Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 12:04:11 GMT -5
Glorfindel Top: Glorfindel battles the Balrog by John Howe
Bottom: Jarl Benzon as Glorfindel; Decipher Card designed by Weta
Elf-lord of Gondolin; Elf-lord of Rivendell. In the legends of Middle-earth, there was an Elf named Glorfindel who died in the First Age, but Glorfindel is mentioned again in the histories of the Third Age. It is said that after he died, Glorfindel was sent back from the Halls of Waiting to live again and that these two Glorfindels were in fact the same Elf.
Glorfindel in the First Age:
Glorfindel was the lord of the House of the Golden Flower. He was among the Elves who left the Undying Lands in defiance of the Valar on a quest to retrieve the Silmarils from Morgoth. It is said that Glorfindel took part in the rebellion because of his kinship and allegiance with Turgon and that Glorfindel did not participate in the killing of other Elves known as the Kinslaying.
In Middle-earth, Glorfindel and his people settled in Gondolin, the hidden realm founded by Turgon. Glorfindel fought in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears in the year 472. When the battle was lost, Glorfindel helped guard the flanks as Turgon and his remaining forces retreated to safety.
Gondolin was attacked by the forces of Morgoth in the year 510. Turgon's daughter Idril escaped along with her husband Tuor and her son Earendil and other survivors. They fled over the high pass called the Eagles' Cleft, but they were waylaid by Orcs and a Balrog. Glorfindel allowed the others to escape by engaging the Balrog in battle. They fell together into the abyss and died. Glorfindel's body was retrieved by the Great Eagle Thorondor and he was buried near the pass under a green mound covered with yellow flowers.
Glorfindel's Return:
Elves were immortal and thus did not die of natural causes, but they could be killed by violence as Glorfindel was. When this happened, their spirits went to the Halls of Waiting to be judged, and after a time their spirits could be restored to their bodily forms to live again.
Like all those who participated in the rebellion, Glorfindel was banned from returning to the Undying Lands, but it is thought that this restriction was waived in Glorfindel's case because of his noble sacrifice in defense of the people of Gondolin. He was reincarnated and dwelled for a time in the Undying Lands. He may have become a friend and follower of the Maia Olorin, who was later known as Gandalf.
When Glorfindel returned to Middle-earth is uncertain. He may have accompanied Gandalf around the year 1000 of the Third Age. But it is more likely that Glorfindel came earlier, possibly around the year 1600 of the Second Age at the time when Sauron forged the One Ring. Glorfindel may have gone to Middle-earth to help Gil-galad and Elrond defend against Sauron's growing power.
Glorfindel in the Third Age:
Glorfindel lived at Rivendell, the realm of Elrond. In 1974, the Witch-king of Angmar invaded the North-kingdom of Arnor. Glorfindel led an army from Rivendell to the Battle of Fornost in 1975 and helped defeat the Witch-king's forces. Then the Witch-king himself came onto the battlefield and challenged Earnur, Captain of Gondor. Earnur's horse bolted and the Witch-king mocked him, but Glorfindel approached and the Witch-king fled from him. Glorfindel counselled Earnur not to follow, saying: "Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall." (App. A, p. 332)
In October of 3018, word came to Rivendell from Gildor Inglorion that Frodo Baggins was heading for Rivendell pursued by the Nazgul led by the Witch-king. Glorfindel was one of the few in Rivendell powerful enough to face the Nine Nazgul. On October 9, he set out on his white horse Asfaloth and followed the Great East Road to the Last Bridge on the River Hoarwell. There on October 11, Glorfindel found three Nazgul waiting and they fled before him. Glorfindel left a green stone on the bridge as a token that it was now safe to cross and he pursued the Nazgul westward. He found two more Nazgul who fled southward from him.
Aragorn found the green stone on October 13 and led the Hobbits safely across. Glorfindel picked up their trail on October 16 and at dusk on October 18 he caught up to them. To Frodo, Glorfindel appeared to shine with an inner light, and when the Elf touched the wound he had received from the Witch-king, Frodo felt the chill and pain lessen and his vision cleared. Glorfindel set Frodo on Asfaloth and they headed toward Rivendell.
At the Ford of Bruinen on October 20, the Nine Nazgul appeared. Frodo felt compelled to stop, but Glorfindel called out to Asfaloth to ride on and the horse carried Frodo across the river. On the far side, Frodo once again felt commanded to halt and he turned to face the Nazgul. Glorfindel was aware that Elrond would command the waters of the river to rise against the Nazgul, so he and the others kindled fire to drive the Nazgul into the river. Glorfindel revealed himself as a mighty Elf-lord in all his wrath, and he shone with a brilliant white light as he advanced. The Nazgul were swept away by the floodwaters and returned bodiless to Mordor.
Glorfindel attended the Council of Elrond on October 25. When it was suggested that the Ring might be sent to Tom Bombadil, Glorfindel replied that Tom would not be able to keep the Ring safe from Sauron forever. He said that the Ring would have to be sent over the Sea or cast into the Sea or destroyed - even though the destruction of the One Ring would mean that the Three Rings of the Elves would lose their power. At length it was determined that the only option was to destroy the Ring, and Frodo Baggins volunteered for this task.
In the matter of selecting Frodo's companions, Gandalf supported Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took by saying: "I think, Elrond, that in this matter it would be well to trust rather to their friendship than to great wisdom. Even if you chose for us an elf-lord, such as Glorfindel, he could not storm the Dark Tower, nor open the road to the Fire by the power that is in him." (FotR, p. 289)
Nothing further is known of Glorfindel's activities during the War of the Ring. At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019, the words spoken by Glorfindel over 1,000 years before came to pass when the Witch-king was defeated at the hands of a woman - Eowyn - and a Hobbit - Merry Brandybuck. After the war, Glorfindel came to Minas Tirith for the wedding of Arwen and Aragorn.
Glorfindel's ulitmate fate is not known, but it seems likely that he would have eventually returned over the Sea to the Undying Lands.
Note:
Glorfindel of Gondolin is not equated with Glorfindel of Rivendell in any of J.R.R. Tolkien's published works. It was not until late in his life that Tolkien addressed the issue of the two Glorfindels in a pair of essays that were later published by Christopher Tolkien in The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth. In these essays, Tolkien concluded that both Glorfindels were the same Elf, but the matter remains a topic of debate and discussion among Tolkien fans.
Etymology:
Glorfindel means "golden haired" from glor meaning "gold" and fin meaning "hair."
Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Flight to the Ford," p. 213, 221-227; "Many Meetings," p. 232, 234-37; "The Council of Elrond," p. 252-53, 279-80, 282; "The Ring Goes South," p. 289
The Return of the King: "The Steward and the King," p. 250
Appendix A of LotR: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 331-35
The Silmarillion: "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad," p. 194; "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin," p. 243-44; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for fin
The History of Middle-earth, vol. II, The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two: "The Fall of Gondolin," p. 173, 175, 182-83, 186, 192-94, 196, 211-12, 216
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for GLAW(R)
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "Last Writings - Glorfindel," p. 377-82
Bottom: Jarl Benzon as Glorfindel; Decipher Card designed by Weta
Elf-lord of Gondolin; Elf-lord of Rivendell. In the legends of Middle-earth, there was an Elf named Glorfindel who died in the First Age, but Glorfindel is mentioned again in the histories of the Third Age. It is said that after he died, Glorfindel was sent back from the Halls of Waiting to live again and that these two Glorfindels were in fact the same Elf.
Glorfindel in the First Age:
Glorfindel was the lord of the House of the Golden Flower. He was among the Elves who left the Undying Lands in defiance of the Valar on a quest to retrieve the Silmarils from Morgoth. It is said that Glorfindel took part in the rebellion because of his kinship and allegiance with Turgon and that Glorfindel did not participate in the killing of other Elves known as the Kinslaying.
In Middle-earth, Glorfindel and his people settled in Gondolin, the hidden realm founded by Turgon. Glorfindel fought in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears in the year 472. When the battle was lost, Glorfindel helped guard the flanks as Turgon and his remaining forces retreated to safety.
Gondolin was attacked by the forces of Morgoth in the year 510. Turgon's daughter Idril escaped along with her husband Tuor and her son Earendil and other survivors. They fled over the high pass called the Eagles' Cleft, but they were waylaid by Orcs and a Balrog. Glorfindel allowed the others to escape by engaging the Balrog in battle. They fell together into the abyss and died. Glorfindel's body was retrieved by the Great Eagle Thorondor and he was buried near the pass under a green mound covered with yellow flowers.
Glorfindel's Return:
Elves were immortal and thus did not die of natural causes, but they could be killed by violence as Glorfindel was. When this happened, their spirits went to the Halls of Waiting to be judged, and after a time their spirits could be restored to their bodily forms to live again.
Like all those who participated in the rebellion, Glorfindel was banned from returning to the Undying Lands, but it is thought that this restriction was waived in Glorfindel's case because of his noble sacrifice in defense of the people of Gondolin. He was reincarnated and dwelled for a time in the Undying Lands. He may have become a friend and follower of the Maia Olorin, who was later known as Gandalf.
When Glorfindel returned to Middle-earth is uncertain. He may have accompanied Gandalf around the year 1000 of the Third Age. But it is more likely that Glorfindel came earlier, possibly around the year 1600 of the Second Age at the time when Sauron forged the One Ring. Glorfindel may have gone to Middle-earth to help Gil-galad and Elrond defend against Sauron's growing power.
Glorfindel in the Third Age:
Glorfindel lived at Rivendell, the realm of Elrond. In 1974, the Witch-king of Angmar invaded the North-kingdom of Arnor. Glorfindel led an army from Rivendell to the Battle of Fornost in 1975 and helped defeat the Witch-king's forces. Then the Witch-king himself came onto the battlefield and challenged Earnur, Captain of Gondor. Earnur's horse bolted and the Witch-king mocked him, but Glorfindel approached and the Witch-king fled from him. Glorfindel counselled Earnur not to follow, saying: "Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall." (App. A, p. 332)
In October of 3018, word came to Rivendell from Gildor Inglorion that Frodo Baggins was heading for Rivendell pursued by the Nazgul led by the Witch-king. Glorfindel was one of the few in Rivendell powerful enough to face the Nine Nazgul. On October 9, he set out on his white horse Asfaloth and followed the Great East Road to the Last Bridge on the River Hoarwell. There on October 11, Glorfindel found three Nazgul waiting and they fled before him. Glorfindel left a green stone on the bridge as a token that it was now safe to cross and he pursued the Nazgul westward. He found two more Nazgul who fled southward from him.
Aragorn found the green stone on October 13 and led the Hobbits safely across. Glorfindel picked up their trail on October 16 and at dusk on October 18 he caught up to them. To Frodo, Glorfindel appeared to shine with an inner light, and when the Elf touched the wound he had received from the Witch-king, Frodo felt the chill and pain lessen and his vision cleared. Glorfindel set Frodo on Asfaloth and they headed toward Rivendell.
At the Ford of Bruinen on October 20, the Nine Nazgul appeared. Frodo felt compelled to stop, but Glorfindel called out to Asfaloth to ride on and the horse carried Frodo across the river. On the far side, Frodo once again felt commanded to halt and he turned to face the Nazgul. Glorfindel was aware that Elrond would command the waters of the river to rise against the Nazgul, so he and the others kindled fire to drive the Nazgul into the river. Glorfindel revealed himself as a mighty Elf-lord in all his wrath, and he shone with a brilliant white light as he advanced. The Nazgul were swept away by the floodwaters and returned bodiless to Mordor.
Glorfindel attended the Council of Elrond on October 25. When it was suggested that the Ring might be sent to Tom Bombadil, Glorfindel replied that Tom would not be able to keep the Ring safe from Sauron forever. He said that the Ring would have to be sent over the Sea or cast into the Sea or destroyed - even though the destruction of the One Ring would mean that the Three Rings of the Elves would lose their power. At length it was determined that the only option was to destroy the Ring, and Frodo Baggins volunteered for this task.
In the matter of selecting Frodo's companions, Gandalf supported Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took by saying: "I think, Elrond, that in this matter it would be well to trust rather to their friendship than to great wisdom. Even if you chose for us an elf-lord, such as Glorfindel, he could not storm the Dark Tower, nor open the road to the Fire by the power that is in him." (FotR, p. 289)
Nothing further is known of Glorfindel's activities during the War of the Ring. At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019, the words spoken by Glorfindel over 1,000 years before came to pass when the Witch-king was defeated at the hands of a woman - Eowyn - and a Hobbit - Merry Brandybuck. After the war, Glorfindel came to Minas Tirith for the wedding of Arwen and Aragorn.
Glorfindel's ulitmate fate is not known, but it seems likely that he would have eventually returned over the Sea to the Undying Lands.
Note:
Glorfindel of Gondolin is not equated with Glorfindel of Rivendell in any of J.R.R. Tolkien's published works. It was not until late in his life that Tolkien addressed the issue of the two Glorfindels in a pair of essays that were later published by Christopher Tolkien in The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth. In these essays, Tolkien concluded that both Glorfindels were the same Elf, but the matter remains a topic of debate and discussion among Tolkien fans.
Etymology:
Glorfindel means "golden haired" from glor meaning "gold" and fin meaning "hair."
Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Flight to the Ford," p. 213, 221-227; "Many Meetings," p. 232, 234-37; "The Council of Elrond," p. 252-53, 279-80, 282; "The Ring Goes South," p. 289
The Return of the King: "The Steward and the King," p. 250
Appendix A of LotR: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 331-35
The Silmarillion: "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad," p. 194; "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin," p. 243-44; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for fin
The History of Middle-earth, vol. II, The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two: "The Fall of Gondolin," p. 173, 175, 182-83, 186, 192-94, 196, 211-12, 216
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for GLAW(R)
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "Last Writings - Glorfindel," p. 377-82
