Roäc: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:John Howe - Thorin and Roac.jpg|thumb|Sketch of Roäc and Thorin by [[John Howe]]]]
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Thorin and Roac.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Thorin and Roac" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Roäc
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Ravenhill]], [[Erebor]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth={{TA|2788}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=after {{TA|2941}}
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=[[Carc]]
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Ravens|Raven]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
 
'''Roäc''' (b. {{TA|2788}}<ref name=H15/><ref group=note>When [[Thorin and Company]] met Roäc he told them that it was "a hundred years and three and fifty since I came out of the egg". Subtracting 153 from {{TA|2941|n}} yields 2788</ref>) was the chief of the [[ravens]] of [[Ravenhill]] near [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]].<ref name=H15>{{H|15}}</ref>


'''Roäc''' was the chief of the [[ravens]] of [[Ravenhill]] near [[Erebor]].<ref name=H15>{{H|15}}</ref>
==History==
==History==
Roäc was the son of [[Carc]], and as such "''a descendant of those'' [ravens] ''that had remained on the hill even after Smaug had driven out their old allies, the [[Dwarves]]"''.<ref>{{webcite|author=Mark Fisher|articleurl=http://www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/r/roac.html|articlename=Roäc: The old raven of Ravenhill|dated=|website=EoA}}</ref>
While [[Thorin and Company]] and [[Bilbo Baggins]] were keeping watch on Erebor, an old [[thrushes|thrush]] summoned Roäc. When he met Thorin and Company in [[Third Age]] {{TA|2941|n}}, Roäc was marked by age, being 153 years old.<ref name=H15/>
Being able to speak [[Westron]], the raven delivered the news that [[Smaug]] had been killed. Roäc agreed to bring a message to [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin II Ironfoot]] from Thorin, a call for help in guarding the treasures of Erebor in the wake of war.<ref name=H15/> However, Roäc also gave a piece of advice to Thorin, warning him that "''the treasure is likely to be your death''".<ref name=H16>{{H|16}}</ref>


While [[Thorin and Company]] and [[Bilbo Baggins]] were keeping watch on Erebor, an old [[thrushes|thrush]] summoned Roäc. Being able to speak [[Westron]], the raven delivered the news that [[Smaug]] had been killed. Roäc agreed to bring a message to [[Dáin II Ironfoot]] from [[Thorin II Oakenshield|Thorin]], a call for help in guarding the treasures of Erebor in the wake of war.<ref name=H15/> However, Roäc also gave a piece of advice to Thorin, warning him that "''the treasure is likely to be your death''".<ref name=H16>{{H|16}}</ref>


Roäc was the son of [[Carc]], and as such "''a descendant of those'' [ravens] ''that had remained on the hill even after Smaug had driven out their old allies, the [[Dwarves]]"''.<ref>Mark Fisher, "[http://www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/r/roac.html Roäc: The old raven of Ravenhill]" at [[Encyclopedia of Arda]] (accessed 4 December 2010)</ref> When he met Thorin and Company in [[Third Age 3001]], Roäc was marked by age, being one hundred and fifty-three years old.<ref name=H15/> He was thus apparently born in [[Third Age 2848]].<!-- no reference for this claim, just counting (User:Morgan) -->


==Etymology==
==Etymology==


''Roäc'' is likely an [[Wikipedia:Onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]] name.<ref>{{HM|AH}}, p. 316</ref>
''Roäc'' is likely an [[Wikipedia:Onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]] name.<ref>{{HM|AH}}, p. 316</ref>
==Inspiration==
{{seealso|Ravens#Inspiration}}
In [[Celtic]] (especially Irish) mythology, ravens are often associated with warfare and the battleground. In [[Welsh]] mythology, ravens figure as the army of King Arthur's knight Owain.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_in_mythology#Celtic_mythology Raven in mythology: Celtic mythology] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia] (accessed 4 December 2010)</ref>
In ''[[The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún]]'', a raven and a finch speak five of the verses,<ref>{{HM|SG}}, pp. 116-117, 214-215</ref> reminiscent of Roäc and the old thrush.
==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| CAR | |CAR=[[Carc]]</br><small>''unknown''</small>}}
{{familytree| |!| | |}}
{{familytree| ROA | |ROA='''ROÄC'''</br><small>''b. {{TA|2788}}''</small>}}
{{familytree/end}}


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Roäc in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:Mark Poole - Roäc the Raven.jpg|''Roäc the Raven'' in [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]
|File:The Hobbit (2003 video game) - Roäc.png|Roäc in [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]
}}
'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
:Roäc comes to the Dwarves after Smaug's death. He is voiced by [[John Wyse]].
'''1979: [[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:Roäc informs the Dwarves of Smaug's demise. He is voiced by an uncredited [[Pat Franklyn]].
'''1980: [[Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series)|''Der Hobbit'' (1980 German radio series)]]:'''
:Roäc is played by Friedrich W. Bauschulle.


'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: Roäc, a level 6 Raven, is given game statistics and a short description.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}, pp. 26, 138</ref>
: Roäc, a level 6 Raven, is given game statistics and a short description.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}, pp. 26, 138</ref>
'''1989: [[Hobit (1989 Slovak radio series)|''Hobit'' (1989 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Roäc is provided by Ivan Krivosudský.


'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
: "Roäc the Raven" is a Diplomat Ally, playable at any site in Northern Rhovanion.
: "Roäc the Raven" is a Diplomat Ally, playable at any site in Northern Rhovanion.
'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
: Roäc does not explicitly appear. However, just prior to the final confrontation with the [[Elves of Mirkwood|Elven]] Army assembled before the gates, a raven is seen flying away from the gate of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], then just before [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]]'s Army of [[Dwarves]] arrives, the raven is seen flying back to [[Thorin]] at the gate.  This visually implies that Thorin sent a message with this raven, though it is not explained in dialogue, and the raven itself does not talk.
==See also==
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Roäc|Images of Roäc]]
*[[:Category:Images of Roäc|Images of Roäc]]
{{references}}
{{references|note}}
[[Category:Ravens]]
[[Category:Ravens]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Roac]]
[[de:Roac]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/animaux/corbeaux/roac]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/animaux/corbeaux/roac]]
[[fi:Roäc]]

Latest revision as of 01:06, 1 June 2021

Roäc
Raven
John Howe - Thorin and Roac.jpg
"Thorin and Roac" by John Howe
Information
LocationRavenhill, Erebor
LanguageWestron
BirthT.A. 2788
Deathafter T.A. 2941
Family
ParentageCarc
Physical Description
RaceRaven
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Roäc

Roäc (b. T.A. 2788[1][note 1]) was the chief of the ravens of Ravenhill near Erebor.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Roäc was the son of Carc, and as such "a descendant of those [ravens] that had remained on the hill even after Smaug had driven out their old allies, the Dwarves".[2]

While Thorin and Company and Bilbo Baggins were keeping watch on Erebor, an old thrush summoned Roäc. When he met Thorin and Company in Third Age 2941, Roäc was marked by age, being 153 years old.[1]

Being able to speak Westron, the raven delivered the news that Smaug had been killed. Roäc agreed to bring a message to Dáin II Ironfoot from Thorin, a call for help in guarding the treasures of Erebor in the wake of war.[1] However, Roäc also gave a piece of advice to Thorin, warning him that "the treasure is likely to be your death".[3]


Etymology[edit | edit source]

Roäc is likely an onomatopoeic name.[4]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

See also: Ravens#Inspiration

In Celtic (especially Irish) mythology, ravens are often associated with warfare and the battleground. In Welsh mythology, ravens figure as the army of King Arthur's knight Owain.[5]

In The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, a raven and a finch speak five of the verses,[6] reminiscent of Roäc and the old thrush.

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Carc
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROÄC
b. T.A. 2788
 


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Roäc in adaptations
Roäc the Raven in MECCG  

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Roäc comes to the Dwarves after Smaug's death. He is voiced by John Wyse.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

Roäc informs the Dwarves of Smaug's demise. He is voiced by an uncredited Pat Franklyn.

1980: Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series):

Roäc is played by Friedrich W. Bauschulle.

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Roäc, a level 6 Raven, is given game statistics and a short description.[7]

1989: Hobit (1989 Slovak radio series):

The voice of Roäc is provided by Ivan Krivosudský.

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

"Roäc the Raven" is a Diplomat Ally, playable at any site in Northern Rhovanion.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Roäc does not explicitly appear. However, just prior to the final confrontation with the Elven Army assembled before the gates, a raven is seen flying away from the gate of Erebor, then just before Dáin's Army of Dwarves arrives, the raven is seen flying back to Thorin at the gate. This visually implies that Thorin sent a message with this raven, though it is not explained in dialogue, and the raven itself does not talk.

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. When Thorin and Company met Roäc he told them that it was "a hundred years and three and fifty since I came out of the egg". Subtracting 153 from 2941 yields 2788

References