Ancalagon: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(Quote link)
m (description was missing the word "that")
(23 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
__NOTOC__
{{Dragon infobox
{{Dragon infobox
| image=[[File:Daniel Pilla - Ancalagon vs Earendil.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Daniel Pilla - Ancalagon vs Earendil.jpg|250px]]
Line 8: Line 9:
| affiliation=[[Morgoth]]
| affiliation=[[Morgoth]]
| hoard=
| hoard=
| birth=c. {{FA|545}}
| birth=
| birthlocation=[[The War Of Wrath]]
| birthlocation=
| death=c. {{FA|587}}
| death=c. {{FA|587}}
| deathlocation=[[Thangorodrim]]
| deathlocation=[[War of Wrath]]
| slayer=[[Eärendil]]
| slayer=[[Eärendil]]
| type=''[[Urulókë]]''
| type=''[[Urulókë]]''
Line 18: Line 19:
| colour=Black
| colour=Black
}}
}}
'''Ancalagon the Black''' was the greatest of [[Morgoth]]'s [[Dragons|Dragons]], and the mightiest [[Urulókë|Winged Dragon]] ever existed.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]''</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''The Shaping of Middle Earth''</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.


==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, Morgoth unleashed the Winged Dragons, with Ancalagon at their [[Wikipedia:Vanguard|van]]. Ancalagon drove back the forces of the [[Host of the Valar]], but was stopped by [[Eärendil]] who sailed through the skies in the ship [[Vingilot]] with the [[Great Eagles]]. As soon as sun has risen, Ancalagon was cast down and fell atop [[Thangorodrim]], breaking its mighty towers. With him fell most other dragons.<ref name="Voyage">{{S|24}}</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''The Shaping of Middle Earth''</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''The Peoples of Middle Earth''</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.<ref name="Voyage">{{S|24}}</ref> But in the year [[First Age 587|587]],<ref>{{WJ|Years}}, p. 346</ref> Morgoth unleashed the winged dragons, which he had been hiding in [[Angband]]. Ancalagon was among them, and their attack drove back the forces of the [[Host of the Valar]], as they came with thunderbolts and fire storms.<ref name="Voyage">{{S|24}}</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]].<ref>{{FR|I2}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, ''The Shadows of the Past'': Index; p. 88</ref> In the original sketches, it was speculated that Ancalagon's breath was the hottest thing of the whole world.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''The Return of the Shadow''</ref>
{{blockquote|But [[Eärendil]] came, shining with white flame, and about [[Vingilot]] were gathered all the [[Great Eagles|great birds of heaven]] and [[Thorondor]] was their captain, and there was battle in the air all the day and through a dark night of doubt. Before the rising of the sun Eärendil slew Ancalagon the Black, the mightiest of the dragon-host, and cast him from the sky; and he fell upon the towers of [[Thangorodrim]], and they were broken in his ruin.|''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath]]"}}
==The Prophecy of Andreth==


According to [[Dagor Dagorath|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]]. This version bears several similarities to the celtic "Sybil's Prophecy", according to [[The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun]].<ref>{{PM|Ros}}, p. 374</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''The War of the Jewels''</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún''</ref>
By the late [[Third Age]], [[Gandalf]] mentioned Ancalagon, noting that not even his fire could harm [[the One Ring]].<ref>{{FR|I2}}</ref>
==Etymology==
 
== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Ancalagon.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Ancalagon.mp3|Ardamir}}
''Ancalagon'' is a [[Sindarin]] name, from ''[[anc]]''<ref name="EtymAnc">{{LR|Etymologies}}, entries "[[ÁNAK]]", "NAK"</ref> and ''[[alag]]''<ref name="EtymAlag">{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "A[[LAK]]"</ref> plus the name ending ''[[-on]]''. Its meaning is "Rushing Jaws" or "Biting-storm".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref><ref name="EtymAnc"/>
''Ancalagon'' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It is not properly glossed, but it contains ''[[anc]]'' ("jaws") + [[root]] ''[[LAK|alak-]]'' ("rushing").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''[[alqua]]'', ''[[anc]]''</ref>
 
In the [[Noldorin]] phase of the [[Elvish]] language it is glossed as "Biting-storm", from ''[[anc]]'' ("jaw, row of teeth") + ''alagos'' ("storm of wind").<ref name="EtymAlag">{{LR|Etymologies}}, entries "Á[[LAK]]-", "[[ÁNAK]]-", "[[NAK]]-"</ref>
 
In [[Eriol]]'s [[Old English]] translations, Ancalagon is referred as ''Anddraca'' ("Enemy-dragon").<ref>{{SM|QA1}}, p. 209</ref>
 
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
The first apparition of Ancalagon in [[Tolkien]]'s [[legendarium]] was in the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'' (1930s), which gives a version even more summarized of the War of Wrath than what is given above, although the story does not differ from later versions.<ref>{{SM|Q18II}}, p. 160</ref> Tolkien never fully completed the ''Quenta Silmarillion'', so the information about Ancalagon was never developed, and although he revised the text of the War of Wrath, they were very brief expansions, made in the ''[[Quenta Silmarillion (Lost Road)|Quenta Silmarillion]]'' of [[1937]],<ref>{{LR|P2VI}}, The Conclusion of the ''Quenta Silmarillion'', §18, p. 329</ref> and in [[The Later Quenta Silmarillion|The Later ''Quenta Silmarillion'']] of [[1951]].<ref>{{WJ|Last}}, pp. 246-247</ref> This last version was the main text used by [[Christopher Tolkien]] for his edition of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.<ref>[[Douglas Charles Kane]], ''[[Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion]]'', 24. "Of the Voyage of Eärendil", p. 234</ref>
 
The only mention of Ancalagon in later texts is in a note about the language of the [[Haladin]], written in Tolkien's last years:
{{blockquote|The language of the Folk of Haleth was not used, for they had perished and would not rise again. Nor would their tongue be heard again, unless the prophecy of [[Andreth]] the [[Wise-woman]] should prove true, that [[Túrin]] in the [[Last Battle]] should return from the Dead, and before he left the [[Circles of the World]] for ever should challege the Great Dragon of Morgoth, Ancalagon the Black, and deal him the death-stroke.<ref name=Andreth>{{PM|Ros}}, pp. 374-375, note 17</ref>}}
 
[[Christopher Tolkien]] explains that this prophecy is in line with the different versions of the [[Dagor Dagorath|End of the World]] prophecies, as his father always used the term "Last Battle" to the apocalyptic event. However, he notices that the own text later uses this term for the battle happening at the end of the Elder Days, despite that in all previous texts it was Eärendil who destroys Ancalagon in the [[War of Wrath]].<ref name=Andreth>{{PM|Ros}}, pp. 374-375, note 17</ref>


In [[Eriol]]'s [[Old English]] translations, Ancalagon is referred as ''Anddraca'' ("Enemy-dragon").<ref>{{SM|QA1}}</ref>
== Inspiration ==
Christopher explains that Túrin slaying Ancalagon in Andreth's prophecy resembles [[:Wikipedia:Sigurd|Sigurd]] killing [[:Wikipedia:Miðgarðsormr|Miðgarðsormr]] in the ''[[Völuspá]]'', especially in the retelling his father made in the ''[[New Lay of the Völsungs]]''.<ref>{{SG|CV}}, "Upphaf", pp.?</ref>


==In popular culture==
== In popular culture ==
Two animals are named after Ancalagon: ''Ancalagon'', a [[wikipedia:Cambrian|Cambrian]] [[wikipedia:Priapulida|priapulid]] by [[wikipedia:Simon Conway Morris|Simon Conway Morris]] in [[1977]], and ''Ankalagon'' by [[wikipedia:Leigh Van Valen|Leigh Van Valen]] in [[1980]], a [[wikipedia:Paleocene|Paleocene]] [[wikipedia:Mesonychid|mesonychid]] mammal.<ref>Chris Isaak, "[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/fiction.html Names from Fictional Characters]", ''[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/index.html Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature]''</ref>
Two animals are named after Ancalagon: ''Ancalagon'', a [[wikipedia:Cambrian|Cambrian]] [[wikipedia:Priapulida|priapulid]] by [[wikipedia:Simon Conway Morris|Simon Conway Morris]] in [[1977]], and ''Ankalagon'' by [[wikipedia:Leigh Van Valen|Leigh Van Valen]] in [[1980]], a [[wikipedia:Paleocene|Paleocene]] [[wikipedia:Mesonychid|mesonychid]] mammal.<ref>Chris Isaak, "[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/fiction.html Names from Fictional Characters]", ''[http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/index.html Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature]''</ref>



Revision as of 14:40, 24 October 2021

Ancalagon
Dragon
Daniel Pilla - Ancalagon vs Earendil.jpg
"Ancalagon vs Earendil" by Daniel Pilla
Biographical Information
TitlesThe Black
AffiliationMorgoth
Deathc. F.A. 587
War of Wrath
Slain byEärendil
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.

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.[1] But in the year 587,[2] Morgoth unleashed the winged dragons, which he had been hiding in Angband. Ancalagon was among them, and their attack drove back the forces of the Host of the Valar, as they came with thunderbolts and fire storms.[1]

But Eärendil came, shining with white flame, and about Vingilot were gathered all the great birds of heaven and Thorondor was their captain, and there was battle in the air all the day and through a dark night of doubt. Before the rising of the sun Eärendil slew Ancalagon the Black, the mightiest of the dragon-host, and cast him from the sky; and he fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim, and they were broken in his ruin.
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"

By the late Third Age, Gandalf mentioned Ancalagon, noting that not even his fire could harm the One Ring.[3]

Etymology

Ancalagon is a Sindarin name. It is not properly glossed, but it contains anc ("jaws") + root alak- ("rushing").[4]

In the Noldorin phase of the Elvish language it is glossed as "Biting-storm", from anc ("jaw, row of teeth") + alagos ("storm of wind").[5]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Ancalagon is referred as Anddraca ("Enemy-dragon").[6]

Other versions of the legendarium

The first apparition of Ancalagon in Tolkien's legendarium was in the Quenta Noldorinwa (1930s), which gives a version even more summarized of the War of Wrath than what is given above, although the story does not differ from later versions.[7] Tolkien never fully completed the Quenta Silmarillion, so the information about Ancalagon was never developed, and although he revised the text of the War of Wrath, they were very brief expansions, made in the Quenta Silmarillion of 1937,[8] and in The Later Quenta Silmarillion of 1951.[9] This last version was the main text used by Christopher Tolkien for his edition of The Silmarillion.[10]

The only mention of Ancalagon in later texts is in a note about the language of the Haladin, written in Tolkien's last years:

The language of the Folk of Haleth was not used, for they had perished and would not rise again. Nor would their tongue be heard again, unless the prophecy of Andreth the Wise-woman should prove true, that Túrin in the Last Battle should return from the Dead, and before he left the Circles of the World for ever should challege the Great Dragon of Morgoth, Ancalagon the Black, and deal him the death-stroke.[11]

Christopher Tolkien explains that this prophecy is in line with the different versions of the End of the World prophecies, as his father always used the term "Last Battle" to the apocalyptic event. However, he notices that the own text later uses this term for the battle happening at the end of the Elder Days, despite that in all previous texts it was Eärendil who destroys Ancalagon in the War of Wrath.[11]

Inspiration

Christopher explains that Túrin slaying Ancalagon in Andreth's prophecy resembles Sigurd killing Miðgarðsormr in the Völuspá, especially in the retelling his father made in the New Lay of the Völsungs.[12]

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.[13]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: V. The Tale of Years", p. 346
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entries alqua, anc
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entries "ÁLAK-", "ÁNAK-", "NAK-"
  6. 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", p. 209
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: §18 in the Q II version", p. 160
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", The Conclusion of the Quenta Silmarillion, §18, p. 329
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion", pp. 246-247
  10. Douglas Charles Kane, Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion, 24. "Of the Voyage of Eärendil", p. 234
  11. 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", pp. 374-375, note 17
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien; Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, "Commentary on Völsungskviða en nýja", "Upphaf", pp.?
  13. Chris Isaak, "Names from Fictional Characters", Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature


Named Dragons
Glaurung · Gostir · Ancalagon · Scatha · Smaug