Mirrormere was a dark lake in Dimrill Dale[1] on the east side of the Misty Mountains.[2]
The lake was located less than a mile below the East-gate of Khazad-dûm. It was long and oval with a shape like a great spear-head. The deep water of Mirrormere was dark blue like a clear evening sky seen from a lamp-lit room and had a still surface. Close to the southern end of the lake stood a column with a broken top, which was called Durin's Stone. A short distance below the lake was a spring with clear ice-cold water that was the source of the river Silverlode[3]
History
According to the Dwarves of Durin's Folk, after Durin the Deathless had awoken at Mount Gundabad in the north of the Misty Mountains, he travelled south until he came upon this lake. He looked down in it and saw a crown above his head, being the reflection of stars above. Taking the crown as a sign, he founded the great city of Khazad-dûm beneath the mountains that fed Mirrormere.[4] A pillar called Durin's Stone was placed along the banks of the lake to mark the event.[3]
On 10 November T.A. 2994[5] Balin, the Lord of Moria was shot from behind by an Orc when he went alone to Dimrill Dale to look into Mirrormere.[6]
During the events that led up to the War of the Ring, on 15 January T.A. 3019[7] the Fellowship of the Ring passed by the lake after escaping Moria. Despite their hurry, Gimli would not leave without looking in the lake. Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee joined him, and they saw Durin's crown.[3]
Other names
In Khuzdul, the lake was called Kheled-zâram[1][3] (probably "glass-pool" or "glass-lake"),[8][9] a combination of kheled ("glass") and zâram ("pool", "lake").[10][11]
The Sindarin name was Nen Cenedril ("Lake Looking-glass"),[8][12] a combination of nen ("lake") and cenedril ("looking-glass", literalle "looking-crystal").[13]
The Quenya name was Angal-limpë, containing angal ("mirror"). Abandoned versions of this name were Angal-millë and angalailin.[14]
Other versions of the legendarium
In an earlier draft, Durin is said to have come to Azanûl and named its previously "nameless pool".[15][16]
Portrayal in adaptations
2008: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Mirrormere is located just west of the East-gate and is the source of Celebrant. The player can make out stars on the surface of the lake during the day light hours and more clearly during the night time. A flashback portraying the Battle of Azanulbizar is set during wintertime, and while ice forms near the shores of the Mirrormere, the lake itself remains unfrozen.
=See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South", p. 283-4
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien", pp. 333-334
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", p. 316
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2994, p. 1090
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm", p. 322
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, January 15
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), entry D Kheled-zâram, p. 37
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Mirrormere, p. 774
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The Story Continued: XXV. The Mines of Moria, Notes", Note 39
- ↑ Paul Strack, "Kh. Kheled-zâram loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 22 January 2023
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The Story Continued: XXV. The Mines of Moria, Notes", note 39, p. 466
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Nen Cenedril loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 22 January 2023
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XVI. Galadriel and Celeborn", pp. 350, 353
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The Story Continued: XXV. The Mines of Moria"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "IX. The Mines of Moria (1): The Lord of Moria"