Tolkien Gateway

Great Eagle

Darrell Sweet - The Lord of the Eagles.jpg
Great Eagle
Maia
Biographical Information
Other namesLord of the Eagles
Date of deathImmortal
Duty/AppointmentManwë
Physical Description
GenderMale
AppearanceGreat Eagle

The Great Eagle was the Lord of the Eagles in the Third Age and perhaps a descendant of Thorondor.

He resided in the eyrie of the Misty Mountains with 15 chieftains, and remembered helping Dwarves in his service.

Once he suffered from a poisoned wound, and was healed by Gandalf and thenceforth they became friends.

During the Quest for Erebor, they saved Thorin and Company as they flew from the Goblin-town and brought them to the eyrie;[1] later they played a crucial role in the Battle of the Five Armies (T.A. 2941).[2] After this he became King of All Birds and wore a golden crown.[3]

[edit] Background

It is often thought that the Great Eagle is the same individual as Gwaihir. Among several points which separate the two, the Great Eagle is mentioned to wear a crown after The Hobbit but no crown is mentioned with Gwaihir in The Lord of the Rings.

[edit] References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Clouds Burst"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"


Ainur
Valar
Lords:  Manwë | Ulmo | Aulë | Oromë | Mandos | Irmo | Tulkas
Queens:  Varda | Yavanna | Nienna | Estë | Vairë | Vána | Nessa
Former:  Melkor
Associated Maiar
Manwë Eönwë | Olórin | Eagles Varda Ilmarë | Olórin | Arien
Ulmo Ossë | Uinen | Salmar Yavanna Aiwendil
Aulë Mairon | Curumo Estë Melian
Oromë Tilion | Alatar | Pallando Vána
Other Maiar
Balrogs Gothmog | Durin's Bane
Eagles Thorondor | Great Eagle | Gwaihir | Landroval | Meneldor
Wizards Saruman | Gandalf | Radagast | Blue Wizards (Rómestámo-Morinehtar)
Topics
Music | Valarin | Almaren | Valinor | Valmar | Second Music