Gimli

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"I have looked the last upon that which was fairest. Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift."

—Gimli, speaking of Galadriel

Gimli, son of Glóin, was a well-respected dwarf warrior in Middle-earth during the Great Years. He was a member of the Fellowship of the Ring, and was the only one of the dwarves to readily fight alongside elves in the war against Sauron at the end of the Third Age. After the defeat of Sauron, he was given lordship of the Glittering Caves at Helm's Deep.

Biography

Early Life

Gimli as Young — Gimli's mother (left) and young Gimli (right) as depicted in Glóin's locket in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Gimli was the son of Glóin and a nephew of Óin, both former companions of Bilbo Baggins. He was a remote descendant of Durin the Deathless, father of the first house of dwarven people. Gimli stemmed from, but was not an inheritor of, the royal line. Through his father, Gimli was also the first cousin once removed (or "nephew", for simplicity's sake) of Balin, Lord of Moria, and his brother Dwalin, two more former companions of Bilbo. It is also stated in the Unfinished Tales that Gimli was prevented from traveling with his father on The Quest of Erebor because Thorin and company thought him too young, though Gimli, being in his sixties, considered himself ripe for adventure and was disappointed to be left behind.^[1]

Involvement with the Ring

File:Gimli plan.jpg

Gimli without a helmet

In the year 3017 of the Third Age, an emissary from Mordor approached the King under the Mountain, Dáin II, with offers of friendship and requests for news of a Hobbit bearing a Ring. Not trusting the messenger, Dáin sent Glóin and Gimli to Rivendell to seek the advice of Elrond, and to have Bilbo warned that the Enemy was seeking him. As a result, they were summoned to the Council of Elrond, where Elrond believed they would find the answers to their questions and would be able to contribute. Whilst there, Gloin told Elrond of the messenger and made reference to Balin, who had entered Moria and attempted to reclaim it. However, he had not sent any word to King Dáin II for five years, and Gloin was concerned. The Council ultimately chose to send Frodo Baggins to Mordor to destroy the Ring, and decided that a small fellowship should go with him. Gimli volunteered to accompany the Fellowship to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.

Gimli1 — Gimli portrayed by John Rhys-Davies

He volunteered to join the company at least in part because Legolas had volunteered and he doubted the elf's intentions. Gimli journeyed with the fellowship southward along the Misty Mountains. However, the Fellowship was stymied in their attempt to traverse the pass of Caradhras, and were compelled to travel under the mountain rather than go over it. While none in the Fellowship were particularly keen on passing thorough Moria, Gimli at least was eager to learn what may have happened to Balin. Unfortunately, while in Moria, Gimli discovered Balin's tomb, as well as evidence that virtually all of the Dwarves who had attempted to retake Moria had been slain years prior. After Gandalf fell with Durin's Bane from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, the Fellowship entered the Woods of Lothlórien, thus making Gimli the first dwarf to enter the Realm since the Balrog was awakened in Moria. However, there was some tension regarding Gimli's being in the Wood, and his Elven escorts wished to blindfold him for the journey. Gimli staunchly refused until Aragorn decided that all in the Fellowship should be blindfolded to make the Elven demand more equitable. While in Lorien, he accompanied Legolas on many walks through the wooded city, and the two became fast friends. When the fellowship departed, he was given a strand of Galadriel's hair, though when he asked for one, he was given three, which would lead to his name in later years of "Lockbearer", given to him by Galadriel. When the Fellowship of the Ring fractured, Gimli accompanied Aragorn and Legolas in pursuit of Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, who had been captured by the forces of Isengard.

Gimli With Axe — Gimli fighting at Parth Galen

Eventually the three were reunited with Gandalf, and became more involved with the war. Gimli played a critical role in the defeat of the forces of Isengard at Helms Deep, where he was separated from Aragorn and Legolas and driven into the caves which he would later become Lord of. He fought his way out alongside Eomer when the forces of Isengard were driven from Helm's Deep. His skill with an axe led to his winning, by one orc, the friendly contest he and Legolas held over who could kill the most Orcs, despite starting with a disadvantage. Gimli then accompanied Aragorn and Legolas through the Dimholt in an attempt to recruit the Army of the Dead. Upon freeing Gondor’s soldiers and capturing the Corsair's ships, the forces under Aragorn, including Gimli, sailed to Minas Tirith. After being victorious at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Gimli accompanied Aragorn and the remainder of the Gondor and Rohan armies to the Black gates.

"To Gimli son of Gloin, give his Lady's greeting. Lockbearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!"

—Galadriel's message to Gimli

Life after the War

Bakshi Gimli — Gimli as seen in the animated film

After the War, Gimli led a large number of Durin's Folk south to establish a new Dwarf kingdom in the Glittering Caves, which were located behind Helm's Deep where Gimli was trapped during the battle, and he became the first Lord of the Glittering Caves. The Dwarves of the Glittering Caves, led by their Lord Gimli, would repair much of the physical damage that was incurred during the War of the Ring. Most notably, they rebuilt the Great Gate of Minas Tirith with a new one made of Mithril and steel, as well as improving upon the existing layout of the entire city.

Gimli was 139 years old (born in 2879 of the Third Age) when the Fellowship of the Ring set out from Rivendell, making him 52 years older than Aragorn. His date of death is not known, and according to the Red Book of Westmarch, he is said to have traveled with Legolas into the West, thus becoming the first dwarf to visit the Undying Lands. Of this possibility, Tolkien wrote that it would be strange indeed, that any Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-earth for any love, or that the Eldar should receive him, or that the Lords of the West should permit it, but that it is said that Gimli went not only because of his great friendship with Legolas, but also out of desire to see again the beauty of Galadriel; and that she, being mighty among the Eldar, may have obtained this grace for him.^[2]^[3]

Portrayal in adaptations

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy

In Peter Jackson's films, Gimli accompanies his father, Glóin, and a deputation of Dwarves who had been summoned to the Council of Elrond to discuss the fate of the One Ring. In this adaptation, he attempts to destroy the Ring by hitting it with his axe, but the axe breaks upon the Ring and shatters, leaving the Ring unblemished. At the end of the Council, he volunteers to join the company, in part because Legolas had just volunteered, and being an Elf, Gimli doubted his intentions. In his subsequent journey he becomes good friends with Legolas. As the Fellowship passes through the Misty Mountains, it is Gimli's idea initially to travel through the mines of Moria, whereas in the books it was Gandalf's. Later at the Battle of Helm's Deep, Gimli and Legolas are in competition to see who kills the most Uruk-hai. This happens again in the next film, at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Gimli serves as much of the three films' comic relief in tense moments.

A notable miniature of Gimli sitting on a dead Uruk (from a scene in the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) was sculpted by Briggite Wuest as a Weta Workshop collectible.

Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings

In Ralph Bakshi's film, Gimli is a bald-headed dwarf, and was voiced by David Buck. (The Lord of the Rings (Animated, 1978))

Weapons

Gimli-axes — Axes used by Gimli in the films

In the books, Gimli uses one single axe. In Ralph Bakshi's animation film, he follows the books description (The Lord of the Rings (Animated, 1978)), while in the trilogy by Peter Jackson, Gimli was known for his skill with the axe, and during the War of the Ring he wielded a handful of different types.

A bearded axe
Two throwing axes
A battle axe
Double-bladed Axe

Melee axes

Like most Dwarves, Gimli favoured the axe and carried an assortment of variations of the weapon throughout his travels. At the beginning of his journey, Gimil was already equipped with a long handled axe which doubled as a walking stick, to ease the strain of long open walks through the vast open grasslands of Middle Earth, which was a value to the heavy clad Dwarf. As with most Dwarven Axes, the staff was square edged, with tightly wrapped double-cross leather strapping, which kept the axe from slipping through his grasp. The length of this staff gave Gimli's axe a much longer reach, which combined with his great strength, enabled him to hack into enemies at a three foot distance. One of his axes was subsequently destroyed in a noble yet failed attempt to destroy the One Ring as the Ring was indestructible to all conventional means. A throwing axe he has was also destroyed, by Gandalf whom Gimli mistook for Saruman and had attacked him.

Gimli Moria — Gimli in *LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game*

During the Fellowship's travels through Moria, Gimli was able to retrieve a double bladed battle axe which apparently belonged to his father's cousin Balin, Lord of Moria, who had perished during the Goblin and Orc attack on Dwarrowdelf. Being double bladed, it allowed Gimli to swing it in both directions, without any need to constantly change the angle or grip. But it was much heavier, with a shorter staff, which meant it was more suited to close combat, but was compensated by its great striking power. He is never seen using it during the Return of the King film, as it remains pinned to his cloak. Gimli used all the axes mentioned above throughout the War of the Ring. He used them depending on the battlefield conditions and the types of enemies that he would have to face. No matter what axe, however, Gimli used them all with devastating power in every battle he faced, working in perfect conjunction with Aragorn's swordplay and Legolas' skill with the bow.

Throwing axes

In addition to his melee weapons, Gimli utilized several throwing axes for his ranged attack. These axes, though obviously not the ones with the most range, could effectively kill whatever they were thrown at (with the exception of large, heavily armored enemies like trolls); however, he rarely uses them in the films. In the movies, Gimli threw an axe at the cave troll and at Gandalf in Fangorn Forest. He also throws one at an Uruk at beginning of the battle of Amon Hen. It is apparent that he prefers engaging in direct combat rather than using his throwing axes. Only on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube platforms of the Two Towers Gimli has 25 throwing axes and Gimli has 30 throwing axes in the The Return of the King video game on the same above mentioned platforms as well as Mac and PC. This game also came out on the Gameboy Advance. Throwing axes however makes this function different in The Two Towers and The Return of the King on the Gameboy Advance it is available but to perform this function at the cost of certain points to do this certain ability. Though they can effectively damage/kill enemies when charged, they are actually the weakest among Gimli's ranged attacks unlike the ranged attacks of Aragorn and Legolas. Still, they do have potency up to some extent.

Voice Dubbing actors

Foreign Language	Voice dubbing artist
Spanish (Latin America)	Alejandro Villeli
Spanish (Spain)	Miguel Ángel Jenner
Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD)	Antônio Moreno
German	Wolfgang Hess
Hungarian	Ádám Rajhona
French (France)	Vincent Grass
Czech (Czech Republic)	Pavel Pípal
Slovak	Boris Farkaš
Italian (Italy)	Renato Mori
Turkish	Ender Yiğit

Translations around the World

Foreign Language	Translated name
Amharic	ጊምሊ
Arabic	جيملي
Armenian	Գիմլի
Belarusian Cyrillic	Гімлі
Bengali	গিমলি
Bulgarian Cyrillic	Гимли
Catalan	Guimli
Chinese (Hong Kong)	金靂
Chinese (China)	吉姆利
Georgian	გიმლი
Greek	Γκίμλι
Gujarati	ગિમલી
Hebrew	גימלי
Hindi	गिम्लि
Japanese	ギムリ
Kannada	ಗಿಮ್ಲಿ
Kazakh	Гимли (Cyrillic) Gïmlï (Latin)
Korean	김리
Kyrgyz Cyrillic	Гимли
Macedonian Cyrillic	Гимли
Malayalam	ജിംലി
Marathi	गिमली
Mongolian Cyrillic	Гимли
Nepalese	गिम्लि
Persian	گیملی
Punjabi	ਗਿਮਲੀ
Russian	Гимли
Sanskrit	गिम्लि
Serbian	Гимли (Cyrillic) Gimli (Latin)
Sinhalese	ගිම්ලි
Tajik Cyrillic	Гимли
Tamil	கிம்லி
Telugu	గిమ్లి
Thai	กิมลี
Ukrainian Cyrillic	Гімлі
Urdu	گاملی
Uzbek	Гимли (Cyrillic) Gimli (Latin)
Yiddish	גימלי