The Complete Tolkien Companion by J. E. A. Tyler Read Free Book Online

approaches by a chain of hostile Eldarin kingdoms; but the initiative inevitably passed to the Dark Power of the North; then the gates opened; the hosts of Angband poured forth, and overthrew the siege, and Morgoth became, not a prisoner, but the greatest power in Middle-earth, the ultimate source of all the miseries of that and all later times. In Angband’s deepest chamber he sat on his throne and wore the Iron Crown in which were set the Silmarils he had stolen. But in the end he was overthrown, and in his ruin Angband, his last stronghold in Mortal Lands, was also destroyed: totally, unto the last pit. In its overthrow the world itself was changed, and the freezing seas poured in. The lands that remained became bitterly cold and desolate. Apart from this Northern Waste, little trace remained, two full Ages later, of the Dark Power that had broken endless hosts of Elves and Men. Only the evil colds of Morgoth lingered.
    Angbor the Fearless – Lord of Lamedon, a province of Gondor in the southern vales of the White Mountains. During the War of the Ring Angbor’s forces engaged the landing parties of the Corsairs at Linhir on the river Gilrain. They were still fighting when, unlooked for, assistance arrived from the north; for the Heir of Isildur came to Linhir on his way to Pelargir, and the host that he led swept the field of friend and foe alike. But Angbor mastered his fear and so met Aragorn, who bade him gather his folk and reinforce besieged Minas Tirith as quickly as he might. Seven days later his forces reached the City and augmented its garrison while the main army of Gondor advanced on the Morannon.
    Angelimar – The twentieth Prince of Dol Amroth in Gondor. He died in 2977 Third Age.
    Angerthas Daeron – Originally an Elvish runic script, attributed to the legendary Daeron, bard and loremaster to the Elven-king Thingol of Doriath during the First Age. It was later adopted by the Dwarves of Durin’s House for their own exclusive use, after which it became known as the ANGERTHAS MORIA . (At this point the Grey-elves appear to have given up the use of runes altogether, turning instead to their distinctive adaptation of the TENGWAR .)
    See also ALPHABET OF DAERON .
    Angerthas Moria – The name given to the ALPHABET OF DAERON sometime after this runic system had become more closely associated with the Dwarves of Moria than with the Elves of Beleriand who had originated and developed it. In general, Dwarves employed several modifications to the Elvish certhas (runes), mainly in order to reproduce certain sounds in the Dwarvish tongue (Khuzdul) which did not occur in Elvish or Mannish modes of speech. Later the Dwarves of Erebor (the Moria-exiles) made further changes but, by chance or design, these changes to the Alphabet tended to revert to an earlier, Elvish mode.
    Note: the inscription on the Tomb of Balin 8 is in these Moriarunes. It reads:

    In Khuzdul, this epitaph may be rendered: BALIN FUNDINUL UZBADKHAZADDUMU ‘[Here lies] Balin/Son of Fundin/Lord of Moria’.
    Anghabar ‘Iron-mine’ (Sind.) – A rich iron lode in the Encircling Mountains north of Gondolin, discovered and initially worked by the Elves of that city – in particular, by Maeglin Eöl’s son, who was skilled in these crafts.
    Anglachel ‘Iron-flame’ (Sind.) – One of a pair of matching swords (the other was called Anguirel) made during the Elder Days by the Grey-elven smith Eöl from a strange metal found by him in the heart of a stone that had fallen from the sky. This metal, resembling common iron, was nonetheless harder than both iron and steel, and it was black, reflecting no light. The sword found its way into King Thingol’s hoard (in payment of a fee); and afterwards was given by Thingol, on request, to the great warrior-elf Beleg Cúthalion – against the advice of the Lady Melian, who foresaw disaster in the ownership of the weapon.
    So it proved. Beleg was