Nauglamír
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The Nauglamír or Necklace of the Dwarves is a piece of jewelry that bore the Silmaril rescued by Beren from the Iron Crown, and as such, it was coveted by the Sons of Feanor.
It was of great grace and beauty which it gave to its wearer. Despite being loaded with gems, it sat lightly on the neck.
With the gems of Valinor, together with the Silmaril, it became jewelry more beautiful than anything ever before seen in Arda.
History
The Nauglamir was made for Finrod by Dwarves of the Ered Luin (probably Dwarves of Nogrod) and was the most renowned of their works in that age. They fastened on it gems that Finrod brought from Valinor.[1] It was his most prized trasure in Nargthrond and the most famed Dwarven work of the Elder Days.[2]
During and after the Fall of Nargothrond[3] the Nauglamír remained therefore forgotten in the hoard of Glaurung. Húrin Thalion found it and brought the famous treasure to the Kingdom of Doriath, and threw it on the floor, bitterly "thanking" Thingol for fostering his son and wife. When Húrin left, Dwarves of Nogrod had been invited to Menegroth by Thingol and decided to refashion it and fast the Silmaril of Lúthien and Beren on it.[2]
The Dwarves were enthralled by its gems and of course the Silmaril, and demanded it from Thingol, claiming it as just payment for their labours. Thingol realized that they wished to possess the Silmaril, and sent them from Doriath without any payment, an event which led directly to the murder of Thingol. The Dwarves fled, only to be slaughtered by the avenging Elves who killed all but two and returned the Nauglamír to Doriath. Those returned to Nogrod, and roused their kin to war who then marched with a great host to sack the Menegroth and reclaimed the Nauglamír and the entire treasure. But they were waylaid by Beren Erchamion at Sarn Athrad. The Dwarves were all slain, and the treasure was cast into the River Ascar, except for the Nauglamír, which Beren took with him to Lúthien.[2]
Lúthien wore the Nauglamír for the rest of her life, their combining beauty being the fairest beauty east of Valinor. At her death, a Lord of the Laiquendi brought it to her son, Dior, back to Doriath; but when the Sons of Fëanor heard about its whereabouts, they attacked Doriath in an attempt to claim the Silmaril in the Second Kinslaying where Dior was killed. This attempt failed, as Dior's daughter Elwing fled to the Havens of Sirion saving the Nauglamír.[2]
The Sons of Fëanor were still after the Silmaril, and attacked the Mouths of Sirion, resulting in the Third Kinslaying. Elwing cast herself into the sea with it. It is not known what happened to the Nauglamír, but Elwing and the Silmaril were saved by the Vala Ulmo who brought her in the hands of Eärendil; it was its light that guided him through the Shadowy Seas and he found his way to Valinor. The Valar then set this Silmaril as a Star and worn on his brow.[4]
Etymology and Names
In the Etymologies appears the Doriathrin form nauglamîr,[5] while the true Noldorin idiom is said to be Mîr na Nauglin or Nauglvir (-> Nauglavir).[6]s
The old form of the Nauglamir, the Nauglafring is in Goldogrin. The first element is naugl-, "dwarf", and the second element is fring, "carcanet, necklace".[7][8]
Other Versions of the Legendarium
In the published The Silmarillion, the Nauglamír is said to have been forged by Dwarves for Felagund, and is the only piece of the treasure of Nargothrond that Húrin takes to Doriath.[9]
In The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, the Nauglamír, then called Nauglafring, is more important: it more directly causes the death of Thingol as it gets caught behind a tree branch when Thingol is riding outside the Girdle of Melian and is attacked by the Dwarves. Thingol, unhorsed, is slain, after which Melian's protection is lifted and Doriath is sacked.[10]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 373 (root MIR-)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 375 (note that Christopher Tolkien uses the capitalized form of Mîr in the Index; cf. p. 442)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "IV. The Nauglafring"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "IV. The Nauglafring": "Notes and Commentary"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "IV. The Nauglafring"
