Durin III

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The name Durin refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Durin (disambiguation).
Durin III
Dwarf
Decipher - Durin III.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Durin's Folk
King of Khazad-dûm
LocationKhazad-dûm
LanguageKhuzdul
Birthmid Second Age
Deathmid Second Age
Family
HouseHouse of Durin
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Durin III

Durin III (mid Second Age) was a King of Durin's folk who ruled the great Dwarven city of Khazad-dûm.

History

Like all Durins after Durin I he was given the name of the first Father of the Dwarves because he greatly resembled him in both appearance and manner. Indeed it was believed among the Dwarves that he was the reincarnation of Durin I, though whether this is possible is unclear.[1]

During his reign the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm had struck a rare friendship with the Elves of Ost-in-Edhil in Eregion. Around S.A. 1500 the Elves, guided by Annatar, began forging the Rings of Power.[2] According to the Dwarves, Celebrimbor gave Durin the first of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves[1] (other traditions state that it was Sauron who bestowed all seven of these Rings).[3] This ring would later come to Thráin II's possession until it was taken by Sauron.[1]

Unbeknownst to Celebrimbor, his partner in crafting the Rings, the wise Annatar, was actually Sauron who had come to corrupt the Elves through the Rings of Power. By S.A. 1697, see that he could not control either the Elves nor the Dwarves through the Rings, he led a large army towards Eregion. In response Durin sent a great force of Dwarves to protect the Doors of Durin, but with the fall of Eregion his warriors withdrew and the gates to the city were shut, sealing the kingdom off from the outside world.[4]

Not much can be said about Durin's later reign. It is said that the Dwarf Lords who possessed the Rings of Power proved resistant to their malevolent magic. Instead their natural skills were amplified, and desired dominion. They became also more greedy and became rich.[5]

Etymology

Durinn is one of the Dwarfs in the Dvergatal. The name means "Sleepy".[6]

Portrayal in Adaptations

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

In the prologue, Durin III appears with the other six Lords receiving their Rings. He is only identified as Durin on a Decipher Card.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  6. 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 III
House of Durin
Unknown
Last known:
Durin II
King of Durin's Folk
Mid-Second Age
Unknown
Next known:
Durin IV
King of Khazad-dûm
Mid-Second Age