoth
BirthCreation of the Ainur
Physical Description
RaceBalrogs
GenderMale
WeaponryWhistling Whips
GalleryImages of Lungorthin
"But Lungorthin Lord of Balrogs
on the mouth smote him, and Morgoth smiled:
‘Nay, fear when thou feelest, when the flames lick thee.
and the whistling whips thy white body
and wilting flesh weal and torture!’"
― The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Lines 96-100

Lungorthin was a Lord of Balrogs in an early stage of The Silmarillion. He is not mentioned in the later Silmarillion, or the published Simarillion.

History

Lungorthin is mentioned only once, in The Lay of the Children of Húrin; after Húrin was captured by Morgoth, Lungorthin smote him on the mouth.[1]

Etymology

According to Christopher Tolkien, it is likely that Lungorthin is not another name for Gothmog, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.

The thane of Morgoth who smote him on the mouth (version I, 59) now becomes Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs (96)——which is probably to be interpreted as ‘a Balrog lord’, since Gothmog, reappears in the ‘Silmarillion’ tradition.
—The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Christopher Tolkien’s Commentary on Part I of the second version

The name Lungorthin is in Noldorin, according to Eldamo, but its meaning is unclear. LUNG in Sindarin means “Heavy.” GAR means “fenced.” or means “above.”[2]

Other versions of the legendarium

In Tolkien's first version of The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Túrin son of Húrin & Glorund the Dragon, "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" had no name and race, being referred to instead as an unknown thane of Morgoth who smote Húrin on the mouth.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin", pp. 98, 102-3
  2. ↑ Paul Strack, "ᴱN. Lungorthin m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 24 March 2022)
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