 | |
| MaiaNB (Vampire) | |
| Thuringwethil | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Position | Messenger of Sauron |
| Location | Tol-in-Gaurhoth |
| Affiliation | Sauron and Morgoth |
| Death | F.A. 465 Tol-in-Gaurhoth |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Gallery | Images of Thuringwethil |
Thuringwethil was a Vampire servant of Sauron during the First Age, and a possible Maia.[1]NB
History
Thuringwethil was Sauron's messenger, but was caught in the battle between her master, Lúthien and Huan at Tol-in-Gaurhoth ("Isle of Werewolves").
She was slain either by Huan or in the collapse of Minas Tirith. Lúthien later used her cloak to sneak into Angband during the Quest for the Silmaril.[2]
Because of Thuringwethil's ability to change forms, she may have been a Maia[1][note 1] or some sort of skin-changer[source?].
Etymology
The name Thuringwethil is glossed as "Woman of Secret Shadow"[3] or "she of hidden shadow".[4]
The above can be analyzed as thurin ("secret, hidden"), gwath ("shadow") and an obscure ending -il which perhaps denotes feminine gender (and which causes "umlauting" (or "affection") of gwath to gweth).[5]
In the earlier versions of the legendarium, Thuringwethil was an Ilkorin name, with Dolwethil being its Noldorin cognate.[1][6]
Other versions of the legendarium
The character of Thuringwethil appears for the first time in the legendarium in the Lay of Leithian. Thus, in The Tale of Tinúviel (the first version of the tale of Beren and Lúthien), Tinúviel simply wears her dark cloak of magic sleep when entering Angamandi.[7]
Notes
- ↑ In The Etymologies, Thuringwethil is referred to as "a bat-shaped fay", implying that she may have been one of the Maiar since many instances of fays became Maiar in Tolkien's later writings (including Melian).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry THUR-, p. 393
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto XIII (Beren and Lúthien in Angband)", Note to line 3954, p. 304
- ↑ . "S. Thuringwethil f.". Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon. Retrieved 18 July 2026
- ↑ . "N. Dolwethil f.". Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon. Retrieved 18 July 2026
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel", p. 31
| Ainur | ||
|---|---|---|
| Valar | Lords | Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · |
| Valier | Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa | |
| Maiar | Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen | |
| Úmaiar | Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs · Thuringwethil · Gothrog | |
| Concepts and locations | Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar | |