Thorondor

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Thorondor
Eagle
John Howe - Thorondor.jpg
"Thorondor" by John Howe
Biographical Information
Other namesSorontar (Q)
TitlesLord of the Eagles, King of Eagles
LocationTaniquetil
Thangorodrim
Crissaegrim
AffiliationManwë
LanguageQuenya, Sindarin
Notable forhelping Fingon rescue Maedhros; wounding Morgoth; rescuing Beren and Lúthien; rescuing the survivors of the Fall of Gondolin
Family
ChildrenUnnamed; ancestor of Gwaihir and Landroval
Physical Description
GenderMale
Wingspanthirty fathoms[1] (180 feet/55 meters)
WeaponryBeak, claws
GalleryImages of Thorondor

Thorondor, the Lord of the Eagles, was the greatest of the Eagles of Manwë king of the Valar. It is said that Thorondor had a wingspan of thirty fathoms.[1]

History

Thorondor was sent by Manwë to watch over the Noldor after they arrived in Beleriand. The Eldar first encountered him when he helped Fingon rescue Maedhros from imprisonment from Thangorodrim.[2]

After that, Thorondor and the rest of the Eagles settled in the Crissaegrim.[3] When Gondolin was built, Thorondor became the ever vigilant guardian of the city. He rescued Fingolfin's body from defilement after Morgoth killed him, giving the Dark Lord a scar on his face.[4]

He and two of his vassals, Gwaihir and Landroval,[5] rescued Beren and Lúthien when Angband was aroused.[6] When Gondolin fell, Thorondor rescued the survivors.[7]

During the War of Wrath, Thorondor and Eärendil led the Eagles in battle with the Dragons, and may have fought with Ancalagon the Black.[8]

Thorondor is not mentioned after the War of Wrath,[note 1] but his descendants played part in some events of the Third Age.

Genealogy

 
 
THORONDOR
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Father of Gwaihir
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Great Eagle
 
Gwaihir
 
Landroval
 
 

Etymology

The name contains thoron "eagle" and taur, -dor "king". The Quenya cognate is Sorontar.

In earlier versions of the legendarium he was called Sorontur (from the root SORO "eagle" and tur "king"),[source?] Thorndor and Throndor (Gnomish, compare thorn "eagle" and thrond "eagle nest, pinnacle"),[9] and Thorntor (Ilkorin).[source?]

See also

Notes

  1. Fans have suggested that Thorondor perhaps returned to Valinor. Cf Thorondor at LotRPlaza.com.

References


Named Eagles
Thorondor · Gwaihir · Landroval · Meneldor