Hounds

From Tolkien Gateway
Noble Hound by Omar Rayyan

Hounds were dogs bred for hunting.

Hounds were among the favorite animals of Oromë.[1] The greatest of all hounds in the histories of Middle-earth was Huan the Hound of Valinor, one of the Hounds of Oromë, who defeated Sauron in single combat.[2]

Other names[edit | edit source]

The Sindarin word huan means "great dog, hound".[3] Quenya ronyo and Noldorin rhŷn mean "'chaser', hound of chase".[4]

In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's early conceptions of an Elven language, the word for "large hound" is gobi or gôbi. The word saur means "hound, wild dog".[5]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

The Hound most often refers to "the fierce wolfhound (S. 'huadraug')", used by Men or Hobbits, and sometimes found in the wild. In the Elder Days, the Hounds were used by noble Men to hunt Morgoth's wargs and werewolves.[6]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

"Wild Hounds", portrayed attacking an orc, is a Resource Faction. "Hounds of Sauron" is a Resource Event, which can be played against hero companies. And the "Noble Hound" is Resource Ally, playable by Hero companies.

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry for Huan
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 384 (root ROY1-)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), pp. 36, 40, 67
  6. Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012)