The Encyclopedia of Arda - Narsil (original) (raw)

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Dates Forged during the later First Age;1 broken in II 34412 Origins Forged by Telchar of Nogrod Pronunciation na'rsil Meaning 'fire' and 'white light'3 Other names Sword of Elendil; after its breaking it was known as the Blade that was Broken, the Sword that was Broken, or the Shards of Narsil; after its reforging it was named Andúril, the Flame of the West Indexes: Alphabetical: N Items About this entry: Updated 5 July 2001 Updates planned: 3 The mighty Sword of Elendil Years of the Trees First Age I Second Age II Third Age III Fourth Age IV "...and the sword of Elendil filled Orcs and Men with fear, for it shone with the light of the sun and of the moon, and it was named Narsil." The Silmarillion Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age The Sword of Elendil, forged by Telchar of Nogrod during the later years of the First Age. The sword was broken in Elendil's fall at the Siege of Barad-dûr, and its Shards became an heirloom of his heirs throughout the Third Age until it was reforged as Andúril and borne by Aragorn II Elessar in the War of the Ring. Notes 1 Details of the original forging of Narsil are difficult to determine. It was made by Telchar of Nogrod, who also made the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin. Helpfully, a passage in Unfinished Tales tells us that the Dragon-helm was originally made for Azaghâl of Belegost, who died in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in I 471; in order to make the helm specifically for Azaghâl, Telchar must have been working at about this time. Though we can't be certain exactly when Narsil was made, then, we can fairly safely place its forging in Telchar's workshop in Nogrod, probably during the [fourth](../chronicle.html?startyear=301&startage=1&endyear=400&endage=1&c=The Fourth Century of the Years of the Sun) or [fifth](../chronicle.html?startyear=401&startage=1&endyear=500&endage=1&c=The Fifth Century of the Years of the Sun) centuries of the Years of the Sun. 2 Narsil was broken in the War of the Last Alliance, with the fall of its wielder Elendil. Its burning light was lost, but Elendil's son Isildur used its broken shards to cut the Ruling Ring from Sauron's finger. The shards were eventually brought to Imladris, and they became an heirloom of the House of Isildur. During the War of the Ring, the sword was reforged, its light was rekindled, and it was borne by Elendil's distant descendant Aragorn, who renamed it Andúril. 3 The origins of Narsil's name are complex, and contain an element of symbolism. Tolkien himself described the name's derivation in his Letters: 'Narsil is a name composed of 2 basic stems without variation or adjuncts: √NAR 'fire', & √THIL 'white light'. It thus symbolised the chief heavenly lights, as enemies of darkness, Sun (Anar) and Moon (in Q) Isil.' The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No. 347, dated 1972 So, an alternative and less literal translation of Narsil would be 'Sun-and-Moon', and indeed we see that formulation in the name of the tale Narsilion, translated as the 'Song of the Sun and Moon'. See also... Andúril, Blade that was Broken, Dwarves of the Blue Mountains, Elendil, Flame of the West, Great Battle, Ohtar, Shards of Narsil, Sword of Elendil, Sword Reforged, Sword that was Broken, Telchar, War of the Last Alliance Indexes: Alphabetical: N Items About this entry: Updated 5 July 2001 Updates planned: 3 For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Discus has nearly 250 DISC roles built in, ready for unlimited matching against your candidates.

The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien

ALPHABETICAL RACES PLACES MISCELLANEOUS REFERENCE INTERACTIVE

SHARE User guide Latest entries FAQ and e-mail Disclaimer and bibliography Awards Old and rare words Lexicon of names Excyclopedia of Arda Movie-goer's Guides: • The Fellowship of the Ring • The Two Towers • The Return of the King The Hobbit Viewer's Companions: • An Unexpected Journey • The Desolation of Smaug • The Battle of the Five Armies Tolkien links Book news Latest Chronicle Calendar Old and rare words Lexicon of names Links Random

Dates Forged during the later First Age;1 broken in II 34412 Origins Forged by Telchar of Nogrod Pronunciation na'rsil Meaning 'fire' and 'white light'3 Other names Sword of Elendil; after its breaking it was known as the Blade that was Broken, the Sword that was Broken, or the Shards of Narsil; after its reforging it was named Andúril, the Flame of the West Indexes: Alphabetical: N Items About this entry: Updated 5 July 2001 Updates planned: 3 The mighty Sword of Elendil

Years of the Trees First Age I Second Age II Third Age III Fourth Age IV "...and the sword of Elendil filled Orcs and Men with fear, for it shone with the light of the sun and of the moon, and it was named Narsil." The Silmarillion Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age The Sword of Elendil, forged by Telchar of Nogrod during the later years of the First Age. The sword was broken in Elendil's fall at the Siege of Barad-dûr, and its Shards became an heirloom of his heirs throughout the Third Age until it was reforged as Andúril and borne by Aragorn II Elessar in the War of the Ring. Notes 1 Details of the original forging of Narsil are difficult to determine. It was made by Telchar of Nogrod, who also made the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin. Helpfully, a passage in Unfinished Tales tells us that the Dragon-helm was originally made for Azaghâl of Belegost, who died in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in I 471; in order to make the helm specifically for Azaghâl, Telchar must have been working at about this time. Though we can't be certain exactly when Narsil was made, then, we can fairly safely place its forging in Telchar's workshop in Nogrod, probably during the [fourth](../chronicle.html?startyear=301&startage=1&endyear=400&endage=1&c=The Fourth Century of the Years of the Sun) or [fifth](../chronicle.html?startyear=401&startage=1&endyear=500&endage=1&c=The Fifth Century of the Years of the Sun) centuries of the Years of the Sun. 2 Narsil was broken in the War of the Last Alliance, with the fall of its wielder Elendil. Its burning light was lost, but Elendil's son Isildur used its broken shards to cut the Ruling Ring from Sauron's finger. The shards were eventually brought to Imladris, and they became an heirloom of the House of Isildur. During the War of the Ring, the sword was reforged, its light was rekindled, and it was borne by Elendil's distant descendant Aragorn, who renamed it Andúril. 3 The origins of Narsil's name are complex, and contain an element of symbolism. Tolkien himself described the name's derivation in his Letters: 'Narsil is a name composed of 2 basic stems without variation or adjuncts: √NAR 'fire', & √THIL 'white light'. It thus symbolised the chief heavenly lights, as enemies of darkness, Sun (Anar) and Moon (in Q) Isil.' The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No. 347, dated 1972 So, an alternative and less literal translation of Narsil would be 'Sun-and-Moon', and indeed we see that formulation in the name of the tale Narsilion, translated as the 'Song of the Sun and Moon'. See also... Andúril, Blade that was Broken, Dwarves of the Blue Mountains, Elendil, Flame of the West, Great Battle, Ohtar, Shards of Narsil, Sword of Elendil, Sword Reforged, Sword that was Broken, Telchar, War of the Last Alliance Indexes: Alphabetical: N Items About this entry: Updated 5 July 2001 Updates planned: 3 For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Discus has nearly 250 DISC roles built in, ready for unlimited matching against your candidates.