Mîm

From Tolkien Gateway
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

Mîm was one of the last Petty-dwarves.

History

Anke Eißmann - Mîm the dwarf

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.

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.[2] 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.[3] In F.A. 499 Mîm made his way to Nargothrond after Túrin had killed Glaurung, and he took the treasure for his own.[4]

In 502,[5] 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.[6]


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 Silmarillion as detailed in The History of Middle-earth series, Mîm was a much more evil character, who actively betrayed Túrin.[7] 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.

In the tale The Complaint of Mîm the Dwarf, an aging and bitter Mîm (said to be at least 200 years old) resides in a cave in a mountain, far from any civilization. What he had created during his life had been stolen, and throughout all of his life he had been hunted. 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]

See also

References