Lord of Moria

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Joona Kujanen - Balin, Lord of Moria

The Lord of Moria (Sindarin: Aran Moria) is the title of the ruler of Moria such as the King of Khazad-dûm who was typically the King of Durin's Folk.

The title Aran Moria, translated as Lord of Moria, refers to Durin III and appears in the Doors of Durin.[1]

The kingdom had been abandoned in T.A. 1980 but Balin, a Dwarf of the House of Durin, led a small colony to reclaim it. His rule lasted only briefly (T.A. 2989 - 2995) until his death. The Khuzdul phrase Uzbad Khazaddûmu meaning Lord of Moria was inscribed on his tomb.[2]

Etymology and analysis[edit | edit source]

BALIN
FUNDINUL
UZBADKHAZADDUMU
BALINSONOVFUNDINLORDOVMORIA

The phrase is translated as "Lord of Moria"; uzbad seems to be translated as "Lord", however since Khuzdul words of three consonants normally don't begin with a vowel, Magnus Åberg proposes that the word is enclitic, and *u- is actually a prefix meaning "and".[3]

If this is so, uzbad means "...and lord", the full phrase being "...son of Fundin and lord...". Åberg suggests that the basic form of "Lord" would be *zâbad and "Lord of Moria" would be *zəbad Khazaddûmu.[3]

The ending -u in Khazaddûmu is probably "an ending that gives the noun an objective or locative meaning".[3]

See also[edit | edit source]

References