Turgon's sword

[Mandos]

In the Hobbit, Gandalf gets Glamdring, the sword of the High King of the Noldor and Lord of Gondolin, Turgon. How did this sword survive the destruction of Gondolin. In the Fall of Gondolin, Turgon stays in his tower with his sword. This tower is later thrown down and destroyed. Is the sword magical? Please let me know your ideas.

[Maeglin]

No doubt it's magical. It couldn't possibly survive thousands of years without a scratch if it werent. lol. Magical sounds cheap of some reason. Like something in Harry Potter. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[burrahobbit]

It glows in the dark, of course it's magical.

[Mandos]

yes i shouldnt have used the word magical. more like blessed since it was forged by some of the first Eldar.

[burrahobbit]

Magical is what it is. It survived as a token of battle taken by some orc or troll or balrog or something, then ended up in a troll cave. Magic magic magic.

[Guildo]

I would rather say it was Enchanted, as it was made By Magical Beings.

I Hate the Word Magic too, and it is RARELY used in any of Tolkiens works.

[burrahobbit]

Sam says it all the time. Are you saying that you are better than Sam?

[Mandos]

i still say it was blessed since some of the first Eldar made it. however, was it forged in Gondolin or Valinor?

[Guildo]

Just becouse Sam said magic alot doesnt mean he liked the word, and nothing i said showed ANY reference to me being better than a fictional character, it boggles my mind to think why you would say such a thing.

but none the less the sword had Supernatural forces working in its favor, wether it be Magical, Blessed, or Enchanted

[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Guildo ]

[Mandos]

Does anyone know if Glamdring's brother, Orchrist, which Thorin used and is burried with, also glowed and had the same "magical, enchanted, or blessed" effects?

[Bruce MacCulloch]

Mandos asked:

was it forged in Gondolin or Valinor?

They were made in Gondolin for the Goblin-wars.

[Mandos]

Yes. But strangely, Gondolin was never really involved in any of the wars. It was carefully hidden and guarded secret. Its people never really fought until the armies of Morgoth came over the Encircling Mountains. Even when the city was invaded and being destroyed, Turgon himself never fought. He climbed to the top of his tower, with Glamdring, and watched. The tower was evetually thrown down whena dragon hit it.

[Bruce MacCulloch]

Regarding Orcrist:

Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist, the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity. It is said in songs that it gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached, and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken by surprise.

[Afrodal Fenyar]

Yes. But strangely, Gondolin was never really involved in any of the wars. It was carefully hidden and guarded secret. Its people never really fought until the armies of Morgoth came over the Encircling Mountains. Even when the city was invaded and being destroyed, Turgon himself never fought. He climbed to the top of his tower, with Glamdring, and watched. The tower was evetually thrown down whena dragon hit it.

Well, 10 000 soldiers from Gondolin fought in Nirnaeth Arnoediad, so it was involved in one war before it's ruin.

And is there actually any other writing where the tale of the Fall of Gondolin is told completely than The Book of Lost Tales(I think you took from it the fact that Turgon just sit in his Tower)? After all, Lost Tales must not be taken completely seriously, Tolkien changed some things many times. Though Turgon is said to have fallen with his Tower also on the Silmarillion..