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{{disambig-two|Thorin's sword|journal|[[Orcrist (journal)]]}}
{{disambig-two|Thorin's sword|journal|[[Orcrist (journal)]]}}
[[File:Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg|thumb|''Orcrist'' by [[Audrey Corman]]]]
{{object infobox
'''Orcrist''' was the sword of the leader of [[Durin's folk]], [[Thorin]]. It had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt. Thorin obtained the weapon when he and his company searched the [[Troll's Cave|trolls' cave]] early in the quest of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]].<ref>{{H|Mutton}}</ref>
| name=Orcrist
| image=[[File:Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Orcrist" by Audrey Corman
| pronun=
| othernames=Biter
| location=[[Gondolin]], [[Erebor]]
| owner=[[Thorin]]
| type=Weapon
| appearance=Jewelled hilt, glowed blue in the presence of Orcs
| creator=
| created=
| createdlocation=
| destroyer=
| destroyed=
| destroyedlocation=
| notablefor=
}}
'''Orcrist''' was an Elven sword, the mate of [[Glamdring]]. It had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt. Like [[Glamdring]] and [[Sting]], the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.


Goblins called the blade '''Biter'''.<ref>{{H|Hill}}</ref> It had been crafted by the [[Elves]], who not only made it a valuable weapon, but also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth.<ref>{{H|Rest}}</ref> Like [[Glamdring]] and [[Sting]], the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.
Goblins called the blade '''Biter'''.<ref name=hill>{{H|Hill}}</ref> It had been crafted by the [[Elves]], who not only made it a valuable weapon, but also a feared one to their enemies, particularly among [[Orcs]] and other evil creatures.<ref name=rest>{{H|Rest}}</ref>  


Thorin was mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. After his death Orcrist was placed upon Thorin's tomb and it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached".<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref>
==History==
As the "mate" to King [[Turgon]]'s sword Glamdring, Orcrist was likely borne by him, or a high ranking lord of the [[Gondolindrim]] in the King's entourage.


==Possession==
Orcrist "had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls".<ref name=hill/> During the [[Fall of Gondolin]], [[Rog]], [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]], [[Egalmoth]], [[Tuor]] and [[Ecthelion]]'s houses defended at the gates before the walls. [[Ecthelion]] led a charge that resulted in the deaths of thousands of [[orcs]], which made his name a terror to their race, before fighting [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]].
[[File:The Hobbit (film series) - Thorin and Orcrist.jpg|thumb|left|Orcrist in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]]]
As the "mate" to King [[Turgon]]'s sword Glamdring, Orcrist was likely borne by a high ranking lord in the King's entourage.


Since [[Maeglin]] presumably still had his father's sword, [[Anguirel]], it was not his. [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]] bore a bow, while [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]] carried a club and [[Rog]] a mace. [[Tuor]] seems to have come to [[Gondolin]] after Glamdring had been forged, and if this was the mate it should have been forged before his arrival as well. In any case, Tuor bore an axe, not a sword. [[Glorfindel of Gondolin|Glorfindel]] died outside of the city; [[Egalmoth]] wielded a curved-blade, most likely a falchion; in any case, Orcrist was not curved and [[Egalmoth]] survived during the [[Fall of Gondolin]]. [[Salgant]] was a lesser lord and was feeble and subservient to Maeglin. [[Ecthelion|Ecthelion of the Fountain]] perished in Gondolin as he slew [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], even though he fell into the [[Fountain of the King]], his hands were greatly wounded before meeting [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] and sword dropped, so Orcrist might be left in the city and picked up by one of the enemies possibly by a dragon.
By the [[Third Age]] Orcrist and its mate were found and kept in a [[Troll's Cave|trolls' cave]] in [[Eriador]]. [[Thorin and Company]], found and searched the cave early in the [[Quest of Erebor]], and [[Thorin]] [[Oakenshield]] obtained the weapon.<ref>{{H|Mutton}}</ref> [[Elrond]] identified the sword and Thorin promised to honor the sword and hoped to cleave Goblins once again<ref name=rest/> which he did when captured in [[Goblin-town]].<ref name=hill/>
Another possibility is [[Penlod]], however, who's house ([[House of the Tower of Snow]]) was lesser in status than Ecthelion's ([[House of the Fountain]]).


As described in [[the Hobbit]], Orcrist "had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls". Only [[Rog]], [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]], [[Egalmoth]], [[Tuor]] and [[Ecthelion]]'s houses defended at the gates before the walls, and none of them except [[Ecthelion]] bore a sword. Thus, the most probable assumption is that Orcrist belonged to [[Ecthelion]], but this is never stated explicitly in any of Tolkien's writings.
Thorin was disarmed when captured by the [[Elves of Mirkwood]] and Orcrist was kept there.<ref>{{H|8}}</ref> However after his death, [[Thranduil]] returned Orcrist and placed it upon Thorin's tomb under [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], and it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached".<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref>
In the [[Fall of Gondolin]], it is stated that [[Ecthelion]] led a charge that resulted in the deaths of thousands of [[orcs]], which made his name a terror to their race – the fact that the orcs were angry upon finding that [[Thorin]] wielded Orcrist may be an echo of this carnage. It is interesting that if Orcrist did belong to [[Ecthelion]], the two swords were both used to fight the two most famous balrogs, Orcrist to fight [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]] and [[Glamdring]] to fight [[Durin's Bane]].


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Orcrist'' is [[Sindarin]] for "goblin-cleaver".<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 265</ref>
''Orcrist'' is [[Sindarin]] for "goblin-cleaver".<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 265</ref>
[[File:The Hobbit (film series) - Thorin and Orcrist.jpg|thumb|right|Orcrist in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]]]
In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'', the name ''Orchrist'' is said to be a "sword-name", related to [[Noldorin]] ''risto'' ("rend, rip"), derived from the [[Sundocarme|root]] RIS ("slash, rip").<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 384</ref>


In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'', the name ''Orchrist'' is said to be a "sword-name", related to [[Noldorin]] ''risto'' ("rend, rip"), derived from the [[Sundocarme|root]] RIS ("slash, rip").<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 384</ref>
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''  
:As in the book, the sword is found in the trolls' cave and is identified as Orcrist by [[Elrond]] in [[Rivendell]]. The hilt of the sword is a dragon's tooth and the sword contains the [[Sindarin]] inscription "NAGOL E-LYG" meaning "Tooth of-Snake [or dragon]".<ref>[[Jude Fisher]], ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Visual Companion]]'', p. 13</ref>
 
:When it is discovered by the Goblins, the [[Great Goblin]] recognizes the sword, and claimed that it sliced a thousand necks. Later, when Thorin and Company are captured by the Wood-elves, [[Legolas]] personally confiscates the sword, believing that Thorin Oakenshield had stolen it from his kinfolk. He then takes up the legendary weapon as his own, using it when [[Bolg]] and his stealth-Orcs raid Lake-town in search of the Dwarves, and during the Battle of the Five Armies, where he returns Orcrist to Thorin just in time for his final showdown with [[Azog| Azog the Defiler]].


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{{Weapons}}
{{Weapons}}
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[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[de:Orcrist]]
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[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/armes/orcrist]]

Revision as of 20:18, 25 December 2018

This article is about Thorin's sword. For the journal, see Orcrist (journal).
Orcrist
Weapon
Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg
"Orcrist" by Audrey Corman
Other namesBiter
LocationGondolin, Erebor
OwnerThorin
AppearanceJewelled hilt, glowed blue in the presence of Orcs
GalleryImages of Orcrist

Orcrist was an Elven sword, the mate of Glamdring. It had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt. Like Glamdring and Sting, the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.

Goblins called the blade Biter.[1] It had been crafted by the Elves, who not only made it a valuable weapon, but also a feared one to their enemies, particularly among Orcs and other evil creatures.[2]

History

As the "mate" to King Turgon's sword Glamdring, Orcrist was likely borne by him, or a high ranking lord of the Gondolindrim in the King's entourage.

Orcrist "had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls".[1] During the Fall of Gondolin, Rog, Duilin, Egalmoth, Tuor and Ecthelion's houses defended at the gates before the walls. Ecthelion led a charge that resulted in the deaths of thousands of orcs, which made his name a terror to their race, before fighting Gothmog.

By the Third Age Orcrist and its mate were found and kept in a trolls' cave in Eriador. Thorin and Company, found and searched the cave early in the Quest of Erebor, and Thorin Oakenshield obtained the weapon.[3] Elrond identified the sword and Thorin promised to honor the sword and hoped to cleave Goblins once again[2] which he did when captured in Goblin-town.[1]

Thorin was disarmed when captured by the Elves of Mirkwood and Orcrist was kept there.[4] However after his death, Thranduil returned Orcrist and placed it upon Thorin's tomb under Erebor, and it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached".[5]

Etymology

Orcrist is Sindarin for "goblin-cleaver".[6]

In the Etymologies, the name Orchrist is said to be a "sword-name", related to Noldorin risto ("rend, rip"), derived from the root RIS ("slash, rip").[7]

Portrayal in adaptations

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

As in the book, the sword is found in the trolls' cave and is identified as Orcrist by Elrond in Rivendell. The hilt of the sword is a dragon's tooth and the sword contains the Sindarin inscription "NAGOL E-LYG" meaning "Tooth of-Snake [or dragon]".[8]
When it is discovered by the Goblins, the Great Goblin recognizes the sword, and claimed that it sliced a thousand necks. Later, when Thorin and Company are captured by the Wood-elves, Legolas personally confiscates the sword, believing that Thorin Oakenshield had stolen it from his kinfolk. He then takes up the legendary weapon as his own, using it when Bolg and his stealth-Orcs raid Lake-town in search of the Dwarves, and during the Battle of the Five Armies, where he returns Orcrist to Thorin just in time for his final showdown with Azog the Defiler.

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