Nargothrond

From Tolkien Gateway
Nargothrond
Jonathan Guzi - Nargothrond.jpg
General information
LocationWest Beleriand
CapitalNargothrond
RegionsTaur-en-Faroth
Talath Dirnen (shared with Dor-Cúarthol
Tumhalad
People
PopulationElves of Nargothrond
LanguageSindarin, Quenya
GovernanceKing of Nargothrond
History
Preceded byNulukkizdîn
FoundedF.A. 52
ConstructedF.A. 102
DestroyedF.A. 495
GalleryImages of Nargothrond
"Thus Finrod came to the Caverns of Narog, and began to establish there deep halls and armouries after the fashion of the mansions of Menegroth; and that stronghold was called Nargothrond."
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Beleriand and Its Realms"

Nargothrond was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund which delved into the banks of the river Narog in Beleriand.

Nargothrond was the capital of the realm of Nargothrond[note 1] between Nenning, Narog and Teiglin, including the surrounding hills of Taur-en-Faroth and the Talath Dirnen to the north, as well as Tumhalad. Finrod was the overlord of all the Elves in the West Beleriand, except the Falathrim.[1][2]

History[edit | edit source]

Building[edit | edit source]

On the western bank of the river Narog, beneath the forested hills of Taur-en-Faroth, the Caverns of Narog were first known as Nulukkizdîn, secretly inhabited by the Petty-dwarves before they were driven out.[3]

Finrod listens to the counsel of Ulmo by Anke Eißmann

After the return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, Finrod and his brothers were established on north Beleriand with Fingolfin. In F.A. 50,[4] he was visited in Tol Sirion by his cousin Turgon from Nevrast; both travelled together southward to Beleriand. While resting in the Meres of Twilight, Ulmo went to them and laid upon them a deep sleep and disturbing dreams. None told the other about his dreams, but both cousins began a search for hidden places in case Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband.[5]

Years later, Finrod and his sister Galadriel dwelt a time in King Thingol's court. The king told him about the Caverns of Narog, and gave him guides to lead him there. Inspired by Menegroth in Doriath, Finrod chose those caves to build his great underground fortress, and began the construction of Nargothrond.[5]

He was at first aided by the Petty Dwarves that still lingered there, who were greatly compensated, but their chieftain Mîm tried to murder him during his sleep and they were expelled.[6] Thus Finrod was later aided by the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains, who also made for him the Nauglamír, the Necklace of the Dwarves, and gave him his famous epithet, Felagund, Hewer of Caves. Finrod rewarded them with treasures he brought from Tirion.[5] When the building was finished on F.A. 102, a great feast was held there and many attended, including Galadriel.[7]

Nargothrond by J.R.R. Tolkien (Colors by H.E. Riddett)

Finrod also raised an artificial hill, Amon Ethir, a league far from the gates of Nargothrond.[8]

Days of power[edit | edit source]

Finrod ruled Nargothrond until he joined Beren in his quest for the Silmaril and handed rule to Orodreth. However, since the Dagor Bragollach Celegorm and Curufin, the sons of Fëanor, were defeated and retreated to Nargothrond where they were received as one of them. Although the city grew stronger because of this, the influence of the sons of Feänor became higher. Celegorm and Curufin lived in Nargothrond at the time Finrod departed with Beren and were more powerful than Orodreth until Finrod's death was reported, at which time they were exiled.

Fall[edit | edit source]

Nargothrond - Turin and Finduilas by Elena Kukanova
Main article: Sack of Nargothrond

Túrin Turambar later came to Nargothrond and became one of its chief fighters, but he also persuaded the people to fight openly against Morgoth (the bridge was built at this time), which eventually led to its sack by the army of the dragon Glaurung.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Glaurung stayed there for about five more years guarding his stolen hoard until he went northeast to Brethil to assail Túrin and was killed by him at Cabed-en-Aras. Then, Mîm the Petty-dwarf settled there reclaiming his people's ancient home until he was killed by Húrin. Húrin entered the dark caves where the treasures Finrod brought from Valinor still lay there, but he brought out the Nauglamir.[3]

The realm remained deserted for the rest of the First Age until the War of Wrath when it went down with the rest of Beleriand. Ages later, the realm will be remembered in Dwarven lore[9] and mentioned by Galadriel.[10]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

From its first conception, the name Nargothrond means "Underground fortress on the river Narog". Its Petty-dwarvish name was Nulukkhizdîn (erronously spelled Nulukkizdîn in the published works).[11]

However, in his later life, Tolkien devised the Dwarvish name Nar(u)kathan instead, to which the Elves suffixed -rond, "vaulted dome".[12]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Nargothrond is referred as Hlydingaburg "City of the Hlydingas" or Stangaldor(burg).[13]

Notes

  1. The name appears only in the map accompanying The Silmarillion. In the text, the realm is mentioned with minuscule letters.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §74
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: VII. The Founding of Nargothrond", p. 305
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §108
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", "Song of Durin"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Mirror of Galadriel", "...for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains..."
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Siege of Angband (Chapter 10)"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 47
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names"