Durin I: Difference between revisions
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Durin was the founder of the [[Longbeards]] house, which became known as [[Durin's folk]]. He lived to a great age even by the measure of the Dwarves until he was known as "The Deathless". However, he was not actually immortal, and died sometime during the First Age.<ref name="Durin"/> | Durin was the founder of the [[Longbeards]] house, which became known as [[Durin's folk]]. He lived to a great age even by the measure of the Dwarves until he was known as "The Deathless". However, he was not actually immortal, and died sometime during the First Age.<ref name="Durin"/> | ||
All that can be known for certain about his age, is that he was born before {{YT|1250}}<ref name="GA">{{GA|19}}</ref> and died before the end of the [[First Age]].<ref name="Durin"/> This makes Durin ''at least'' 2,395 years old, about ten-times the lifespan of [[Dwarves]].<ref group="note">Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Tree is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500. So, 9.582 x 250 = 2,395.</ref> | |||
==Legacy== | |||
The Longbeards believed that Durin would return to them seven times, and in each reincarnation he will again be named Durin and reign as King. He did have six descendants that were named Durin, all were kings of Durin's folk.<ref name="Durin"/> | The Longbeards believed that Durin would return to them seven times, and in each reincarnation he will again be named Durin and reign as King. He did have six descendants that were named Durin, all were kings of Durin's folk.<ref name="Durin"/> | ||
[[Durin's Axe]], a great heirloom of Durin's folk, was probably his; it was apparently found when [[Balin]] came to Khazad-dûm.<ref>{{FR|Bridge}}</ref> | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== |
Revision as of 22:11, 31 July 2012
Durin the Deathless | |
---|---|
Dwarf | |
Biographical Information | |
Other names | Father of the Dwarves |
Family | |
Parentage | None; created by Aulë himself |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Male |
Gallery | Images of Durin the Deathless |
Durin I (Years of the Trees – First Age), also known as Durin the Deathless due to his longevity, was the first of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, the founder of the city of Khazad-dûm, and the first king of the Longbeards.
History
Long before the awakening of the Elves it is said that Aulë, yearning for the Children of Ilúvatar, fashioned the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves in a hall under the mountains in Middle-earth. Pleased with his work, Aulë was instructing his creations in the speech he had devised for them when Ilúvatar rebuked him, pointing out that they were mere counterfeits that would only stand idle without Aulë’s will. Aulë humbled himself before Ilúvatar and prepared to destroy the Dwarves, but at that moment Ilúvatar gave them independent life. However, Ilúvatar would not suffer their arrival in the world before the Firstborn, so the seven fathers were laid to sleep until after the coming of the Elves.[1]
Ilúvatar commanded Aulë to lay the sleeping fathers in deep places, each with a mate, save Durin the eldest who had none.[2] Durin was set to sleep under Mount Gundabad in the Misty Mountains during the Years of the Trees.[3] When he awoke he journeyed south through the wild until he came upon Kheled-zâram. Looking upon mysterious stars set like a crown reflected in its surface, he took this as a sign, and there in the caves above the lake, founded a great city. This was Khazad-dûm, later called Moria, and for many years it was the greatest Dwarven city in Middle-earth.[4]
Durin was the founder of the Longbeards house, which became known as Durin's folk. He lived to a great age even by the measure of the Dwarves until he was known as "The Deathless". However, he was not actually immortal, and died sometime during the First Age.[4]
All that can be known for certain about his age, is that he was born before Y.T. 1250[5] and died before the end of the First Age.[4] This makes Durin at least 2,395 years old, about ten-times the lifespan of Dwarves.[note 1]
Legacy
The Longbeards believed that Durin would return to them seven times, and in each reincarnation he will again be named Durin and reign as King. He did have six descendants that were named Durin, all were kings of Durin's folk.[4]
Durin's Axe, a great heirloom of Durin's folk, was probably his; it was apparently found when Balin came to Khazad-dûm.[6]
Etymology
Durinn is one of the Dwarfs in the Dvergatal. The name means "Sleepy".[7]
Notes
- ↑ Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Tree is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500. So, 9.582 x 250 = 2,395.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Aulë and Yavanna"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 212, (dated 14 October 1958)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §19
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
- ↑ Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
Durin I House of Durin | ||
None Position created | King of Durin's Folk | Unknown Next known: Durin II |
King of Khazad-dûm |