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'''Ancalagon the Black''' was the greatest of [[Morgoth]]'s [[Dragons]], and the mightiest winged [[Urulókë|fire-dragon]] ever existed.<ref>{{HM|S}}, “Index”, ''Ancalagon the Black''</ref><ref>{{HM|SM}}, “Index”, ''Ancalagon the Black''</ref><ref>{{PM|Index}}, ''Ancalagon the Black''</ref>
'''Ancalagon the Black''' was the greatest of [[Morgoth]]'s [[Dragons]], and the mightiest winged [[Urulókë|fire-dragon]] that ever existed.<ref>{{HM|S}}, “Index”, ''Ancalagon the Black''</ref><ref>{{HM|SM}}, “Index”, ''Ancalagon the Black''</ref><ref>{{PM|Index}}, ''Ancalagon the Black''</ref>


==History==
==History==
During the [[War of Wrath]], the [[Valar]] waged their final war on [[Morgoth]]. Their victory was at hand, with most of the Dark Lord's [[Balrogs]] and other troops destroyed. But then, around {{FA|587}}<ref>{{HM|SM}}, “[[The Earliest Annals of Beleriand]]</ref><ref>{{HM|WJ}}, “[[The Tale of Years]]”</ref>, in a last effort Morgoth unleashed the Winged Dragons, with Ancalagon at their [[Wikipedia:Vanguard|van]]. They drove back the forces of the [[Host of the Valar]], but were stopped by [[Eärendil]], who sailed through the skies in the ship [[Vingilot]] with the [[Great Eagles]]. The strife lasted for an entire night; then, as soon as the sun rose, Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop [[Thangorodrim]], breaking its mighty towers in its ruin. With him fell most other dragons.<ref name="Voyage">{{S|24}}</ref>{{HM|SM}}<ref>{{HM|SM}}, “[[The Earliest Silmarillion]]”</ref> It is unknown which means did Eärendil use to defeat Ancalagon; an early note only states that “the mightiest of winged dragons, Ancalagon the Black, was ''destroyed'' by Eärendil”.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 89 and Index</ref> <ref>{{HM|WJ}}, “The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion”</ref>  
During the [[War of Wrath]], the [[Valar]] waged their final war on [[Morgoth]]. Their victory was at hand, with most of the Dark Lord's [[Balrogs]] and other troops destroyed. But then, around {{FA|587}}<ref>{{HM|SM}}, “[[The Earliest Annals of Beleriand]]</ref><ref>{{HM|WJ}}, “[[The Tale of Years]]”</ref>, in a last effort Morgoth, unleashed the Winged Dragons, with Ancalagon at their [[Wikipedia:Vanguard|van]]. They drove back the forces of the [[Host of the Valar]], but were stopped by [[Eärendil]], who sailed through the skies in the ship [[Vingilot]] with the [[Great Eagles]]. The strife lasted for an entire night; then, as soon as the sun rose, Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop [[Thangorodrim]], breaking its mighty towers in its ruin. With him fell most other dragons.<ref name="Voyage">{{S|24}}</ref>{{HM|SM}}<ref>{{HM|SM}}, “[[The Earliest Silmarillion]]”</ref> It is unknown which means did Eärendil use to defeat Ancalagon; an early note only states that “the mightiest of winged dragons, Ancalagon the Black, was ''destroyed'' by Eärendil”.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 89 and Index</ref> <ref>{{HM|WJ}}, “The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion”</ref>  


Even by the late [[Third Age]] Ancalagon was considered the mightiest winged dragon, with [[Gandalf]] noting that not even his fire could melt [[the One Ring]] (since it was infused by [[Sauron]]’s [[Maia]] power)<ref>{{FR|I2}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, ''[[The Shadow of the Past]]''</ref> as Ancalagon's breath was probably the hottest thing of the whole world.<ref>{{HM|RS}}, “[[From Hobbiton to the Woody End]]</ref> An early note states that Ancalagon the Black was one of the last dragons whose fire was hot enough to melt the lesser [[Ring of Power]]s (it is unknown whether [[Smaug]] was capable of this or not).<ref>{{HM|RC}}, pp. 89-90</ref>  
Even by the late [[Third Age]] Ancalagon was considered the mightiest winged dragon, with [[Gandalf]] noting that not even his fire could melt [[the One Ring]] (since it was infused by [[Sauron]]’s [[Maia]] power)<ref>{{FR|I2}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, ''[[The Shadow of the Past]]''</ref> as Ancalagon's breath was probably the hottest thing of the whole world.<ref>{{HM|RS}}, “[[From Hobbiton to the Woody End]]</ref> An early note states that Ancalagon the Black was one of the last dragons whose fire was hot enough to melt the lesser [[Rings of Power]] (it is unknown whether [[Smaug]] was capable of this or not).<ref>{{HM|RC}}, pp. 89-90</ref>  


==Etymology==
==Etymology==

Revision as of 15:39, 26 March 2021

Ancalagon
Dragon
Daniel Pilla - Ancalagon vs Earendil.jpg
"Ancalagon vs Earendil" by Daniel Pilla
Biographical Information
Other namesAnddraca[1]
TitlesThe Black, The Great[2]
AffiliationMorgoth
Appearedc. F.A. 545
The War Of Wrath
Deathc. F.A. 587[3][4]; Last Battle in early manuscripts[5][6][7]
Thangorodrim
Slain byEärendil; Túrin in early manuscripts[8][9][10]
Physical Description
TypeUrulókë
LegsYes
WingedYes
ColourBlack
GalleryImages of Ancalagon

Ancalagon the Black was the greatest of Morgoth's Dragons, and the mightiest winged fire-dragon that ever existed.[11][12][13]

History

During the War of Wrath, the Valar waged their final war on Morgoth. Their victory was at hand, with most of the Dark Lord's Balrogs and other troops destroyed. But then, around F.A. 587[14][15], in a last effort Morgoth, unleashed the Winged Dragons, with Ancalagon at their van. They drove back the forces of the Host of the Valar, but were stopped by Eärendil, who sailed through the skies in the ship Vingilot with the Great Eagles. The strife lasted for an entire night; then, as soon as the sun rose, Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop Thangorodrim, breaking its mighty towers in its ruin. With him fell most other dragons.[16]J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth[17] It is unknown which means did Eärendil use to defeat Ancalagon; an early note only states that “the mightiest of winged dragons, Ancalagon the Black, was destroyed by Eärendil”.[18] [19]

Even by the late Third Age Ancalagon was considered the mightiest winged dragon, with Gandalf noting that not even his fire could melt the One Ring (since it was infused by Sauron’s Maia power)[20][21] as Ancalagon's breath was probably the hottest thing of the whole world.[22] An early note states that Ancalagon the Black was one of the last dragons whose fire was hot enough to melt the lesser Rings of Power (it is unknown whether Smaug was capable of this or not).[23]

Etymology

Ancalagon is a Sindarin name, from anc[24] and alag[25] plus the name ending -on. Its meaning is "Rushing Jaws" or "Biting-storm".[26][24] Another similar derivation is from anc and lagon, which can be translated as "Swift Jaws".[27]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Ancalagon is referred as Anddraca ("Enemy-dragon").[28]

Andreth’s Prophecy and inspiration

According to an early prophecy attributed to a Wise-woman called Andreth, in an imprecise context Túrin shall return from the Dead before he left the Circles of the World forever, challenging the Great Dragon of Morgoth, Ancalagon the Black, and dealing him the death-stroke. This prophecy could have designated the War of Wrath in origin, but it actually foresees the Last Battle in its final version (Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth).[29][30] According to The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, the hero Túrin slaying Ancalagon also bears several similarities to the celtic "Sybil's Prophecy".[31]

In popular culture

Two animals are named after Ancalagon: Ancalagon, a Cambrian priapulid by Simon Conway Morris in 1977, and Ankalagon by Leigh Van Valen in 1980, a Paleocene mesonychid mammal.[32]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth”
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, “The Earliest Annals of Beleriand
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, “The Tale of Years”
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth”
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", p. 374
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth”
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", p. 374
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, “Index”, Ancalagon the Black
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, “Index”, Ancalagon the Black
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Index", Ancalagon the Black
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, “The Earliest Annals of Beleriand
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, “The Tale of Years”
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, “The Earliest Silmarillion”
  18. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 89 and Index
  19. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, “The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion”
  20. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"
  21. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, The Shadow of the Past
  22. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, “From Hobbiton to the Woody End
  23. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 89-90
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entries "ÁNAK", "NAK"
  25. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "ALAK"
  26. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  27. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 89
  28. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names"
  29. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth”
  30. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", p. 374
  31. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
  32. ↑ Chris Isaak, "Names from Fictional Characters", Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature


Named Dragons
Glaurung · Gostir · Ancalagon · Scatha · Smaug
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