 | |
| Memorial stone | |
| Stone of the Hapless | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Standing Stone (H. Talbor) |
| Location | Atop Cabed Naeramarth by the river Taeglin Atop Tol Morwen surrounded by Belegaer |
| Appearance | A great gray stone carved with the Runes of Doriath. |
| Creator | Mablung, Iathrim, Haladin |
| Created at | Cabed Naeramarth |
| Created in | F.A. 499 |
| Destroyer | See #Other versions of the legendarium |
| Notable for | Being the gravestone of Túrin and Nienor |
The Stone of the Hapless was the memorial stone by Cabed Naeramarth on the banks of the river Taeglin that commemorated Túrin and Nienor,[1] and Morwen their mother.
History
When Túrin commanded his sword, Gurthang, to take his life, Mablung and his eleven Elven huntsman along with Men from Nen Girith lifted up his body, laying him in a high mound with the shards of Gurthang beside him. Afterwards, the mistrals of Elves and Men made laments as a great gray stone was set upon the mound. In the Runes of Doriath, the Elves engraved the words: TÚRIN TURAMBAR DAGNIR GLAURUNGA with the words NIËNOR NÍNIEL beneath it.[2]
In the days after, Men became afraid to dwell there long. Sometime later, Morwen found the graven stone in her witless wanderings, read it and knew her children were dead, but did not understand how they died, and awaited death beside the stone.[3]
In F.A. 501, Húrin was released from Angband. During his wanderings, he eventually came upon the Stone of the Hapless in time to meet Morwen one last time before she died in his arms. Believing that the Haladin knowingly let her starve, Húrin swore over Morwen's body to bring ruin upon the Forest of Brethil.[4]
During the Folkmoot for Judgement at the Moot-ring, Húrin accused Harding of leaving Morwen to starve to death beside the Standing Stone, initiating a riot that brought about Húrin's objective.[5]
Afterwards, Húrin led the survivors back to the Standing Stone, where they helped him bury Morwen and carve into the stone the words: "Here lies also Morwen Eðelhwen". Afterwards, they sang laments while a gray rain came down. In the days following, the land around the Standing Stone remained leafless and bare, yet fear no longer kept Men from wandering to the Talbor as until the end of Beleriand, the women of Brethil would come to the stone, bringing flowers in spring and berries in autumn, singing of the Grey Lady who sought her son. During that time, a seer and harp-player by the name of Glirhuin, made a song that Morgoth would never defile the Standing Stone and that it would remain standing ever after. Later, during the drowning of Beleriand "in the days of the wrath of the Valar", the site of the Stone of the Hapless did not drown, but remained atop an island, Tol Morwen.[6]
Etymology
The Stone of the Hapless was also known as the Talbor (H. "Standing Stone"), a Halethian name comprised of the word bor ("Stone") and some unknown element.[7]
Other versions of the legendarium
During the Dagor Dagorath, when Túrin rises from the dead, it is unknown what would happen to the Stone of the Hapless whether it would survive or whether it would be destroyed or removed as collateral damage due to it being placed directly above Túrin's corpse.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Death of Túrin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 258, 259
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 273, 274
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 290, 291
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", p. 296
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 257, 309. See also note 15