Kurúki

From Tolkien Gateway
Kurúki
Unknown
Biographical Information
PositionMagician
LocationIn or near some woods
AffiliationEvil
Notable forCausing Vainóni and Tirannë to forget their names.
Physical Description
RaceUnknown
GenderUnclear
WeaponryBaneful drink
GalleryImages of Kurúki

Kurúki was an evil magician in a preliminary sketch of the Tale of Turambar,[1] according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.

History[edit | edit source]

Vainóni and her mother Tirannë meet with Kurúki and are given a baneful drink. This caused them to forget their names and wander distraught within the woods. Eventually, upon the death of the Foalókë, the dragon lifts the veil that Kurúki placed on Vainóni, causing her to flee through the woods and throwing herself over a waterfall.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The meaning of the name Kurúki is unclear, but it seems to contain the Qenya word kuru ("magic, wizardry").[3]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In later versions of the tale of the Children of Húrin, the character of Kurúki was discarded, giving Glaurung the magician's former role of erasing Nienóri's memory in addition to his own role of breaking the spell of forgetfulness. Interestingly, Christopher Tolkien notes that there is a chance that it is probable that the outline fragment that Kurúki exists within may in fact be a unique glimpse into a draft of the Tale of Turambar that predates that of the erased text which many of the stories found within The Book of Lost Tales were written upon.[2]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Index", entry "Kurúki"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë": "Notes and Commentary", pp. 138-40
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, entry "Tolli Kuruvar"