Durin I: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 20:42, 17 September 2008

Durin I (Years of the TreesFirst Age), also known as Durin the Deathless, was the eldest of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, the first of that race to be created by the Vala Aulë. He was set to sleep under the mountains of Middle-earth until after the Awakening of the Elves.

Durin awoke at Mount Gundabad in the Misty Mountains during the Years of the Trees. He journeyed South through the wild until he came upon Mirrormere (Kheled-zâram in Khuzdul). Looking upon mysterious stars set like a crown reflected in its surface, he took this as a sign, and there in the caves above the lake, founded a great city. This was Khazad-dûm, later called Moria, and for many years it was the greatest Dwarven city in Middle-earth.

Durin lived to a great age even by the measure of the Dwarves, outliving many of his children, until he was known as "The Deathless". However, he was not actually immortal, and died sometime during the First Age. The age of Durin had been speculated, and it is believed he may have lived more than 1000-4000 years, from the mid part of the Years of the Trees, to before then end of the First Age. This would make him the oldest Dwarf ever recorded.

Durin was the founder of the Longbeard house, which became known as Durin's folk. These were the Dwarves chronicled by Tolkien in the Second and Third Ages. The Longbeards believed that Durin would return to them seven times, and in each reincarnation he will again be named Durin and reign as King. He did have six descendents that were named Durin, all were kings of Durin's folk.

Durin's axe survived him and would become a great heirloom of Durin's folk.

Etymology

Durinn is a dwarf from the Norse mythology and the name means 'Sleeper'.

However Tolkien explored the possibility that the name 'Durin' is not 'translated Mannish' as happens with other Dwarven names, but an actual word in his Legendarium, a genuine Mannish name meaning 'King'. Obviously the name would be related to the Elven root TUR meaning 'master'

Preceded by:
none
Kings of Durin's Folk Followed by:
Durin II at some later time
Preceded by:
none
Kings of Khazad-dûm Followed by:
Durin II at some later time