Sting: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:John Howe - Sting.jpg|thumb|''Sting'' by [[John Howe]].]]
[[Image:John Howe - Sting.jpg|thumb|''Sting'' by [[John Howe]].]]
'''Sting''' was an [[Elvish]] knife made in [[Gondolin]] in the [[First Age]]. Engraved on the blade and cross-guard were letters in Sindarin that read phonetically, ''Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im''. Translated into English, they read, ''Maegnas is my name, I am the spider's bane.'' According to the Appendix of [[The Silmarillion]], the element ''maeg'' in ''[[Sindarin]]'' means 'sharp' or 'piercing'.
'''Sting''' was an [[Elvish]] knife made in [[Gondolin]] in the [[First Age]]. Its maker and bearer is unknown.


Sting was a magical weapon used by [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo Baggins]] in [[The Hobbit]], which he found in a [[Trolls|Troll]]-hoard along with [[Glamdring]] and [[Orcrist]]. Although it was just a dagger by the standard of [[Men]] or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a [[Hobbit]]. Bilbo gave Sting to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo Baggins]], just before the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set off from [[Rivendell]]. After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the [[Third Age]], it passed to [[Samwise Gamgee]].
Sting was found by [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo Baggins]] in [[The Hobbit]], in a [[Troll]]-hoard along with the other Gondolindrim blades [[Glamdring]] and [[Orcrist]]. Although it was just a dagger by the standard of [[Men]] or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a [[Hobbit]]. During his adventures, Bilbo gave it the name ''Sting'', after killing a [[Giant Spider]].  Bilbo gave Sting to [[Frodo Baggins]], just before the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set off from [[Rivendell]]. After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the [[Third Age]], it passed to [[Samwise Gamgee]].


Its proper name was ''Maegnas'', as fitting in with the heritage of the city of [[Gondolin]] where it was forged. It was renamed 'Sting', in the colloquial manner of the hobbits, by Bilbo, and was referred to by that name in [[The Lord of the Rings]].  
It had the (apparently) magic ability to detect any [[Orcs]] near the weapon. When this presence was felt, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of [[Moria]].


It had the magic ability to detect any [[Orcs|Orc]] presence near it. When this presence was felt, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of [[Moria]].
[[Gollum]], who similarly disliked anything made by Elves, was afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. It also helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily) in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.


[[Gollum]], who similarly disliked anything made by Elves, was afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. It also helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily) in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of [[Ungoliant]], such as the spiders of [[Mirkwood]] in [[The Hobbit]] and [[Shelob]] in [[The Two Towers]]. Sting also cut through the webs of such spiders easily, whereas the [[Daggers of Westernesse|blade]] that Sam brought from the [[Barrow Downs]] failed to cut through Shelob's webs.
 
==Portrayal in Adaptions==
 
In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], Sting is leaf-shaped.  Upon its crossguard are engraved the [[Sindarin]] words:
 
''Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im''


Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of [[Ungoliant]], such as the spiders of [[Mirkwood]] in [[The Hobbit]] and [[Shelob]] in [[The Two Towers]].  Sting also cut through the webs of such spiders easily, whereas the [[Dagger of Westernesse|blade]] that Sam brought from the [[Barrow Downs]] failed to cut through Shelob's webs.
Which is translated "Magenas is my name, I am the spider's bane".


{{weapons}}
{{weapons}}

Revision as of 18:41, 22 November 2006

Sting by John Howe.

Sting was an Elvish knife made in Gondolin in the First Age. Its maker and bearer is unknown.

Sting was found by Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, in a Troll-hoard along with the other Gondolindrim blades Glamdring and Orcrist. Although it was just a dagger by the standard of Men or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a Hobbit. During his adventures, Bilbo gave it the name Sting, after killing a Giant Spider. Bilbo gave Sting to Frodo Baggins, just before the Fellowship of the Ring set off from Rivendell. After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the Third Age, it passed to Samwise Gamgee.

It had the (apparently) magic ability to detect any Orcs near the weapon. When this presence was felt, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of Moria.

Gollum, who similarly disliked anything made by Elves, was afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in The Hobbit. It also helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily) in The Lord of the Rings.

Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of Ungoliant, such as the spiders of Mirkwood in The Hobbit and Shelob in The Two Towers. Sting also cut through the webs of such spiders easily, whereas the blade that Sam brought from the Barrow Downs failed to cut through Shelob's webs.

Portrayal in Adaptions

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, Sting is leaf-shaped. Upon its crossguard are engraved the Sindarin words:

Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im

Which is translated "Magenas is my name, I am the spider's bane".

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
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