Gothmog (balrog)

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This article is about the Balrog of the First Age. For the the Lieutenant of Morgul, see Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul).
Gothmog
Maia (Balrog)
Ted Nasmith - Fingon and Gothmog.jpg
"Fingon and Gothmog" by Ted Nasmith
Biographical Information
PronunciationS, [ˈɡoθmoɡ]
PositionLord of Balrogs
High-captain of Angband
LocationUtumno
Angband
AffiliationMorgoth
BirthCreation of the Ainur
Timeless Halls
DeathF.A. 510
Fall of Gondolin
Notable forKilling Fëanor, Fingon and Ecthelion
Capturing Húrin
Being victorious in Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Leading the assault on Gondolin
Physical Description
GenderMale
HeightPossibly twice man-height
WeaponryBlack axe and whip
GalleryImages of Gothmog

Gothmog was the Lord of Balrogs and the High-captain of Angband, one of the foremost captains of the Dark Lord Morgoth during the First Age.

History[edit | edit source]

He is first mentioned at the Dagor-nuin-Giliath when his Balrogs surrounded and attacked Fëanor, whom Gothmog himself mortally wounded, before they were forced to depart to Angband when the Sons of Fëanor came to their fathers aid.[1]

He next appeared at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad where he was named high-captain of Angband, signifying his status as one of Morgoth's most important servants.[note 1] There at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad he slew Fingon, thus allowing him to boast of having slain two of the five High Kings of the Noldor.[2] During this same battle he captured Húrin Thalion alive by the command of Morgoth, although this order allowed Húrin to slaughter many of Gothmog's troll-guards he was eventually captured, bound and dragged to Angband by Gothmog.[3]:59

His final appearance was as the marshal of the hosts at the Fall of Gondolin, where he slew, and was slain by, Ecthelion in the square of the King.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name Gothmog is derived from the roots GOS-/GOTH- ("dread"), and MBAW- ("compel, force, subject, oppress") (found also in the title for Morgoth Bauglir: the tyrant or oppressor).[5]:359, 372

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

The Book of Lost Tales[edit | edit source]

Ecthelion and Gothmog by Abe Papakhian

Gothmog already appears in the earliest stage of the legendarium of The Book of Lost Tales. His name is Gnomish and means "Strife-and-hatred".[6] Other Qenya names were Kalimbo,[7] Kosomot[8] or Kosmoko.[6]

In the character list appended to The Fall of Gondolin Gothmog was described as "a son of Melko and the ogress Fluithuin,"[9]:216 but eventually, the idea that the Valar had children was discarded altogether.

According to the own Lost Tale, when the armies of Melko attacked Gondolin and surrounded it, they could not climb the slippery stone of Amon Gwareth. Then Gothmog led them to the northern gate of the city and piled his iron siege equipment against it until it broke from sheer pressure.[10]:176 He also took a front-line position against Rog, and with treacherous strategy he cut off the rearguard of the House of the Hammer of Wrath, destroying them completely.[10]:179 Later he beat down Tuor in single combat in the Square of the Palace, but the elf-lord Ecthelion of the Fountain, who was badly wounded, rose and stood over him. Ecthelion stood no chance against the Lord of Balrogs, and lost his sword in the brief struggle. But then Ecthelion leaped forward, and stabbed Gothmog in the breast with the spike atop his helm. They both fell into the Fountain of the King, where Gothmog, if not already killed by the spike, drowned with his opponent.[10]:183-4

Later concepts[edit | edit source]

In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned.[11] It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to Christopher Tolkien, the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.[12]

Notes

  1. Sauron, Morgoth's chief agent, played a more domestic role compared to Gothmog’s front-line role

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Battle of Unnumbered Tears"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary", p. 216
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 12
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor": "Notes and Commentary", p. 93
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Second Version of the Lay: I. (Húrin and Morgoth)", p. 98
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Second Version of the Lay: I. (Húrin and Morgoth)", Commentary on Part I of the second version, pp. 102-103
Gothmog
Maia of Morgoth
None
New title
Lord of Balrogs
Before Y.T. 1090 - Y.S. 510
Followed by:
Unknown
Preceded by:
Sauron
High-captain of Angband
Y.T. 1495 - Y.S. 510


Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar