Ancalagon: Difference between revisions

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{{Dragon infobox
{{Dragon infobox
| image=[[Image:Daniel Govar - Ancalagon the Black.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Daniel Pilla - Ancalagon vs Earendil.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Ancalagon vs Earendil" by Daniel Pilla
| name=Ancalagon
| name=Ancalagon
| othernames=
| othernames=
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==History==
==History==
During the [[War of Wrath]], the [[Valar]] waged their final war on [[Morgoth]]. Their victory was at hand, with most of the Dark Lord's [[Balrogs]] and other troops destroyed. But then, Morgoth unleashed the winged dragons, with Ancalagon at their van. Ancalagon drove back the forces of the Valar, but was stopped by [[Eärendil]]. Ancalagon was no match for the mariner, who sailed through the skies in the ship [[Vingilot]], with the [[Silmaril]] upon his brow. Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop [[Thangorodrim]], breaking its mighty towers. With him fell most other dragons.<ref name="Voyage">{{HM|S}}, "[[Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath]]"</ref> Even by the late [[Third Age]] Ancalagon was considered the mightiest winged dragon, though Gandalf noted that that dragon could not melt [[the One Ring]].<ref>{{HM|FR}}, "[[The Shadow of the Past]]"</ref> However, no dragon could, so this does not mean his fire was less powerful than other dragons'.
During the [[War of Wrath]], the [[Valar]] waged their final war on [[Morgoth]]. Their victory was at hand, with most of the Dark Lord's [[Balrogs]] and other troops destroyed. But then, Morgoth unleashed the winged dragons, with Ancalagon at their [[Wikipedia:Vanguard|van]]. Ancalagon drove back the forces of the [[Host of the Valar]], but was stopped by [[Eärendil]] who sailed through the skies in the ship [[Vingilot]] with the [[Great Eagles]]. Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop [[Thangorodrim]], breaking its mighty towers. With him fell most other dragons.<ref name="Voyage">{{S|24}}</ref>  
 
Even by the late [[Third Age]] Ancalagon was considered the mightiest winged dragon, with [[Gandalf]] noting that not even his fire could melt [[the One Ring]].<ref>{{FR|I2}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
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==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
Two animals are named after Ancalagon: ''Ancalagon'', a [[wikipedia:Cambrian|Cambrian]] [[wikipedia:Priapulida|priapulid]] by [[wikipedia:Simon Conway Morris|Simon Conway Morris]] in [[1977]], and ''Ankalagon'' by [[wikipedia:Leigh Van Valen|Leigh Van Valen]] in [[1980]], a [[wikipedia:Paleocene|Paleocene]] [[wikipedia:Mesonychid|mesonychid]] mammal.<ref>Chris Isaak, "[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/fiction.html Names from Fictional Characters]", ''[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/index.html Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature]''</ref>
Two animals are named after Ancalagon: ''Ancalagon'', a [[wikipedia:Cambrian|Cambrian]] [[wikipedia:Priapulida|priapulid]] by [[wikipedia:Simon Conway Morris|Simon Conway Morris]] in [[1977]], and ''Ankalagon'' by [[wikipedia:Leigh Van Valen|Leigh Van Valen]] in [[1980]], a [[wikipedia:Paleocene|Paleocene]] [[wikipedia:Mesonychid|mesonychid]] mammal.<ref>Chris Isaak, "[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/fiction.html Names from Fictional Characters]", ''[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/index.html Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature]''</ref>
==See Also==
* [[:Category:Images of Ancalagon|Images of Ancalagon]]


{{references}}
{{references}}

Revision as of 19:55, 14 February 2020

Ancalagon
Dragon
Daniel Pilla - Ancalagon vs Earendil.jpg
"Ancalagon vs Earendil" by Daniel Pilla
Biographical Information
TitlesThe Black
AffiliationMorgoth
Appearedc. F.A. 545
The War Of Wrath
Deathc. F.A. 587
Thangorodrim
Slain byEärendil
Physical Description
TypeUrulókë
LegsYes
WingedYes
ColourBlack
GalleryImages of Ancalagon

Ancalagon the Black (S, pron. [aŋˈkalaɡon]) was the greatest of the winged Dragons of Morgoth.

History

During the War of Wrath, the Valar waged their final war on Morgoth. Their victory was at hand, with most of the Dark Lord's Balrogs and other troops destroyed. But then, Morgoth unleashed the winged dragons, with Ancalagon at their van. Ancalagon drove back the forces of the Host of the Valar, but was stopped by Eärendil who sailed through the skies in the ship Vingilot with the Great Eagles. Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop Thangorodrim, breaking its mighty towers. With him fell most other dragons.[1]

Even by the late Third Age Ancalagon was considered the mightiest winged dragon, with Gandalf noting that not even his fire could melt the One Ring.[2]

Etymology

Ancalagon is a Sindarin name, from anc[3] and alag[4] plus the name ending -on. Its meaning is "Rushing Jaws" or "Biting-storm".[5][3]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Ancalagon is referred as Anddraca "Enemy-dragon".[6]

In popular culture

Two animals are named after Ancalagon: Ancalagon, a Cambrian priapulid by Simon Conway Morris in 1977, and Ankalagon by Leigh Van Valen in 1980, a Paleocene mesonychid mammal.[7]

References


Named Dragons
Glaurung · Gostir · Ancalagon · Scatha · Smaug