| ! | Non-canon alert The subject of this article originates from non-canonical sources. To learn about what is considered "canon", see LOTR:Canon. |
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Hadhafang was a sword once belonging to the Elven princess Idril who wed a mortal man (Tuor) and bore Eärendil, the father of Elrond, who in turn was father to Arwen.
Hadhafang was wielded by Elrond during the battle between the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron on the slopes of Mount Doom (Orodruin). Many years later, his daughter Arwen used this sword when she aided Frodo in his escape from the Ringwraiths.
The blade is inscribed with Cirth runes in Sindarin that say "Aen estar Hadhafang i chathol hen, thand arod dan i thang an i arwen.", which translates to "This blade is called Hadhafang, a noble defense against the enemy throng for a noble lady." (In Sindarin "Arwen" actually means "noble (or royal) woman").
Behind the Scenes
Arwen wielding Hadhafang.
- This sword does not appear in the books, Weta Workshop created it and its back-story by the filmmakers for Peter Jackson's film trilogy The Lord of the Rings, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novels.
- The name Hadhafang is a newly coined Sindarin word meaning "throng-cleaver".
- In the original concept for the sword, the inscription contained an additional verse of text that read as follows: Idril i hel en aran Gond dolen, which when translated read Idril, daughter of the king of the Hidden Rock (Gondolin). The text was omitted from the final design for the sword due to a lack of space on the finished prop.
Hadhafang on Elrond's side
- In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Elrond is seen on horseback carrying Hadhafang, having used it in battle against Hunter Orcs.
- Some viewers claimed that Hadhafang was a Japanese-type sword due to its cosmetic similarity to a katana. Hadhafang was actually inspired by European cavalry sabers of the early modern period (such as the Shashka, the signature sword of the Cossaks) and the Assyrian sickle-sword of the Bronze Age Near East. Like both the cavalry sword and the sickle-sword, Hadhafang was made for use on horseback (katana were designed for melee). However, the decision to not include Arwen in Helms Deep meant that the only time the sword was seen in use was when Elrond used it in close combat during the prologue (Arwen doesn't actually use the sword against the Ringwraiths). Some people have also commented on the alleged bad balance of the prop, not realizing that it's meant for use from horseback.
