Narvi

From Tolkien Gateway
Narvi
Dwarf
Alan Lee - Narvi.jpg
"Narvi" by Alan Lee
Biographical Information
PositionCraftsman
LocationKhazad-dûm
LanguageKhuzdul and Sindarin
BirthMid Second Age
Notable forcrafting the Doors of Durin
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Narvi

Narvi was a great Dwarven craftsman.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Narvi and Celebrimbor by Irsanna

Narvi lived in Khazad-dûm during the height of its glory. He formed a friendship with the Elf-lord Celebrimbor, the master artificer of neighboring Eregion. Together they made the mighty Doors of Durin that guarded the West-gate of the Dwarven city.[1][2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

In drafts of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien used the spelling Narf[i].[3] Narfi (also spelled Narvi), is an Old Norse name and character appearing in the Prose Edda and the meaning of the name is unknown.[4]

Possibly the name is provided as a translation of the Dwarf's "outer" name from some Northern Mannish language of the Second Age.[5][6]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In a linguistic manuscript, Tolkien placed the character Narvi at an earlier time in the history of Arda (apparently because of linguistic considerations), "before Durin's death".[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "IX. The Mines of Moria (1): The Lord of Moria", p. 188
  4. Jim Allan (1978), An Introduction to Elvish, "Giving of Names", p. 223
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 144, (dated 25 April 1954)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "On Translation"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part One" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 47, February 2005, p. 38