Anglachel was a sword smithed by Eöl, the Dark Elf.

HistoryEdit

It was one of two swords Eöl forged from "iron that fell from heaven as a flaming star: all earth-delved iron it would cleave asunder." The other, Anguirel, he kept for himself. Eöl gave this sword to Thingol as payment for staying in his forest, Nan Elmoth, though he did not relish giving it away. Thingol's wife, Melian, uttered these words over it when bestowing it on Beleg. Thingol gave the sword in keeping to his subject Beleg Cúthalion, when Beleg left to seek down Turin. Whenever Beleg took the sword out of its sheath, the sword is said to have sung with gladness.

At one time, Beleg was unbinding the unconscious Túrin, who had been held captive. However, whilst undoing his bonds, the sword slipped or fell and cut Túrin in his foot. Túrin then woke, and not knowing who it was, slew Beleg with Anglachel, a mistake that he mourned for a long time.

Túrin was then given the sword by Gwindor, and Túrin travelled to Nargothrond, Gwindor's place of birth, where the sword was reforged and renamed Gurthang "Iron of Death".

Powers and AbilitiesEdit

"There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves, neither will it abide with you long."

—Melian on Anglachel

Anglachel seems to have held a certain level of sentient awareness, poured into it from Eöl: it was fierce and bloodthirsty, drinking the blood of those it bit. "From no blood wilt thou shrink." said Turin after seeing it unharmed by the scorching blood of Glaurung. Nevertheless, innocent blood left a terrible shroud of grief on the sword, and it remembered: when it spoke to Turin it named two especially whose innocent blood it had drunk: Beleg, slain by mischance, and Brandir slain unjustly. It was also said to "mourn" for Beleg, and to "rejoice" when unsheathed in war.

When Turin found that he had married his own sister, he rushed in madness of grief to the gorge, but would not defile the waters that took Nienor with his own blood.

EtymologyEdit

Anglachel meant 'Iron of the Flaming Star' in Sindarin.

ReferencesEdit

• The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Túrin Turambar"
• Unfinished Tales: Narn i Chîn Húrin
• The Children of Húrin

External linkEdit

• Anglachel at Tolkien Gateway