Sting - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Leona · 05-28-2003, 09:17 PM

I'm not sure if this will work, but I'll give it a try. I know sting was an elven blade, created for the goblin wars, but I wonder did it have a perivious name? Like Orcrist and Glamdring, I mean besides "Sting" which Bilbo entitled it.

Scott · 05-28-2003, 09:32 PM

As far as I know "Sting's" real name was Sting.
But then again I also remember something about Bilbo giving that name to it... maybe he just read the inscriptions and they said Sting themselves...
But I'm going to stick with Sting as being it's real name.

The X Phial · 05-28-2003, 10:03 PM

Bilbo named it Sting. Not every dagger had its own name. Orcrist and Glamdring were exceptional, not the norm.

Birdland · 05-28-2003, 10:20 PM

Remember that Orcrist and Glamdring were full-size swords, whereas Sting was originally a long dagger. It was only in the hands of a Hobbit that it gained the title of "sword".

Helkahothion · 05-29-2003, 05:56 AM

Yes. The one who explained the names (don't know again who it was) mentioned Orcrist and Glamdring, but not sting. Bilbo gave him his name after the battle with the spiders in Mirkwood. Do you think that the trolls knew that they where worth as much as they where?

Suilad,

Anuion

Aule · 05-29-2003, 09:35 AM

I doubt the Trolls knew there worth, i don't think Trolls would even use such a blade as they were Elven and most enemies seemed to fear anything Elven in oragin

Helkahothion · 05-29-2003, 09:37 AM

What was Sting's origin again? Noldor I believe right? Forged in the war against Melkor.

Suilad,

Anuion

lore_master · 05-29-2003, 01:01 PM

the inscription onm stings blade says: maegnes is my name, i am the the spiders bane.

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-29-2003, 01:42 PM

Quote:

maegnes is my name, i am the the spiders bane.

But that's from the film, right? I remember reading that PJ's resident Elvish expert concocted an inscription for it. But I do not believe that any inscription is ever mentioned in the Books.

And, to make sense, that inscription would have to have been added at Bilbo's request, since I doubt that there was much need for a dagger dedicated to killing spiders in Gondolin. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Finwe · 05-29-2003, 02:42 PM

Well, for all we know Gondolin had an extremely potent spider problem, and had to devote time to making weaponry to solve that problem! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

lore_master · 05-29-2003, 05:36 PM

i dont believe there was any mention to the inscription in the movie.
i think prof. said it in one of his letters or H.O.M.E.
but maybe im wrong

Rumil · 05-29-2003, 05:55 PM

[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Finwe,

I just imagined Sting being forged to help elven maidens get spiders out of their bathtubs [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Does anyone know what the elvish for 'Sting' would be? (even though it wouldn't have been inscribed there as Bilbo named it). Alternatively, I wonder if Bilbo might have spent a bit of the 'Smaug vintage' on getting it engraved himself?

Frodo2968thewhite · 05-29-2003, 06:37 PM

The blade says "Maegnas aen estar nin, dagnir in ungyl im" (MAEGNAS is my name, and I am the spider's bane.) In Elvish, Maegnas means "sharp-point" so sharp-point would be your longer version of Sting.

Helkahothion · 05-30-2003, 03:31 AM

People, is Sting Noldor or Gondolin? Just been wandering about that.

Suilad,

Anuion

the guy who be short · 05-30-2003, 04:00 AM

Its Gondolin, but the Gondolinians were Noldor.
I always thought Sting was Orcrist. Or did Orcrist go to Durin? I havent read the hobbit for a while, you see.

Helkahothion · 05-30-2003, 04:03 AM

Orcrist acompanied Thorin in his grave together with the arkenstone I belive. Not sure though. Ah, so Sting was noldor, and when was it forged again? in the war with Morgoth, or am I mistaken?

Suilad,

Anuion

Mahal · 05-30-2003, 04:06 AM

Yep...it was forged in the wars against Melkor. And yes the Arkenstone went in Thorins grave together with Orcrist

Helkahothion · 05-30-2003, 04:08 AM

Wow, since I read the hobbit and reading the silm, I can finaly join into the conversations in the books [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Suilad,

Anuion

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-30-2003, 06:42 AM

Quote:

I just imagined Sting being forged to help elven maidens get spiders out of their bathtubs

Perhaps it glowed blue when spiders were about too. That would be handy. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Can someone who knows about this inscription please post a reference to it in the books? I was never aware of any such inscription, but would be interested to know if it was conceived by JRRT or an invention of the film production team.

Quote:

I can finaly join into the conversations in the books

Heaven help us! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Finwe · 05-30-2003, 07:28 AM

I can just imagine Sting going off with a blue-lighted siren whenever spiders approached! Well, spiders aren't much better than Orcs. I think that all Elven blades are "keyed" to glow whenever a malevolent presence approaches. So I can just see Idril's dagger lighting up whenever Maeglin tried to get it on with her! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Helkahothion · 05-30-2003, 10:00 AM

I wish my knife would light up blue when I am cheating and my teacher is going to look at me. That would be very confineant indeed. How did the elves get that knife to shine? Was it magic that was never mentioned or did it have an actual reason?

Suilad,

Anuion

Frodo2968thewhite · 05-30-2003, 11:20 AM

You're right about the war against Melkor, and the inscription says "Maegnas is my name, and I am the SPIDER'S bane," mabey the "spider" was Ungoliant.?! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Amarie of the Vanyar · 05-30-2003, 12:56 PM

The inscription on Sting is never mentioned in the books. That's an invention for the movies.

But even if the inscription had been mentioned in the books, it would have been impossible that it were done in Gondolin in the First Age. Sting is the name Bilbo gives to the sword, and Maegnas is the elvish for Sting; so, that inscription could have only been done after Bilbo had named it.

I can imagine two possible 'histories' for the inscription:
The first one, it was placed on the sword in Rivendendell, and 'Spider' referred to the spiders Bilbo killed in 'the Hobbit'
And the second one, the Spider of the inscription is Shelob (Sam hurts Shelob with Sting) and in this case the inscription should have been done after the destruction of the Ring [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Helkahothion · 05-30-2003, 01:40 PM

Quote:

And the second one, the Spider of the inscription is Shelob (Sam hurts Shelob with Sting) and in this case the inscription should have been done after the destruction of the Ring

Does not have to be. Many things in Middle-Earth where predicted before they happened. So it could be something like Malbeth or some sort.

Suilad,

Anuion

Amarie of the Vanyar · 05-31-2003, 11:22 AM

O, o, I'm just seeing it: the smith in Goldolin forging Sting and suddenly, he has a vision of Bilbo naming the sword, and then a vision of Sam hurting Shelob [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]

I like it Helkahothion!, It's really poetic [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Helkahothion · 05-31-2003, 07:48 PM

Ehm yeah, I more ment it as an accident. Like Orcrist taking down a Orc leader that it was not ment to kill. Something in those lines. Although I must admit it WAS really poetich. Or whatever the hell you spell that [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Suilad,

Anuion

05-28-2003, 09:17 PM	#1
Leona Animated Skeleton Join Date: May 2003 Location: Somewhere in Ithilen Posts: 28	Sting I'm not sure if this will work, but I'll give it a try. I know sting was an elven blade, created for the goblin wars, but I wonder did it have a perivious name? Like Orcrist and Glamdring, I mean besides "Sting" which Bilbo entitled it. __________________ You don't really see me, just the cloak of shadows and lies I've drawn around me. -Arina

05-28-2003, 09:32 PM	#2
Scott Wight Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ohio/Grey Havens Posts: 183	As far as I know "Sting's" real name was Sting. But then again I also remember something about Bilbo giving that name to it... maybe he just read the inscriptions and they said Sting themselves... But I'm going to stick with Sting as being it's real name. __________________ Those who the Gods would destroy, They first make mad. ~Those Crazy Greeks

05-28-2003, 10:03 PM	#3
The X Phial Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Out there with the truth. Come find me. Posts: 317	Bilbo named it Sting. Not every dagger had its own name. Orcrist and Glamdring were exceptional, not the norm. __________________ But then there was a star danced, and under that was I born.

05-29-2003, 09:35 AM	#6
Aule Wight Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hammering away in Valinor Posts: 126	I doubt the Trolls knew there worth, i don't think Trolls would even use such a blade as they were Elven and most enemies seemed to fear anything Elven in oragin __________________ For him that is pitiless, the deeds of pity are ever strange and beyond reckoning - of Melkor before his final downfall

05-29-2003, 01:01 PM	#8
lore_master Wight Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Valhalla Posts: 116	the inscription onm stings blade says: maegnes is my name, i am the the spiders bane. __________________ As you go the way of life, you will see a great chasm. Jump. It is not as wide as you think

05-28-2003, 10:20 PM	#4
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Remember that Orcrist and Glamdring were full-size swords, whereas Sting was originally a long dagger. It was only in the hands of a Hobbit that it gained the title of "sword".

05-29-2003, 05:56 AM	#5
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	Yes. The one who explained the names (don't know again who it was) mentioned Orcrist and Glamdring, but not sting. Bilbo gave him his name after the battle with the spiders in Mirkwood. Do you think that the trolls knew that they where worth as much as they where? Suilad, Anuion

05-29-2003, 09:37 AM	#7
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	What was Sting's origin again? Noldor I believe right? Forged in the war against Melkor. Suilad, Anuion

05-29-2003, 02:42 PM	#10
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	Well, for all we know Gondolin had an extremely potent spider problem, and had to devote time to making weaponry to solve that problem! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

05-29-2003, 05:36 PM	#11
lore_master Wight Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Valhalla Posts: 116	i dont believe there was any mention to the inscription in the movie. i think prof. said it in one of his letters or H.O.M.E. but maybe im wrong __________________ As you go the way of life, you will see a great chasm. Jump. It is not as wide as you think

05-29-2003, 05:55 PM	#12
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Finwe, I just imagined Sting being forged to help elven maidens get spiders out of their bathtubs [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Does anyone know what the elvish for 'Sting' would be? (even though it wouldn't have been inscribed there as Bilbo named it). Alternatively, I wonder if Bilbo might have spent a bit of the 'Smaug vintage' on getting it engraved himself? __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

05-29-2003, 06:37 PM	#13
Frodo2968thewhite Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Shire Posts: 95	The blade says "Maegnas aen estar nin, dagnir in ungyl im" (MAEGNAS is my name, and I am the spider's bane.) In Elvish, Maegnas means "sharp-point" so sharp-point would be your longer version of Sting. __________________ INAGURAL GOLDEN RING MARATHON, OCTOBER 20, 2005!!! FRODO LIVES!!!!

05-30-2003, 03:31 AM	#14
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	People, is Sting Noldor or Gondolin? Just been wandering about that. Suilad, Anuion

05-30-2003, 04:00 AM	#15
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	Its Gondolin, but the Gondolinians were Noldor. I always thought Sting was Orcrist. Or did Orcrist go to Durin? I havent read the hobbit for a while, you see.

05-30-2003, 04:03 AM	#16
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	Orcrist acompanied Thorin in his grave together with the arkenstone I belive. Not sure though. Ah, so Sting was noldor, and when was it forged again? in the war with Morgoth, or am I mistaken? Suilad, Anuion

05-30-2003, 04:06 AM	#17
Mahal Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: Paradox Realm Posts: 66	Yep...it was forged in the wars against Melkor. And yes the Arkenstone went in Thorins grave together with Orcrist __________________ *A new technology does not add or substract something. It changes everything.*

05-30-2003, 04:08 AM	#18
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	Wow, since I read the hobbit and reading the silm, I can finaly join into the conversations in the books [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Suilad, Anuion

05-30-2003, 07:28 AM	#20
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	I can just imagine Sting going off with a blue-lighted siren whenever spiders approached! Well, spiders aren't much better than Orcs. I think that all Elven blades are "keyed" to glow whenever a malevolent presence approaches. So I can just see Idril's dagger lighting up whenever Maeglin tried to get it on with her! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

05-30-2003, 10:00 AM	#21
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	I wish my knife would light up blue when I am cheating and my teacher is going to look at me. That would be very confineant indeed. How did the elves get that knife to shine? Was it magic that was never mentioned or did it have an actual reason? Suilad, Anuion

05-30-2003, 11:20 AM	#22
Frodo2968thewhite Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Shire Posts: 95	You're right about the war against Melkor, and the inscription says "Maegnas is my name, and I am the SPIDER'S bane," mabey the "spider" was Ungoliant.?! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] __________________ INAGURAL GOLDEN RING MARATHON, OCTOBER 20, 2005!!! FRODO LIVES!!!!

05-30-2003, 12:56 PM	#23
Amarie of the Vanyar Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: Valinor Posts: 215	The inscription on Sting is never mentioned in the books. That's an invention for the movies. But even if the inscription had been mentioned in the books, it would have been impossible that it were done in Gondolin in the First Age. Sting is the name Bilbo gives to the sword, and Maegnas is the elvish for Sting; so, that inscription could have only been done after Bilbo had named it. I can imagine two possible 'histories' for the inscription: The first one, it was placed on the sword in Rivendendell, and 'Spider' referred to the spiders Bilbo killed in 'the Hobbit' And the second one, the Spider of the inscription is Shelob (Sam hurts Shelob with Sting) and in this case the inscription should have been done after the destruction of the Ring [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ But it is said that not until that hour had such cold thoughts ruled Finrod; for indeed she whom he had loved was Amarië of the Vanyar, and she went not with him into exile.

05-31-2003, 11:22 AM	#25
Amarie of the Vanyar Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: Valinor Posts: 215	O, o, I'm just seeing it: the smith in Goldolin forging Sting and suddenly, he has a vision of Bilbo naming the sword, and then a vision of Sam hurting Shelob [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img] I like it Helkahothion!, It's really poetic [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ But it is said that not until that hour had such cold thoughts ruled Finrod; for indeed she whom he had loved was Amarië of the Vanyar, and she went not with him into exile.

05-31-2003, 07:48 PM	#26
Helkahothion Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The inside of Legolas' lungs Posts: 1,005	Ehm yeah, I more ment it as an accident. Like Orcrist taking down a Orc leader that it was not ment to kill. Something in those lines. Although I must admit it WAS really poetich. Or whatever the hell you spell that [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Suilad, Anuion