Gerontius Took
| Gerontius Took | |
|---|---|
| Hobbit | |
| File:Liz Danforth Gerontius took.jpg | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Old Took |
| Location | Great Smials, Tuckborough |
| Birth | S.R. 1190 |
| Death | S.R. 1320 |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Fortinbras Took I |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Gerontius Took |
Gerontius Took (S.R. 1190 - 1320, died aged 130), also known as The Old Took, was a renowned Hobbit and twenty-sixth Thain of the Shire.
History
Gerontius was the only son of Fortinbras I. He married Adamanta Chubb, who gave birth to twelve children: Isengrim III, Hildigard, Isumbras IV, Hildigrim, Isembold, Hildifons, Isembard, Hildibrand, Belladonna, Donnamira, Mirabella and Isengar.
After the death of his father in 1248, Gerontius became the twenty-sixth Thain of the Shire.[1] He was a friend of Gandalf, who gave him a pair of magic diamond studs.[2]
Gerontius Took reached the impressive age of 130, which made him the oldest Hobbit until his grandson Bilbo Baggins celebrated his 131st Birthday.[3] He also held the record of most offspring, until Samwise Gamgee bested him with Tom's birth in S.R. 1442.[4]
Etymology
The word element geron is Greek for old. He was called The Old Took not because of his age, but because of his numerous younger relatives.[5]
Gerontius was also a Latin name of the Late Roman Empire, and is one of the very few Greco-Latin names appearing in Hobbit lore.
Inspiration
In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Kloos, Tolkien wrote that when he wrote The Hobbit, he had imagined Bilbo's grandfather to be old, because both of his grandparents were around a hundred years old when they died.[5]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Took of Great Smials"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Grey Havens"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "The Longfather-tree of Master Samwise"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, page 54
| Preceded by: Fortinbras Took I |
26th Thain of The Shire S.R. 1248 - 1320 |
Followed by: Isengrim Took III |
