Ungoliant: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
m (Added image caption)
(19 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{cleanup}}{{sources}}
{{cleanup}}{{sources}}
{{evil infobox
{{evil infobox
| image=[[file:Guy Gondron - Morgoth and Ungoliant.jpg|250px]]
| name=Ungoliant
| name=Ungoliant
| othernames= Gloomweaver, Delduthling
| image=[[File:Guy Gondron - Morgoth and Ungoliant.jpg|250px]]
| created=
| caption="Morgoth and Ungoliant" by [[Guy Gondron]]
| years=
| othernames=Gloomweaver, Delduthling
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Avathar]] ([[Year of the Trees]])<br/>[[Nan Dungortheb]] (early [[First Age]])
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| age=
| destroyed=
| notablefor=Destroying the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]
| realm= [[Avathar]] ([[Year of the Trees]]); [[Nan Dungortheb]] (early [[First Age]])
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=[[Shelob]]
| race=[[Spiders|Spider]]
| gender=Female
| gender=Female
| race= [[Maiar]]{{fact}}
| height=
| appearance=Like a large spider
| hair=
| accomplishments=Destruction of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
}}
'''Ungoliant''' was an evil [[Spirits (creatures)|spirit]] in a form that greatly resembled a massive [[Spiders|Spider]] who dwelt in [[Avathar]] prior to the [[First Age]].  
'''Ungoliant''' was an evil [[Spirits (creatures)|spirit]] in a form that greatly resembled a massive [[Spiders|Spider]] who dwelt in [[Avathar]] prior to the [[First Age]].  


==History==
==History==
Ungoliant's origins are shrouded in mystery. It is thought that she may have been one of the [[Maiar]], or a lesser spirit, whom [[Morgoth|Melkor]] corrupted long ago, but she is not listed among the [[Ainur]]. It is also said that she came from the darkness above the skies of Arda, leading some to believe that she may be an incarnation of darkness or emptiness itself. {{fact}} What is known is that during the [[Years of the Trees|Age of the Trees]] she had disowned Melkor and lived independently in Avathar.
Ungoliant's origins are shrouded in mystery. It is thought that she may have been one of the [[Maiar]], or a lesser spirit, whom [[Morgoth|Melkor]] corrupted long ago, but she is not listed among the [[Ainur]]. It is also said that she came from the darkness above the skies of Arda, leading some to believe that she may be an incarnation of darkness or emptiness itself.{{fact}} What is known is that during the [[Years of the Trees|Age of the Trees]] she had disowned Melkor and lived independently in Avathar.


After [[Morgoth|Melkor]] sowed discord among the Noldor and fled Valinor, he sought Ungoliant's aid in his attack on the [[Two Trees of Valinor]]. She helped Melkor infiltrate [[Valinor]] by shrouding both herself and her ally in webs of pure darkness. Once within Valinor, Ungoliant drank the light from the Two Trees after Morgoth wounded them with his spear. She also drained dry the Wells of [[Varda]] so that nothing remained of the Light of the [[Two Lamps]] save that of the [[Silmarils]] of [[Fëanor]]. After this terrible act, Ungoliant and Melkor fled to [[Middle-earth]] to escape justice at the hands of the [[Valar]].   
After [[Morgoth|Melkor]] sowed discord among the Noldor and fled Valinor, he sought Ungoliant's aid in his attack on the [[Two Trees of Valinor]]. She helped Melkor infiltrate [[Valinor]] by shrouding both herself and her ally in webs of pure darkness. Once within Valinor, Ungoliant drank the light from the Two Trees after Morgoth wounded them with his spear. She also drained dry the Wells of [[Varda]] so that nothing remained of the Light of the [[Two Lamps]] save that of the [[Silmarils]] of [[Fëanor]]. After this terrible act, Ungoliant and Melkor fled to [[Middle-earth]] to escape justice at the hands of the [[Valar]].   
Line 23: Line 40:
[[File:John Howe - The Killing of the Trees.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Howe]] - ''The Killing of the Trees'']]
[[File:John Howe - The Killing of the Trees.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Howe]] - ''The Killing of the Trees'']]


In order to gain Ungoliant's assistance, Melkor had promised to reward her, "Yea, with both hands", and after their flight from [[Valinor]], the Dark Lord indeed gave her many gems of the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]]. However, he withheld the Silmarils in his right hand, having desired them too greatly to allow the Great Spider to devour them. In response, an enraged Ungoliant attacked Melkor as punishment for his perceived betrayal. Having grown far larger and stronger than before by absorbing the light of the Two Trees, the Gloomweaver would have killed Melkor had not the [[Balrogs]] come and saved their master.
In order to gain Ungoliant's assistance, Melkor had promised to reward her, "Yea, with both hands", and after their flight from [[Valinor]], the Dark Lord indeed gave her many gems of the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]]. However, he withheld the Silmarils in his right hand, having desired them too greatly to allow the Great Spider to devour them. In response, an enraged Ungoliant wrapped Melkor in her webs, and poised to devour him as punishment for his perceived betrayal. Having grown far larger and stronger than before by absorbing the light of the Two Trees, the Gloomweaver would have killed Melkor had not his cry of desperation been heard by his [[Balrogs]], who took flight and saved their master.<ref>{{S|Flight}}</ref>


Overcome by the Balrogs' fiery whips, Ungoliant fled to the [[Ered Gorgoroth]] in [[Beleriand]]. There, she had many offspring, including [[Shelob]], which spread throughout the Ered Gorgoroth and gave it a reputation as a place of horror.  Ungoliant herself eventually disappeared from history, but her final fate is not precisely known; it is said that she went into the forgotten south of the world shortly before the [[First Age]], and some have said that she eventually let her ever growing hunger overcome her and devoured herself at last. <ref>{{S|9}}</ref> In contrast, a rough sketch of [[Eärendil]]'s voyages by Tolkien suggests that he slew Ungoliant in the south.
Overcome by the Balrogs' fiery whips, Ungoliant fled to the [[Ered Gorgoroth]] in [[Beleriand]]. There, she had many offspring, including [[Shelob]], which spread throughout the Ered Gorgoroth and gave it a reputation as a place of horror.  Ungoliant herself eventually disappeared from history, but her final fate is not precisely known; it is said that she went into the forgotten south of the world shortly before the [[First Age]], and some have said that she eventually let her ever growing hunger overcome her and devoured herself at last. <ref>{{S|9}}</ref>  


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Line 31: Line 48:


She is also called "gloomweaver," '''Virilomë''' {{IPA|[ˌviriˈlome]}}) ('''Wirilomë''' in [[Vanyarin]]) which becomes '''Gwerlum''' ({{IPA|[ɡʷerlum]}}) in Sindarin.
She is also called "gloomweaver," '''Virilomë''' {{IPA|[ˌviriˈlome]}}) ('''Wirilomë''' in [[Vanyarin]]) which becomes '''Gwerlum''' ({{IPA|[ɡʷerlum]}}) in Sindarin.
==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | UNG | | | |UNG='''UNGOLIANT'''</br><small>''fl. {{YT|1495}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|~|7| | |}}
{{familytree| SHE | | NAN | |SHE=[[Shelob]]</br><small>''fl. {{TA|3019}}''</small>|NAN=''[[Spiders]] of [[Nan Dungortheb]]''}}
{{familytree| |:| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| MIR | | | | | |MIR=''[[Spiders]] of [[Mirkwood]]''}}
{{familytree/end}}


==Other version of the legendarium==
==Other version of the legendarium==
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', Ungoliant's history is even more mysterious then what is implied in the published edition of ''The Silmarillion''. Here, even the Valar did not know of her origins, and she was portrayed as a primeval spirit of night, and believed to be a creature bred of the darkness of the Void.
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', Ungoliant's history is even more mysterious than what is implied in the published edition of ''The Silmarillion''. Here, even the Valar did not know of her origins, and she was portrayed as a primeval spirit of night, and believed to be a creature bred of the darkness of the Void.


Also, Melkor and his companions encounter Ungoliant in her lair (here, known as Arvalin) by coincidence while fleeing from the Valar.
Also, Melkor and his companions encounter Ungoliant in her lair (here, known as Arvalin) by coincidence while fleeing from the Valar.
Line 40: Line 66:


After the Darkening of Valinor, instead of fleeing with Melkor, Ungoliant immediately flees southwards towards her lair, and successfully eludes the Valar.
After the Darkening of Valinor, instead of fleeing with Melkor, Ungoliant immediately flees southwards towards her lair, and successfully eludes the Valar.
In an early sketch of the voyages of [[Earendel]] in the ''Lost Tales'', Tolkien considered to have Earendel meet her (as Wirilomë) in his travels, which Christopher Tolkien found surprising.<ref>{{LT2|V}}</ref> In the first sketch of the ''Silmarillion'' ([[1926]]) intended to "reboot" the legendarium, Earendel slew Ungoliant.<ref>{{SM|2}}</ref>


==In adaptations==
==In adaptations==
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:While discussing the darkness that has fallen over [[Mirkwood]], [[Radagast]] describes the spiders there as "[s]ome kind of spawn of Ungoliant".
:While discussing the darkness that has fallen over [[Mirkwood]], [[Radagast]] describes the spiders there as "[s]ome kind of spawn of Ungoliant".


[[Category:Spiders]]
[[Category:Spiders]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]

Revision as of 13:35, 20 September 2015

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
Ungoliant
Spider
Guy Gondron - Morgoth and Ungoliant.jpg
"Morgoth and Ungoliant" by Guy Gondron
Biographical Information
LocationAvathar (Year of the Trees)
Nan Dungortheb (early First Age)
Notable forDestroying the Two Trees
Family
ChildrenShelob
Physical Description
RaceSpider
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Ungoliant

Ungoliant was an evil spirit in a form that greatly resembled a massive Spider who dwelt in Avathar prior to the First Age.

History

Ungoliant's origins are shrouded in mystery. It is thought that she may have been one of the Maiar, or a lesser spirit, whom Melkor corrupted long ago, but she is not listed among the Ainur. It is also said that she came from the darkness above the skies of Arda, leading some to believe that she may be an incarnation of darkness or emptiness itself.[source?] What is known is that during the Age of the Trees she had disowned Melkor and lived independently in Avathar.

After Melkor sowed discord among the Noldor and fled Valinor, he sought Ungoliant's aid in his attack on the Two Trees of Valinor. She helped Melkor infiltrate Valinor by shrouding both herself and her ally in webs of pure darkness. Once within Valinor, Ungoliant drank the light from the Two Trees after Morgoth wounded them with his spear. She also drained dry the Wells of Varda so that nothing remained of the Light of the Two Lamps save that of the Silmarils of Fëanor. After this terrible act, Ungoliant and Melkor fled to Middle-earth to escape justice at the hands of the Valar.

John Howe - The Killing of the Trees

In order to gain Ungoliant's assistance, Melkor had promised to reward her, "Yea, with both hands", and after their flight from Valinor, the Dark Lord indeed gave her many gems of the Ñoldor. However, he withheld the Silmarils in his right hand, having desired them too greatly to allow the Great Spider to devour them. In response, an enraged Ungoliant wrapped Melkor in her webs, and poised to devour him as punishment for his perceived betrayal. Having grown far larger and stronger than before by absorbing the light of the Two Trees, the Gloomweaver would have killed Melkor had not his cry of desperation been heard by his Balrogs, who took flight and saved their master.[1]

Overcome by the Balrogs' fiery whips, Ungoliant fled to the Ered Gorgoroth in Beleriand. There, she had many offspring, including Shelob, which spread throughout the Ered Gorgoroth and gave it a reputation as a place of horror. Ungoliant herself eventually disappeared from history, but her final fate is not precisely known; it is said that she went into the forgotten south of the world shortly before the First Age, and some have said that she eventually let her ever growing hunger overcome her and devoured herself at last. [2]

Etymology

The name is pronounced [uŋˈɡoljant]. In the form Ungoliant the name is technically Sindarin, but is a direct loan from Quenya Ungweliantë (ungwë + liantë: "dark spider"; pron. [uŋʷˌɡʷeliˈante]); the strictly Sindarin form being Delduthling "dark terror spider."

She is also called "gloomweaver," Virilomë [ˌviriˈlome]) (Wirilomë in Vanyarin) which becomes Gwerlum ([ɡʷerlum]) in Sindarin.

Genealogy

 
 
UNGOLIANT
fl. Y.T. 1495
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shelob
fl. T.A. 3019
 
Spiders of Nan Dungortheb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spiders of Mirkwood
 
 
 
 
 


Other version of the legendarium

In The Book of Lost Tales, Ungoliant's history is even more mysterious than what is implied in the published edition of The Silmarillion. Here, even the Valar did not know of her origins, and she was portrayed as a primeval spirit of night, and believed to be a creature bred of the darkness of the Void.

Also, Melkor and his companions encounter Ungoliant in her lair (here, known as Arvalin) by coincidence while fleeing from the Valar.

Melkor and Ungoliant are shown to be on much friendlier terms with each other than what is shown in later versions of The Silmarillion, as Melkor willingly offers the jewels that were stolen from the Elves, apart from the Silmarils (the Theft of the Silmarils ocurring before the Darkening of Valinor, in this version).

After the Darkening of Valinor, instead of fleeing with Melkor, Ungoliant immediately flees southwards towards her lair, and successfully eludes the Valar.

In an early sketch of the voyages of Earendel in the Lost Tales, Tolkien considered to have Earendel meet her (as Wirilomë) in his travels, which Christopher Tolkien found surprising.[3] In the first sketch of the Silmarillion (1926) intended to "reboot" the legendarium, Earendel slew Ungoliant.[4]

In adaptations

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

While discussing the darkness that has fallen over Mirkwood, Radagast describes the spiders there as "[s]ome kind of spawn of Ungoliant".

References