Rog
| Rog | |
|---|---|
| Gnome | |
 | |
| "Rog" by Natalie Chen | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Rôg (G), Rōka (Q) |
| Titles | Lord of the house of the Hammer of Wrath |
| Location | Gondolin |
| Death | Fall of Gondolin |
| Family | |
| House | House of the Hammer of Wrath |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Weaponry | Long handled mace[1]:179 |
| Gallery | Images of Rog |
Rog was the Gnome-lord of the people of the Hammer of Wrath in Gondolin according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.
History[edit | edit source]
Rog was a blacksmith, and chief of the folk of the Hammer of Wrath. He was considered the strongest of the Noldoli, and was like considered third greatest in valour.[1]:174
During the Fall of Gondolin, he led his people against the attack of Balrogs and Orcs in the northern gate. When the gate was broken, he stirred his kindred against the Balrogs with words of passion, and though many were slain, they slew a number of the fiery creatures "that... was a marvel and dread to the hosts of Melko, for ere that day never had any Balrogs been slain by the hand of Elves or Men". Seeing that they had no way back, Rog rushed his men outside the city, where the folk of the Hammer were hemmed in, and every one of them perished, including him.[1]:178-9
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The name Rog, in earlier writings Rôg, seems curious as a name for an elf-lord of Gondolin: no other one-syllable names appear in other writings.
The meaning or etymology of the name is unclear, and in the context of the later works it would mean "Demon", in Sindarin, as an element in Balrog.[2][3] But the early Gnomish Lexicon gives an adjective: rôg, rog ("doughty, strong"), related with arog ("swift, rushing") and raug of the same meaning.[4] The Qenya form of his name was Rōka.[5]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
Rog's death "without the walls" is mentioned in the Quenta Noldorinwa,[6] which was the main text used by Christopher Tolkien for his edition of the chapter "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin" within The Silmarillion. However, Christopher removed the mention of this character, explaining that his father would likely not have used that out of phase name.[7]
See also[edit | edit source]
- Enerdhil, a legendary jewel-smith of Gondolin
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "RUK"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar", p. 415
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II", entry "Rog"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Alphabet of Rúmil & Early Noldorin Fragments", in Parma Eldalamberon XIII (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 104
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta", p. 144
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary", p. 211, footnote
| Twelve houses of the Gondothlim |
|---|
| King (leader: Turgon) · Wing (Tuor) · Mole (Meglin) · Swallow (Duilin) · Heavenly Arch (Egalmoth) · Pillar (Penlod) · Tower of Snow (Penlod) · Tree (Galdor) · Golden Flower (Glorfindel) · Fountain (Ecthelion) · Harp (Salgant) · Hammer of Wrath (Rog) |
