Mîm: Difference between revisions

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'''Mîm''' was one of the last [[Petty-dwarves]].
'''Mîm''' was one of the last [[Petty-dwarves]].
He was captured by [[Túrin]] and the [[Gaurwaith|Outlaws of Brethil]] in the [[Vales of Sirion]], and was forced to take them to his dwelling of [[Amon Rûdh]], where they made their abode. Later, he was captured again, but this time by Orcs. He guided them to Amon Rûdh, where many of the Outlaws were slain.<ref>{{S|Turin}}</ref>
After the departure of [[Glaurung]] from [[Nargothrond]], Mîm sat in those halls with the dragon hoard, until he was slain by [[Húrin]] for his treachery towards Túrin and the Outlaws.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 19:16, 26 January 2022

Mîm
Dwarf
Alarie - Mim.jpg
"Mim" by Alarie
Biographical Information
LocationHouse of Ransom
BirthBefore F.A. 302[1]
DeathF.A. 502
Nargothrond
Family
HousePetty-dwarves
ChildrenIbun and Khîm
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Mîm
"For Mîm came of Dwarves that were banished in ancient days from the great Dwarf-cities of the east, and long before the return of Morgoth they wandered westward into Beleriand."
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Túrin Turambar"

Mîm was one of the last Petty-dwarves.

He was captured by Túrin and the Outlaws of Brethil in the Vales of Sirion, and was forced to take them to his dwelling of Amon Rûdh, where they made their abode. Later, he was captured again, but this time by Orcs. He guided them to Amon Rûdh, where many of the Outlaws were slain.[2]

After the departure of Glaurung from Nargothrond, Mîm sat in those halls with the dragon hoard, until he was slain by Húrin for his treachery towards Túrin and the Outlaws.

History

Mîm was the captain of the Petty-dwarves who first aided Finrod Felagund in his building of Nargothrond. However, they were expelled after Mîm attempted to murder Felagund in his sleep.[3]

Mîm Pleads For His Life by Ted Nasmith

Later in life, Mîm lived with his two sons at Amon Rûdh in middle Beleriand, where he kept a secret treasury.

During Túrin's time with the Outlaws, Mîm and sons were seen as they snuck past the outlaws carrying heavy sacks. Mîm was captured, and arrows were shot at his sons Ibun and Khîm. In exchange for his life, Mîm was forced to lead the outlaws to his secret halls in Amon Rûdh. There, it turned out Khîm had been killed by an arrow, and Túrin repenting offered his service to Mîm. For this reason Mîm tolerated the outlaws, and eventually even took a liking to Túrin.[4]

When Beleg Cúthalion arrived at Amon Rûdh, Mîm was angry: he hated Elves, especially the Sindar. Nevertheless he had to tolerate the Elf in his halls.[4] After he betrayed Amon Rûdh to Morgoth under the promise that Túrin would not be harmed, Mîm somehow escaped, but it seems Ibun was killed by Orcs.[5] In F.A. 499, Mîm made his way to Nargothrond after Túrin had killed Glaurung, and he took the treasure for his own.[6]

In 502,[6] Húrin Thalion, who had seen all that had happened to Túrin with Morgoth's eyes, came across Mîm in Nargothrond, and killed him, deeming him partially responsible for Túrin's fate. With his dying words Mîm cursed the treasure. Húrin's band brought the treasure of Nargothrond to Doriath, where eventually the gold was a reason for the Second Kinslaying and the death of Thingol.[7]

Genealogy

 
 
MÎM
d. F.A. 502
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ibun
b. F.A.
 
Khîm
d. F.A. 486


Other versions of the legendarium

In earlier versions of the legendarium, Mîm was a much more evil character, who actively betrayed Túrin.[8] But as Dwarves gradually changed in Tolkien's writings from evil Orc-like beings to the Dwarves they later became, Mîm's character was changed, and in the final texts he is no longer a true villain, but almost a tragic character in his own right.

Tolkien wrote a poem and short narrative titled The Complaint of Mîm the Dwarf, but it was not dated, so it is unknown where it should be placed in the legendarium. There it is implied that Mîm used to live near Tarn Aeluin in Dorthonion until Men came and drove him out, stealing his belongings in the process.[9] As such, the aging and bitter Mîm (said to be at least 200 years old) resides in a cave in a mountain, far from any civilization. He was still able to create works of decent craftmanship, but he had lost his former skill. He struggled with not being able to forgive; the act of forgiving seemed impossible to him, although this would have perhaps enabled him to restore some of his former skill.[1]

References