Fathers of the Dwarves: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(There is nothing in Tolkien's writings indicating where in the East the Dwarves were laid, the deleted text is non-canon and thus misleading.)
(+ detail)
Line 8: Line 8:
Ilúvatar confronted him for his impatience. Aulë offered his creations to Ilúvatar and was ready to break them in repentance. But Ilúvatar accepted his offer and gave them life of their own, and the Dwarves started cowering and pleading for mercy despite Aule's will.<ref name="Aule">{{S|Aule}}</ref>
Ilúvatar confronted him for his impatience. Aulë offered his creations to Ilúvatar and was ready to break them in repentance. But Ilúvatar accepted his offer and gave them life of their own, and the Dwarves started cowering and pleading for mercy despite Aule's will.<ref name="Aule">{{S|Aule}}</ref>


However, the Fathers of the Dwarves had to wait until the Elves first arrived, and Aulë laid them to rest in various places in the continent of Middle-earth.<ref name="Aule"/>
However, the Fathers of the Dwarves had to wait until the Elves first arrived, and Aulë laid them to rest in various places in Middle-earth.<ref name="Aule"/> The eldest of all, [[Durin]], "lay alone" at [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] in the north of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref name="Dwarves">{{PM|Dwarves}}</ref> He later founded the line of the '''[[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]]''' (or ''[[Sigin-tarâg]]'' in Khuzdul), the Dwarves which were most friendly to the Elves and Men, mostly referred to as [[Durin's Folk]]. His city was [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>


The eldest of all, [[Durin]], "lay alone" at [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] in the north of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref name="Dwarves">{{PM|Dwarves}}</ref> He later founded the line of the '''[[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]]''' (or ''[[Sigin-tarâg]]'' in Khuzdul), the Dwarves which were most friendly to the Elves and Men, mostly referred to as [[Durin's Folk]]. His city was [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>
Two others were laid to rest near [[Mount Dolmed]] in the [[Ered Luin]] or ''Blue Mountains'', and they founded the lines of the '''[[Broadbeams]]''' and the '''[[Firebeards]]''' who later lived in [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]]. The other four Fathers of the Dwarves were laid to rest in two pairs in lands at least as far east of Mount Gundabad as Mount Gundadab lay east of the Blue Mountains. They founded the lines of the '''[[Ironfists]]''', '''[[Stiffbeards]]''', '''[[Blacklocks]]''', and '''[[Stonefoots]]'''.<ref name="Dwarves"/>
 
Two others were laid to rest near [[Mount Dolmed]] in the [[Ered Luin]] or ''Blue Mountains'', and they founded the lines of the '''[[Broadbeams]]''' and the '''[[Firebeards]]''' who later lived in [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]]. The other four Fathers of Dwarves were laid to rest in the far east. These founded the lines of the '''[[Ironfists]]''', '''[[Stiffbeards]]''', '''[[Blacklocks]]''', and '''[[Stonefoots]]'''.<ref name="Dwarves"/>


It was said that the Seven Fathers would be reincarnated after generations among their own folk.<ref name="Aule"/> Durin for example was said to be reincarnated [[Durin (disambiguation)|six more times]].<ref name="Durin"/>
It was said that the Seven Fathers would be reincarnated after generations among their own folk.<ref name="Aule"/> Durin for example was said to be reincarnated [[Durin (disambiguation)|six more times]].<ref name="Durin"/>


Of the Fathers of the Dwarves, only Durin is said to have "lain alone".<ref name="Durin"/> This can be interpreted as referring to the fact he was indeed laid down to rest alone while the other Fathers were laid to rest in pairs, but older versions of the story suggest that it meant Durin alone had no female companion. The other Fathers did: references are made by Tolkien to the "Thirteen Dwarves" created by Aulë (Durin and the six pairs).<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, Note 24</ref>
Of the Fathers of the Dwarves, only Durin is said to have "lain alone".<ref name="Durin"/> This can be interpreted as referring to the fact he was indeed laid down to rest alone while the other Fathers were laid to rest in pairs, but older versions of the story suggest that it meant Durin alone had no female companion. The other Fathers did: references are made by Tolkien to the "Thirteen Dwarves" created by Aulë (Durin and the six pairs).<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, Note 24</ref>
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
According to the ''Tolkien Encyclopedia'', Aulë's creation of the Dwarves is  [[sub-creation]] which aims to honor the wider Creation of God/Eru, a concept expressed in ''[[Mythopoeia]]''; "and may indicate anxieties about the independent value of art."<ref>[[Michael D.C. Drout]], ed., ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]'', p. 134</ref>
According to the ''Tolkien Encyclopedia'', Aulë's creation of the Dwarves is  [[sub-creation]] which aims to honor the wider Creation of God/Eru, a concept expressed in ''[[Mythopoeia]]''; "and may indicate anxieties about the independent value of art."<ref>[[Michael D.C. Drout]], ed., ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]'', p. 134</ref>


{{References}}
{{References}}
[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[de:Zwerge#Die_sieben_Väter_der_Zwerge]]
[[de:Zwerge#Die_sieben_Väter_der_Zwerge]]
[[fi:Kääpiöiden Seitsemän Isää]]
[[fi:Kääpiöiden Seitsemän Isää]]

Revision as of 03:45, 26 April 2017

Ted Nasmith - Aulë and the Seven Fathers

The Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were the first of their race.

The Vala Aulë created the Dwarves because he was impatient for the arising of the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men) and he wished for children to love and instruct. It was the period known as the Sleep of Yavanna when Middle-earth was dark and silent and was roamed by monsters from Utumno. For this, Aule made them strong and resistant and able to endure hardships; but as he had only a vague impression of the Children of Ilúvatar, his creations were structured differently, shorter and stunted.[1]

He created seven Dwarves, and was teaching them the language he had devised for them (Khuzdul), but Aulë was not Ilúvatar who had the Flame Imperishable and his children were dumb, able to move and speak only if he wished so, and would remain motionless whenever Aule would think elsewhere.[1]

Ted Nasmith - Aulë the Destroyer

Ilúvatar confronted him for his impatience. Aulë offered his creations to Ilúvatar and was ready to break them in repentance. But Ilúvatar accepted his offer and gave them life of their own, and the Dwarves started cowering and pleading for mercy despite Aule's will.[1]

However, the Fathers of the Dwarves had to wait until the Elves first arrived, and Aulë laid them to rest in various places in Middle-earth.[1] The eldest of all, Durin, "lay alone" at Mount Gundabad in the north of the Misty Mountains.[2] He later founded the line of the Longbeards (or Sigin-tarâg in Khuzdul), the Dwarves which were most friendly to the Elves and Men, mostly referred to as Durin's Folk. His city was Khazad-dûm.[3]

Two others were laid to rest near Mount Dolmed in the Ered Luin or Blue Mountains, and they founded the lines of the Broadbeams and the Firebeards who later lived in Nogrod and Belegost. The other four Fathers of the Dwarves were laid to rest in two pairs in lands at least as far east of Mount Gundabad as Mount Gundadab lay east of the Blue Mountains. They founded the lines of the Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks, and Stonefoots.[2]

It was said that the Seven Fathers would be reincarnated after generations among their own folk.[1] Durin for example was said to be reincarnated six more times.[3]

Of the Fathers of the Dwarves, only Durin is said to have "lain alone".[3] This can be interpreted as referring to the fact he was indeed laid down to rest alone while the other Fathers were laid to rest in pairs, but older versions of the story suggest that it meant Durin alone had no female companion. The other Fathers did: references are made by Tolkien to the "Thirteen Dwarves" created by Aulë (Durin and the six pairs).[4]

Inspiration

According to the Tolkien Encyclopedia, Aulë's creation of the Dwarves is sub-creation which aims to honor the wider Creation of God/Eru, a concept expressed in Mythopoeia; "and may indicate anxieties about the independent value of art."[5]

References