Changes: Swords

Revision as of 19:10, 19 April 2014

Anduril — Aragorn holding Andúril, the blade Narsil reforged

Swords were the main weapons used by all of the armies of Good and Evil in Tolkien's world.

In Tolkien Mythology, swords were often famous for who they belonged to or whom they slew. They were also symbols of Kingship and family heirlooms.

Known Users

History

Swords were probably first made by the Ñoldor Elves before their expulsion from Valinor and by the Sindarin Elves of the Beleriand in Middle-earth. After the start of the War of the Jewels, all the races of the world forged them for their battles with the armies of Morgoth. Among the Elves, the Noldor were famed for their swords which were often endowed with a seemingly magical property that caused them to glow when fell creatures like orcs were near. Some swords seemed sapient to a degree, as was the case with Gurthang, which was said to have spoken to Túrin. As described in the Unfinished Tales, the Númenoreans used a short sword called an Eket. The sword was a stabbing weapon. Isildur threw all his weapons and armor away except his eket when escaping from an Orc-ambush at the Disaster of the Gladden Fields.

Common Orcs used curved swords (described by Tolkien as Scimitars) while Saruman's Uruk-hai used short broad-bladed ones.

Some swords used in Middle-earth:

A

Anglachel, the sword of Túrin Turambar, before being reforged as Gurthang
Andúril, the sword of Aragorn beforehand known as Narsil.

G

Glamdring, the sword of Gandalf.
Gúthwinë, the sword of Eomer.
Gurthang, the sword of Túrin Turambar.

H

Hadhafang, the sword of Arwen (movie only).
Herugrim, the sword of Théoden.

L

Lhang (Elvish two-handed sword)

M

Morgul blade

N

Narsil, the sword of Elendil and the most renowned

O

Orcrist, the sword of Thorin Oakenshield

R

Ringil, the sword of Fingolfin, High King of the Ñoldor

S

Sting, the sword of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==History==
-Swords were probably first made by the [[Noldor]] [[Elves]] before their expulsion from [[Valinor]] and by the [[Sindar]]in Elves of the [[Beleriand]] in [[Middle-earth]]. After the start of the [[War of the Jewels]], all the races of the [[Arda|world]] forged them for their [[Battles of Beleriand|battles]] with the armies of [[Morgoth]]. Among the [[Elves]], the Noldor were famed for their swords which were often endowed with a seemingly [[Magic|magical]] property that caused them to glow when fell creatures like orcs were near. Some swords seemed [[Sapience|sapient]] to a degree, as was the case with [[Gurthang]], which was said to have spoken to [[Túrin]]. As described in the ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', the [[Númenoreans]] used a short sword called an '''''[[Eket]]'''''. The sword was a stabbing weapon. [[Isildur]] threw all his weapons and armor away except his ''eket'' when escaping from an [[Orc]]-ambush at the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]].
+Swords were probably first made by the [[Ñoldor]] [[Elves]] before their expulsion from [[Valinor]] and by the [[Sindar]]in Elves of the [[Beleriand]] in [[Middle-earth]]. After the start of the [[War of the Jewels]], all the races of the [[Arda|world]] forged them for their [[Battles of Beleriand|battles]] with the armies of [[Morgoth]]. Among the [[Elves]], the Noldor were famed for their swords which were often endowed with a seemingly [[Magic|magical]] property that caused them to glow when fell creatures like orcs were near. Some swords seemed [[Sapience|sapient]] to a degree, as was the case with [[Gurthang]], which was said to have spoken to [[Túrin]]. As described in the ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', the [[Númenoreans]] used a short sword called an '''''[[Eket]]'''''. The sword was a stabbing weapon. [[Isildur]] threw all his weapons and armor away except his ''eket'' when escaping from an [[Orc]]-ambush at the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]].
 Common Orcs used curved swords (described by [[Tolkien]] as [[Scimitars]]) while Saruman's Uruk-hai used short broad-bladed ones.