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'Iron of the Flaming Star', the sword forged by [[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]] and borne by [[Beleg]] of [[Doriath]]. It was later reforged as [[Túrin]]'s black sword, [[Gurthang]].
[[File:María Lombide Ezpeleta - Eöl's Swords.jpg|thumb|''Eol's Swords'' by [[María Lombide Ezpeleta]]]]


[[Category:Weapons]]
'''Anglachel''' was the sword forged by [[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]] from a meteorite. Its mate was [[Anguirel]]. The blade was black but also glowed and was so hard that it could easily slice through iron. It was said that it was imbued with Eöl's malice and was apparently sentient.
==History==
Eöl gave Anglachel to his lord, King [[Thingol]] of [[Doriath]], as payment for letting him dwell in the [[Nan Elmoth|Forest of Nan Elmoth]]. Thingol would not bear it, as [[Melian]] warned him that there was malice in the blade, so it stayed in the armoury of [[Menegroth]].
[[File:Elena Kukanova - Anglachel.jpg|thumb|left|Elena Kukanova - ''Anglachel'']]
In {{FA|487}} Thingol allowed [[Beleg|Beleg Strongbow]] to take any weapon in his search of his friend [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]], and he took Anglachel. He tracked down the [[Orcs]] taking Túrin captive to [[Angband]] and in the dead of night, sought to free him in secret. But when he used Anglachel to cut the bonds of Túrin, due to the spite of its forger it slipped and pricked the unconscious body of Túrin. Awakening from his stupor, Túrin thought the Orcs had returned to torture him, and during the struggle he slew Beleg with the blade. After the fight, Anglachel's edges became dull and turned a dead black and for that time ceased to glow with a 'pale fire'. This was attributed to its apparent sentience as Anglachel was in a state of mourning over the slaying of Beleg.
 
Túrin later reforged the sword with the help of the smiths of [[Nargothrond]]. The blade remained black, however, and Túrin renamed it '''[[Gurthang]]''', meaning 'iron of death'. Anglachel was the sword that Túrin used to kill [[Glaurung]].<ref>{{S|Turin}}</ref>
 
==Etymology==
[[Christopher Tolkien]] notes that ''Anglachel'' contains the [[Sindarin]] word ''[[ang]]'' ("iron") and probably the element ''[[lhach]]'' ("leaping flame").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''ang'' and ''lhach''</ref> This would give the meaning "Flaming Iron". The last element in ''Anglachel'' could be ''êl'' ("star").<ref>[http://www.tolkiendil.com/langues/english/i-lam_arth/compound_sindarin_names Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth] at [http://www.tolkiendil.com Tolkiendil.com] (accessed 20 July 2011)</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Anglachel|Images of Anglachel]]
 
{{References}}
 
{{weapons}}
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[de:Gurthang]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/armes/anglachel]]
[[fi:Anglachel]]

Revision as of 16:50, 15 February 2015

Eol's Swords by María Lombide Ezpeleta

Anglachel was the sword forged by Eöl the Dark Elf from a meteorite. Its mate was Anguirel. The blade was black but also glowed and was so hard that it could easily slice through iron. It was said that it was imbued with Eöl's malice and was apparently sentient.

History

Eöl gave Anglachel to his lord, King Thingol of Doriath, as payment for letting him dwell in the Forest of Nan Elmoth. Thingol would not bear it, as Melian warned him that there was malice in the blade, so it stayed in the armoury of Menegroth.

Elena Kukanova - Anglachel

In F.A. 487 Thingol allowed Beleg Strongbow to take any weapon in his search of his friend Túrin Turambar, and he took Anglachel. He tracked down the Orcs taking Túrin captive to Angband and in the dead of night, sought to free him in secret. But when he used Anglachel to cut the bonds of Túrin, due to the spite of its forger it slipped and pricked the unconscious body of Túrin. Awakening from his stupor, Túrin thought the Orcs had returned to torture him, and during the struggle he slew Beleg with the blade. After the fight, Anglachel's edges became dull and turned a dead black and for that time ceased to glow with a 'pale fire'. This was attributed to its apparent sentience as Anglachel was in a state of mourning over the slaying of Beleg.

Túrin later reforged the sword with the help of the smiths of Nargothrond. The blade remained black, however, and Túrin renamed it Gurthang, meaning 'iron of death'. Anglachel was the sword that Túrin used to kill Glaurung.[1]

Etymology

Christopher Tolkien notes that Anglachel contains the Sindarin word ang ("iron") and probably the element lhach ("leaping flame").[2] This would give the meaning "Flaming Iron". The last element in Anglachel could be êl ("star").[3]

See also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entries ang and lhach
  3. Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth at Tolkiendil.com (accessed 20 July 2011)
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