Rog

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Rog refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Rog (disambiguation).
Rog
Elf
Natalie Chen - Rog.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesRôg
TitlesLord of the House of the Hammer of Wrath
LocationGondolin
DeathKilled in the Fall of Gondolin
Physical Description
GenderMale
WeaponryHammer and shield
GalleryImages of Rog

Rog was the name of an Elf-lord of Gondolin according to the early version of the Legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.[1]

History

Rog was a blacksmith, and chief of the Folk of the Hammer of Wrath. He was considered the strongest of the Noldoli, and was like considered third greatest in valour. He led his people against the Balrogs and the Orcs during the Fall of Gondolin after the Gate was broken. Later during the battle he stirred his kindred against the Balrogs with words of passion, and though many were slain, they slew a number of the fiery creatures "that... was a marvel and dread to the hosts of Melko, for ere that day never had any Balrogs been slain by the hand of Elves or Men". But the House of the Hammer of Wrath were hemmed in, and every one of them perished, including Rog.[1]

Etymology

The name Rog, in earlier writings Rôg, seems curious as a name for an elf-lord of Gondolin: no other one-syllable names appear in other writings.

The meaning or etymology of the name is unclear, and in the context of the later works it would mean "demon" as an element in Balrog.[2][3] But the early Gnomish Lexicon gives an adjetive: rôg, rog ("doughty, strong"), related with arog ("swift, rushing") and raug of the same meaning.[4] The Qenya form of his name was Rōka.[5]

Other versions of the Legendarium

Rog's death "without the walls" is mentioned in the Quenta Noldorinwa,[6] which was the main text used by Christopher Tolkien for the edition of the chapter "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin" in his Silmarillion. However, Christopher removed the mention of this character, explaining that his father would likely not have used that out of phase name.[7]

References