Nargothrond (Sindarin IPA: [narˈɡoθrond]), also referred to as the Caverns of Narog, was an underground Elven fortress that was delved into the banks of the river Narog in West Beleriand during the First Age. It was built and ruled by the Ñoldorin king Finrod Felagund, son of Finarfin.
Description[]
Similar to the structures of many underground Dwarven cities, Nargothrond consisted of many miles of caves and tunnels of various shapes and sizes carved through the rock, which was possibly limestone. There were three Great Halls centered around the other tunnels and caves, where the King of the city no doubt sat. The deepest of the caves was the innermost chamber where Glaurung later hoarded up the remaining treasures of Nargothrond and sat upon them until he left. Lúthien lived in a southwestern cave chamber during her stay there. The realms armouries were in several chambers south of the great halls. The main entrance through the Doors of Felagund to Nargothrond facing river Narog one came into a large chamber, which was about five-hundred feet from the Great Halls of Felagund.[3]
History[]
Years of Peace[]
Inspired by Menegroth in Doriath, and seeking a hidden place from which to be safe from the forces of Morgoth, Finrod established Nargothrond in the early years following the return of the Ñoldor to Middle-earth, in the Caverns of Narog beneath the forested hills of Taur-en-Faroth on the western bank of Narog. He was aided by the Dwarves of Nogrod, who also made the Nauglamír for him.
However, Finrod was not the first to delve in those caves: it had first been inhabited by the Petty-dwarves, who called it Narukuthûn (Khuzdûl) before they were driven out. Originally, a narrow path along the banks of the river could only reach it, but later a bridge was built across the Narog.
Finrod ruled Nargothrond until he joined Beren in his Quest for the Silmaril, being succeeded by his nephew Orodreth. However, the Sons of Fëanor, Celegorm and Curufin lived in Nargothrond at this time and carried a great influence with its people, sowing fear and distrust of outsiders. After Finrod's death was reported they were exiled in disgrace.
Fall of Nargothrond[]
Túrin and Glaurung, by woutart[4]
Since its foundation by Finrod, the Elves of Nargothrond had pursued a secretive war against Morgoth, hunting his forces by stealth and ambush rather than going to open war. When Túrin was led there by Gwindor, however, he grew high in the esteem of Orodreth, King of Nargothrond, and counseled a different strategy.
Túrin Turambar became one of the chief captains, persuading the people to abandon their long standing policy and instead fight openly against Morgoth.
Túrin persuaded Orodreth to build the Bridge of Nargothrond to allow speedy passage of forces into the field. Orodreth built the bridge from his doors across the Narog, and went to open war with Morgoth. In centuries of searching, Morgoth had been unable to find the fortress of Nargothrond, but now not only was its location revealed, but the new bridge removed the defence of the River Narog. Glaurung the dragon was sent out from Angband with an army of Orcs to capture the city. After the defeat of the army of Nargothrond at the field of Tumhalad in FA 495, Glaurung and his army of Orcs came south, crossed the bridge, and sacked the city, killing or selling some of the inhabitants into slavery. The survivors then went to seek refuge in Doriath, leading to Thingol’s knowledge of the fall of Nargothrond.
Glaurung remained there as the Dragon-king of Nargothrond until FA 499 when he went northeast to Brethil, to confront Túrin Turambar who eventually slew him. Though the realm was no more, Mîm the Petty-dwarf took up residence in caves claiming it and its treasures as his own in payment for the sufferings of his people, until Húrin came and slew him for his betrayal of his son. The treasure, including the Nauglamír, was then brought to the Elven Kingdom of Doriath and given to King Thingol.[5] Afterwards, the caves were destroyed during the War of Wrath, along with all of Beleriand.
Etymology[]
Nargothrond was a Sindarin name translating to "underground halls of the river Narog".[6]
Upon a time, Tolkien decided that Nargothrond was instead an Sindarin form of a Dwarvish name, Narukuthûn, with the word rond (meaning "vaulted dome"[7]) added on.[8]
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Amharic | ናርጎትሮንድ |
| Arabic | نارعوتهروند |
| Armenian | Նարգոտհրոնդ |
| Assamese | নাৰ্গোথ্ৰণ্ড |
| Belarusian Cyrillic | Нарготронд |
| Bengali | নারগোথ্রন্ড |
| Bulgarian Cyrillic | Нарготронд |
| Catalan | Nargòthrond |
| Chinese (Hong Kong) | 納國斯隆德 |
| Danish | Nargothrond ("Den mægtige underjordiske fæstning ved floden Narog") |
| Dogri | नरगोथ्रोंड |
| Georgian | ნარგოთჰრონდ |
| Greek | Νάργκοθροντ |
| Gujarati | નાર્ગોથ્રોન્ડ |
| Hebrew | נארגותרונד |
| Hindi | नार्गोथ्रोन्द |
| Japanese | ナルゴスロンド |
| Kannada | ನರ್ಗೋಥ್ರೋಂಡ್ |
| Kazakh | Нарготранд (Cyrillic) Nargotrand (Latin) |
| Konkani | नार्गोथ्रोंड |
| Korean | 나르고스론드 |
| Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Нарготронд |
| Macedonian Cyrillic | Нарготронд |
| Malayalam | നാർഗോത്രോണ്ട് |
| Marathi | नर्गोथ्रोंड |
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Нарготронд |
| Nepalese | नार्गोथ्रन्ड |
| Pashto | نارګوتهروند |
| Persian | نارگوتروند |
| Punjabi | ਨਾਰਗੋਥਰੋਂਡ |
| Russian | Нарготронд (Nargothrond) Нулуккхиздин (Nulukkhizdīn) |
| Sanskrit | णर्गोथ्रोन्द् |
| Serbian | Нарготронд (Cyrillic) Nargotrond (Latin) |
| Sinhalese | නාර්ගොත්රොන්ඩ් |
| Tajik Cyrillic | Нарготҳронд |
| Tamil | நர்கோத்ராண்ட் |
| Telugu | నార్గోథ్రోండ్ |
| Thai | นาร์โกธรอนด์ |
| Tigrinya | ናርጎትሮንድ |
| Ukrainian Cyrillic | Нарготронд |
| Urdu | نآرگوترونڈ |
| Uzbek | Нарготронд (Cyrillic) Nargotrond (Latin) |
| Yiddish | נאַרגאָטהראָנד |
| Elven Realms of Middle-earth throughout the Ages | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Age | Cuiviénen • Eldamar & Tol Eressëa • Eglador (Doriath) • Havens of the Falas • Greenwood the Great • Hithlum • Dorthonion • Nargothrond • Gondolin • Havens of Sirion • Himlad • Maglor's Gap • March of Maedhros • Nevrast • Ossiriand • Lothlórien • Belfalas • Pass of Aglond • Pass of Sirion • Thargelion • Greenwood the Great • Eriador | |
| Second Age | Eregion • Lothlórien • Woodland Realm • Lindon • Belfalas • Rivendell | |
| Third Age | Lindon • Lothlórien • Woodland Realm • Belfalas • Rivendell | |
| Fourth Age | East Lórien • Lindon • Lothlórien • Rivendell • Ithilien • Woodland Realm | |
| Dwarven realms of Middle-earth throughout the Ages | |
|---|---|
| Years of the Trees and First Age: | Amon Rûdh | Belegost | Khazad-dûm | Mount Gundabad | Nogrod | Narukuthûn | Blue Mountains |
| Second Age: | Khazad-dûm | Belegost | Nogrod | Mount Gundabad | Blue Mountains | Iron Hills |
| Third Age: | Grey Mountains | Iron Hills | Khazad-dûm | Lonely Mountain | Blue Mountains | Dunland |
| Fourth Age: | Glittering Caves | Khazad-dûm | Lonely Mountain | Blue Mountains | Iron Hills |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, Part One: The Grey Annals
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, Thematic Maps, "Languages"
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, The First Age, The Elder Days, "Nargothrond"
- ↑ http://poover.deviantart.com/art/The-Fall-Of-Nargothrond-138581489
- ↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XXI: "Of Túrin Turambar"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, The War of the Jewels, Part Two: The Later Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Siege of Angband"
- ↑ The Silmarillion, Appendix, pg. 363 (1977 hardcover edition)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII, ed. Christopher Gilson), p. 47