House of the Heavenly Arch
House of the Heavenly Arch | |
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Noble House | |
General Information | |
Other names | Folk of the Arch, of the Rainbow |
Leader | Egalmoth |
Locations | Gondolin |
Affiliation | House of the Swallow |
- "But they of the Heavenly Arch being a folk of uncounted wealth were arrayed in a glory of colors."
- ― The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "The Fall of Gondolin"
The House of the Heavenly Arch was one of the Twelve Houses of the Gondothlim, according to the early version of the Legendarium in The Book of the Lost Tales.
History
Their leader was Egalmoth. They were a folk of "unaccounted wealth", and were arrayed in many bright colours, for the "heavenly arch" referred to a rainbow. Their arms were set with jewels that flamed in the light over the sky. Every shield of that battalion was of the blue of the heavens and its boss a jewel built of seven gems: rubies, amethysts, sapphires, emeralds, chrysoprases, topazes, and amber. An opal of great size was set in each of their helms. They were great swordsmen, but they also had the best archers along with the Folk of the Swallow, so they were positioned in the broad places of the walls.[1]:173
During the Fall of Gondolin, Gothmog gathered his armies in the North Gate and knocked it down. The folks of the Arch and the Swallow defended the walls in the northern part, pouring rains of arrows over the hosts of Orcs, helping the houses that fought below.[1]:176-177 When the gate was lost, many goblins held a great part of the walls, so many elves of both folks were thrust to doom. Then the House of the Fountain arrived to help, but a great gap was opened in the western wall, and bands of the Arch and the Swallow battled amid the wreck against the coming enemies.[1]:179-180 Slowly the battle in that part of the city was lost and they retreated towards the Square of the Folkwell, where the guard of the Arch, the Swallow and others was scattered and gathered together, forming a good battalion. Led by Tuor, they marched to the Square of the King. There they met their lord Egalmoth, who had been in charge of the engines of the south. Some of them helped him to rescue captives and wandering men.[1]:182-183
Probably many of them survived as exiles, as it is said that their lord dwelt after in the Mouths of Sirion.[2]
Other names
Their Gnomish name was Thlim Quing lion, while they were simply known as Ilqingi in Qenya.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary", p. 215
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Alphabet of Rúmil & Early Noldorin Fragments", in Parma Eldalamberon XIII (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 104
Twelve houses of the Gondothlim |
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King (leader: Turgon) · Wing (Tuor) · Mole (Meglin) · Swallow (Duilin) · Heavenly Arch (Egalmoth) · Pillar (Penlod) · Tower of Snow (Penlod) · Tree (Galdor) · Golden Flower (Glorfindel) · Fountain (Ecthelion) · Harp (Salgant) · Hammer of Wrath (Rog) |