Twelve houses of the Gondothlim: Difference between revisions

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==Other versions of the Legendarium==
==Other versions of the Legendarium==
The [[Gnomish]] name ''Gondothlim'' for the people of Gondolin was later changed by the [[Sindarin]] ''[[Gondolindrim]]''.  
The [[Gnomish]] name ''Gondothlim'' for the people of Gondolin was later changed by the [[Sindarin]] '''''[[Gondolindrim]]'''''.  


Tolkien never wrote again about the Houses of Gondolin in later texts, because his writings never include details about the city. The only trace of how this idea could survive in the later [[Legendarium]] is in ''[[Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin]]'': in the description of the [[Seven Gates]], there are seven groups of guards, each one with a different and colorful uniform.<ref>{{UT|1}}, pp. 46-50</ref>
Tolkien never wrote again about the Houses of Gondolin in later texts, because his writings never include details about the city. [[Christopher Tolkien]] explains that the idea would have re-emerged if his father had finished ''[[Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin]]'': in the description of the [[Seven Gates]], there are seven groups of guards, each one with rich 'heraldic' descriptions.<ref>{{UT|1}}, pp. 46-50</ref> But Tolkien didn't finish the tale, so beyond the Lost Tales the only vestiges are the titles Ecthelion 'of the Fountain' and Glorfindel 'chief of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin'.<ref>{{LT2|IIIn}}, p. 211</ref> They are the only chaptains of Turgon mentioned in the published ''[[Silmarillion]]'', but there are also later texts of the [[Legendarium]] that include individual mentions to Rog<ref>{{SM|Quenta}}, p. 144</ref> and Egalmoth.<ref>{{WJ|Maeglin}}, p. 318</ref>


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Revision as of 07:59, 9 June 2020

The Twelve Houses of the Gondothlim were the kindreds of Gondolin, according to the early version of the Legendarium in The Book of the Lost Tales. They were described in the "The Fall of Gondolin" in great detail.[1] They are as follows:

The Twelve Gondolin Houses by Shyangell
House Symbol(s) Leader
House of the King Moon, Sun, Scarlet Heart Turgon
House of the Heavenly Arch Rainbow, Opal, Jewelled Boss Egalmoth
House of the Tree Tree, Iron-studded club, Slings Galdor
House of the Golden Flower Rayed Sun, Golden Flower (celandine) Glorfindel
House of the Fountain Fountain, Silver, Diamonds, Flute Ecthelion
House of the Swallow Arrowhead, Fan of Feathers Duilin
House of the Harp Silver Harp, Tassels of silver and gold Salgant
House of the Mole (no emblem), Moleskin, Double-bladed Axe Maeglin
House of the Pillar A Pillar Penlod
House of the Tower of Snow A Tower Penlod
House of the Wing White Wing Tuor
House of the Hammer of Wrath Stricken Anvil, Red gold and Black iron, Maces Rog

Other versions of the Legendarium

The Gnomish name Gondothlim for the people of Gondolin was later changed by the Sindarin Gondolindrim.

Tolkien never wrote again about the Houses of Gondolin in later texts, because his writings never include details about the city. Christopher Tolkien explains that the idea would have re-emerged if his father had finished Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin: in the description of the Seven Gates, there are seven groups of guards, each one with rich 'heraldic' descriptions.[2] But Tolkien didn't finish the tale, so beyond the Lost Tales the only vestiges are the titles Ecthelion 'of the Fountain' and Glorfindel 'chief of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin'.[3] They are the only chaptains of Turgon mentioned in the published Silmarillion, but there are also later texts of the Legendarium that include individual mentions to Rog[4] and Egalmoth.[5]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin", pp. 172-4
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin", pp. 46-50
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary", p. 211
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta", p. 144
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin", p. 318