Scarlet heart

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Emblem of Turgon including the scarlet heart. Art by Rondador

The scarlet heart was an emblem of Turgon according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.

History[edit | edit source]

Nólemë (later Finwë and then Turgon's father) was isolated by Orcs during the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, and they cut out his heart. The body and the heart were rescued by Turgon, and it became his emblem.[1] In The Fall of Gondolin, the emblems of the House of the King included the scarlet heart, the Moon and the Sun, and they wore the respective colours.[2]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

The death and desecration of Nólemë would evolve to the death of Fingon, now Turgon's brother, in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.[3] However, there is also a great similarity with Fingolfin's death: Morgoth broke his body, but this was rescued by Thorondor and taken to Turgon, who makes a Cairn for his father.[4]

References