Gothmog (Sindarin IPA: [ˈɡoθmoɡ] - "Strife and Hate") was the Lord of Balrogs during the First Age, and the greatest Balrog ever to walk Middle-earth. He was the High Captain of Angband, one of Morgoth's most trusted generals, leading the Dark Lord's forces to victory in countless Battles. His only equal in rank was Sauron.
Gothmog, like the rest of his kind, carried a fiery whip into battle, but he was also known to have wielded a great black axe, which was feared by elves across the continent of Beleriand.
Biography
The death of Fëanor at the hands of Gothmog, by LuisFBejarano
Gothmog was initially one of the Maiar who swore under the allegiance of Melkor. Prior to the Revolt of the Ñoldor, he was the High Captain of Angband and given the title Lord of the Balrogs.[3]
During the Dagor-nuin-Giliath in YT 1498,[4] Fëanor pressed to Angband with his company, and in that hour, the Balrogs were issued forth. Gothmog was among them, smiting the High King of the Ñoldor to the ground. The Sons of Fëanor arrived and carried the body of their father away, but Fëanor had passed.[3] Gothmog reappeared as a general of Angband in several more major conflicts, including the Dagor Aglareb and the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. During the Nirnaeth, Gothmog engaged the High King of the Ñoldor, Fingon, in battle. Gothmog separated Fingon from the main host but was unable to smite Fingon, until another balrog appeared behind the Ñoldo "cast a throng of steel about him". This allowed Gothmog to slay Fingon and beat the body to dust. Thereafter, he captured Húrin, father of Túrin Turambar, and dragged him back to Angband.[1]
Ecthelion charges Gothmog as they fight to the death.
In FA 510, Gothmog and the forces of Angband beseiged the Hidden City of Gondolin. They held the northern gates and were later confronted by Ecthelion of the Fountain, whom Gothmog dueled. Knocking Ecthelion's sword out of his hands, Gothmog prepared to strike at him but, as he raised his axe, Ecthelion ran forward at the Balrog lord, ramming his pointed helmet into the beast's chest and forcing both of them into the Fountain of the King. The waters quenched the flames of Gothmog that kept him alive and drowned Ecthelion, ending the Battle of Gondolin.[5][6]
Etymology
The name Gothmog is from the Quenyan terms gos or goth ("dread") and -mbaw ("compel, force, subject, oppress").[7]
Gothmog's Quenya name was Osombauko (or Oþombauko; IPA: [osomˈbaʊko] or Vanyarin [oθomˈbaʊko]).[citation needed]
His name in Sindarin means "Strife and Hate".[citation needed]
Other versions of the legendarium
Gothmog was briefly conceived as a "son of Melkor and the ogress Fuithluin", and went by the name of Kosomot. The root of the name moko translates to "hate".[8]
There was another concept of the Children of the Ainur, Melkor had a son Kosomot (later Gothmog) with an ogress called Fuithluin.[8]
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XX: "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels, V. The Tale of Years
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XIII: "Of the Return of the Noldor"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: Morgoth's Ring, The Annals of Aman
- ↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XXIII: "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 2: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, III: "The Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 5: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 1: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I
