Aeglos (spear): Difference between revisions

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''(See also [[Aeglos (plant)|Aeglos, a type of plant]])''
{{disambig-more|Aeglos|[[Aeglos (disambiguation)]]}}
[[File:Audrey Corman - Aiglos.jpg|thumb|''Aiglos'' by Audrey Corman]]
'''Aeglos''' was the name for the spear of [[Gil-galad]] which was greatly feared by the enemy. It was broken when Gil-galad fell in combat against [[Sauron]] himself, on the slopes of [[Mount Doom]] {{SA|3431}}.<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref><ref>{{S|V}}</ref>


[[Image:Gil-galad wielding Aeglos.jpg|thumb|Gil-galad wielding Aeglos in [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
==Etymology and names==
'''Aeglos''' was the name for the spear of [[Gil-galad]] which was greatly feared by the enemy. It was broken when Gil-galad fell in combat against [[Sauron]] himself, on the slopes of [[Mount Doom]] [[Third Age 3431|T.A. 3431]].
''Aeglos'' means "snow-point"<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref> or "icicle"<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings Index]]''</ref>. The element ''aeg'' means "point" from [[Sundocarme|root]] [[AYAK]], "sharp, pointed", and the element ''los'' means "snow".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref><ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}</ref>


The spear is also spelled '''''Aiglos''''' in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', but according to ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', ''Aeglos'' is in fact the more correct spelling.
In editions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' prior to 2005, the spear is spelled ''Aiglos''. Tolkien, however, commented in a manuscript that the more correct [[Sindarin]] spelling is in fact ''Aeglos''.<ref>{{VT|42a}}, p. 11</ref><ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (eds), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 231</ref>


==Etymology==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
Aeglos means "snow-point" or "icicle." The element aeg means "point" from ayak meaning "sharp, pointed." The element los means "snow." Also spelled Aiglos.
[[File:Gil-galad wielding Aeglos.jpg|thumb|Gil-galad wielding Aeglos in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: Aiglos is a Holy weapon with magical abilities.<ref>{{ICE|2010}}</ref>
 
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:Aiglos, only playable by Warriors, gives a direct influence against Elves.
 
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gil-galad is seen wielding the spear. [[Warren Mahy]] desgined the weapon.<ref>Gary Russell, ''[[The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</ref>
 
{{references}}


==References==
* [[The Fellowship of the Ring]], "[[The Council of Elrond]]" pg. 256
* [[The Silmarillion]], "[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]" pg. 294
* [[The Silmarillion]], "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for los; and Index entry for Aeglos (definition)
* [[The History of Middle-earth]], [[The Lost Road and Other Writings]], "[[The Etymologies]]," entry for AYAK
* [[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]
{{weapons}}
{{weapons}}
 
{{title}}
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Spears]]
[[Category:Spears]]
[[de:Aeglos (Speer)]]
[[fr:encyclo:artefacts:armes:aeglos]]
[[fi:Aeglos (keihäs)]]

Revision as of 22:00, 19 October 2012

The name Aeglos refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Aeglos (disambiguation).
Aiglos by Audrey Corman

Aeglos was the name for the spear of Gil-galad which was greatly feared by the enemy. It was broken when Gil-galad fell in combat against Sauron himself, on the slopes of Mount Doom S.A. 3431.[1][2]

Etymology and names

Aeglos means "snow-point"[3] or "icicle"[4]. The element aeg means "point" from root AYAK, "sharp, pointed", and the element los means "snow".[5][6]

In editions of The Lord of the Rings prior to 2005, the spear is spelled Aiglos. Tolkien, however, commented in a manuscript that the more correct Sindarin spelling is in fact Aeglos.[7][8]

Portrayal in adaptations

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Aiglos is a Holy weapon with magical abilities.[9]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Aiglos, only playable by Warriors, gives a direct influence against Elves.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Gil-galad is seen wielding the spear. Warren Mahy desgined the weapon.[10]

References

Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë