Arms and Armour The vessel of Arien begins to sink beyond the Mountains even as I dip my quill into ink to write this essay, on the arms and armour of the Eldar throughout the Ages of Arda. For it is not only by our fair voices, our skills in songs and tales, neither by the slender Elven bows, that our lands are protected. With names of weapons were the three main hosts of the Elves also known for: the Vanyar, Blessed and most loved by the Valar Kings and Queens, were also called the Spear-Elves, their chief weapon being the spear. My own people, the Noldor, are the Sword-Elves, masters of swordsmanship craft and skill. And the last group, the Teleri, the Sea-Elves, are also known as Arrow-Elves, for it is recorded that ‘they were armed for the most part but with slender bows’. Such naming however, might puzzle the mind of the reader; for if the hosts were named after their most favoured weapons, did they already have arms and armour while still in Middle Earth, before the teachings of the Great Smith of the West? Some say so; it is passed down by some that Aulë sent the first weapons into Middle Earth with Tauron's help, for the Eldar by Cuiviénen to protect themselves. Others say that it is just a myth, and our sires first had weapons only after they mastered this craft in Valinor, and not before. That is one of the mysteries that surround us, Elves, like a mist never to clear, always present, giving us a sense of un-earthliness. Who could ever know the truth? For only our forefathers now keep memories of it, those that sit in the Halls of Awaiting. Perhaps, when the Great Music is played again, and a new world is created, shall the truth be told in full. Swords For this essay, we shall take the theory that our elders had learned about weapons in Valinor, and not before, for it is easier then to explain many things. One of the many myths is the sword of Daurin, an Elf unknown to most; Gwerlum it was said to be named, and with it Melkor supposedly stabbed the two Trees. Thus it was him, not Ungoliath the Spider that destroyed them. But, alas, that is, again, only a myth. More widely known is this: Fëanor, son of Finwë, wed Nerdanel, daughter of Mahtan in his early youth. Now Mahtan was the most favourite Elf of the Noldor race to the lord Aulë, and had been taught much by the Vala. From him did the firstborn son of the Noldorin King learn the art of forging, and ever did he strive to perfect himself and his work. And when Melkor first spoke to the Elves about weapons, and the kinstrife began to form in the midst of time, Tirion became alive with many a forge, for each of our forefathers deemed that he must protect himself and his family. Of tempered steel were the swords of Valinor, and bitter tears did Mahtan shed over the days that he was tutor to the prince. In the history of my people there are many swords of renowned names. Let us now travel over the years and highlight the most important of these. Thingol, king of Doriath, brother to the King of the Teleri, had a sword named Aranruith, which means Kingsire. It survived the Fall of Doriath, and was later passed on as a heirloom of the Númenorean Kings. Of Doriath origin is also the sword Anglachel, later reforged by the crafty smiths at Nargothrond and called Gurthang – 'the Iron of Death', and ever black its edges shone with pale fire. First wielded by Beleg Strongbow of Doriath it was, and later by Húrin's doomed son Túrin Turambar, finally taking his life. This sword was a twin to Anguriel, the sword of Eöl, the Dark Elf. He had given it as a ransom to King Thingol, to be allowed to live in the woods of Neldoreth. Both these mighty swords were made from a meteor that fell from the skies, or so it is said. The smith himself surpassed even the Noldor in his art, and he learned a lot from the Naugrim, the Dwarves, rather than from his fellow Elves. Greatly known among the Eldar is also Ringil, the sword of Fingolfin, second son of Finwë, and King to the Noldor in Middle Earth until his death. It is said that Ringil glittered like ice, and with this noble blade did our King stab Morgoth Bauglir seven times and ‘he gave a cry of anguish, whereat the hosts of Angband fell upon their faces in dismay, and the cries echoed in the Northlands.’ There is a poem of the last stand of Fingolfin. I believe it goes something like this: ‘Fingolfin like a shooting light Beneath a cloud, a stab of white, Sprang aside, and Ringil drew Like ice that gleameth cold and blue, His sword devised of Elvish skill To pierce the flesh of deadly chill.’ Another poem sings of the blade Angrist, with which Beren Erchamion cut a single Silmaril from Melkor's heavy crown.. ‘Then Beren did Curufin release But took his horse and coat of mail And took his knife there gleaming pale, Hanging sheathless, wrought of steel. No flesh could leeches ever heal That point had pierced for long ago The Dwarves had made it, singing slow Enchantments, where their hammers fell In Nogron ringing like a bell; Iron as tender wood it cleft And sundered mail like woolen weft. ’ Of course this is a translation; originally this is in Quenya, the mother-tongue of my kin. Translations had been made over time, into Sindarin, Silvan and other languages, even Westron. In years passed, in Gondolin, the Hidden White City, three famous swords were forged, out of which one has even pierced the flesh of Ungoliant's hideous offsprings. Orchrist, Glamdring and Sting those were. Glamdring was the sword of Turgon, King of Gondolin; white-gold was the blade, and it came with an ivory sheath. None could withstand it when it shone bare in battle. The goblins feared it and called it Beater, and the name itself translates into Foe-hammer. Later it was carried by Mithrandir, or Gandalf, as he is known to Men. Orchrist was also a famous sword, yet it is now forgotten to whom it had belonged. The name translates to Goblin-cleaver, and the goblins called it Biter. It is now buried under the Lonely Mountain with Thorin Oakenshield, and it is said that no enemy can take the fort, for the sword gleams with it's own light when evil is near, as do his brethren Glamdring and Sting. Sting is a small knife to us Elves, but for one of the Periannath, the Halflings, it serves as a sword. Wielded by Frodo, son of Drogo during the War of the Ring, it proved to be sharper even than the blades of Gondor, for it cleaved the Troll in Moria when other blades went astray and blunt. It was later recognised by the captains of Mordor, Shagrat and Grishnak. In Gondolin men from the different Houses of the kingdom carried swords of various shapes and sizes. Those of the House of Heavenly Arch, with their chieftain Egalmoth, carried curved swords, which none now use. Glorfindel of the Golden Flower carried a sword adorned with gold. The lord of the Fountain, Lord Ecthelion, and his men wielded long pale swords, against which not even the Valaraukar, the Balrogs could stand. Tuor of the Wing found a sword in a black sheath upon coming to the abandoned Nevrast, and Voronwë carried a short sword only. The Wood Elves were also renowned for their swords; in the Battle of the Five Armies they shone like a forest, as they charged the goblins in the vale. Of the orcs and Goblins it should be said that none of them ever dared walk near the graves of Noldor or even of other Elves. For the ancient swords, though rusting beneath the soil, were still deadly perilous to the foes of my people. Of the noble line of the Noldor and of the race of Men came hope for the free peoples of Middle-earth in times of war and bitter defeat. To Idril - the Elf princess of Gondolin, and Tuor a prince of Men, was born a son – Eärendil the Blessed, Of his valiant sword of steel a song once sang the old Hobbit - Bilbo Baggins in these halls. On the island of the Dunedain, the art of sword craft was learned from the Eldar of Tol Eressëa, and some Elvish blades were passed as heirlooms (like Aranruith). From there also came the famous blades of the four brave Hobbits which they found in the Barrow Downs in the dark days of the War of the Rings. These blades were shaped as leaves, richly decorated, and, as the saying goes, their sheaths were protected by a spell that hindered decay by rust and time. One of those knives helped end the life of the Witchking of Angmar, whom neither Men nor Elves could fight against. From the island also comes the sword Narsil, later called Anduril; the Flame of the West It was made long ago, in the depths of the Dwarven forges, by Telchar, the most renowned of the smiths of Nogrod. Broken in the battle upon Mount Doom, it was reforged for Elessar in the Third age, and adorned with the symbols of the Reunited Kingdom. The blade shone as it was drawn out, by the light of Moon, Star or Sun, and the sheath of Galadriel prevented it breaking anew. Narsil is, beyond any doubt, the most famous of all swords in the history of Middle-earth. And now it is time to say something about the weapons of our enemies. There is a little poem that speaks of orc blades in the time of Beren…let me see if I can remember it. ‘The poisoned spears, the bows of horn, The crooked swords their foes had borne.’. Something like that it goes, indicating that Orcs fight with curved blades, much like the Southrons . The goblins used short swords of broad blades, but the most renowned of the evil swords must be the sword of the Witchking, upon which fire danced as the Eldar women dance in the starlight. For the end on the sword business, might I also remind all, that in the depths of time there went lost a spell that prevented rust from the blades; it is said to have been used by Beleg Strongbow upon Anglachel, which is the reason, supposedly that the blade's edges shone pale. Nothing is certain, though. Bows One of the most renowned archers in our history is Fingon, son of Fingolfin, whom Maedhros, while chained upon the evil mountains of Melkor begged to shot an arrow at his heart and end his torture. Those arrows not even Glaurung the Golden, the strongest of all Worms that had ever walked Arda, could withstand, and he fled into the pits of Angband after meeting them. Flickering as sparks flew the Wood Elves' arrows in the Battle of Five Armies, known far and wide for its slaughter and bitter hours. As I have said before, the Teleri are known as Arrow-Elves, but their slender bows were no match for the Noldorin swords in the tumult of the kinslaying upon the shores of Valinor. Nevertheless, the Eldar of that kin are wide famous for their skills. In Gondolin also bows were made . In the Houses of the Swallow and of the Heavenly Arch men used them, and even Egalmoth, chieftain of the latter, preferred the bow to his curved sword. The guards of the Golden Gate held long bows, as Tuor saw when he entered the city. In Doriath also bows were widely known; how could we not know Beleg Strongbow, since he received his name after the mighty weapon he wielded? In Numenor, in the days of peace, bows were used as weapons for hunting, not for fighting. And now we come to the Golden Wood, whose archers are known across the land from North to the South and from East to the West. One of their bows had been given as a precious gift to Legolas, prince of Mirkwood. Made of gray wood and strung with a single strand of elf-hair, these long bows were mighty weapons against any opponents. Spears, Clubs, Hammers As said before, the spears had, as the legend is, been granted to the Elves even before the journey to Valinor. Others contradict them by saying that the Noldor first made spears, and in happier times gave them to the Vanyar. The javelin of Aredhel's husband is greatly renowned in Arda, for it's tip was poisoned, and it killed Turgon's sister , costing her husband his life. Those of Legolas' kin used spears often, as weapons both, for fighting as well as for hunting, and when many were gathered, they seemed like a forest, swift to attack and with bitter strikes. As bows, they were used as a weapon of chase by the Men of the Westernesse. One of the most renowned spears is Aiglos, the spear of Ereinion Gil-galad. None could withstand it, and it was praised in a poem, which is oft sung among my kin. ‘His sword was long, his lance was keen His shining helm afar was seen The countless stars of heaven's field Were mirrored in his silver shield.’ The shards of it are said to be held within Imladris, in the Last Homely House, waiting for their voyage across the Sea with its Lord. Broad-bladed spears are hated by us, for they are used by the orcs, and we hate nothing more than those foul creatures. In Gondolin, men of the House of the Pillar and of the Tower of Snow used slings in battles, or even iron-studded clubs, much feared by our enemies, for they did great damage. The House of the Hammer of Wrath, however, used great maces like hammers to harm and kill their foes. All in all, the variety of weapons in Gondolin is wise to note. Axes In Doriath axes were forged in lots, together with other weapons. Telchar made them for Thingol, learning from his forefather Gamil Zirak the Old. The Noldor learned of them from Melkor, and fashioned them by his instructions at first. After coming to Gondolin, the lord Tuor fought with a heavy axe, and the guards at the gates used red-bladed axes to intimidate those coming uninvited or unexpected, and also for protection. On the island of the Westernesse axes were not needed, but they are mentioned in the old scrolls. And lastly we must mention Gimli son of Gloin, the Elf-friend, whose skills with these weapons had been passed down into the history scrolls of Arda. Shields Perhaps one wonders why I put this piece of armour as a separate topic, so allow me to explain. Because of the variety and number of shields mentioned throughout the Eldar history, it would have been far too much to write about them together with the description of other armour or arms; besides, it would've only confused the reader. Thus I include the shields as a separate chapter, under a separate title. The first shields were made in Valinor, by influence of Melkor, and upon them the Noldor displayed tokens of their chief houses and families. They adorned them with precious metals such as gold and silver, and with gems, too. They must have been quite a sight to behold. In Middle Earth, a famous shield is that of King Fingolfin, which was set with crystals, and is also mentioned in poems of old. ‘In that vast shadow once of yore Fingolfin stood, his shield he bore With field of heaven's blue and star Of crystal shinning pale afar.’ In Doriath the shields shone as the Moon itself, as tales go. They, too, were at first made by the Naugrim. And renowned is the shield of Gil-galad, the last High-King of the Noldor in Middle-earth, for the ‘… countless stars of heaven's field were mirrored in his silver shield’ It shone afar, be it by sun or moonlight, and if the King stood upon a height he could be seen by our keen eyes on great distances. Yet again we turn to Gondolin. Shields were an important addition to the gear of the Elves there; the tokens of the Houses were displayed upon them. Tuor had a swan's wing, the men from the houses of the Swallow and of the Heavenly Arch had shields overlaid with jewels, with an arrowhead in the middle, and a rayed sun was displayed upon the shields of the House of the Golden Flower. Heavy were the shields of the men of the Hammer of Wrath, for their arms were also hard and heavy. Before coming to Gondolin, Tuor wielded a long and tapering shield, of a blue field with a swan wing upon it, just as he had it later. It was of wood, overlaid by metal plates. Those of the Iron Guards wielded long black shields, while those of the Golden Gate had round ones, and as red as flames. Famous also was the shield of Ecthelion, for it seemed to be dewed with drops of rain, and indeed, those were studs of crystal upon wood and metal, which gleamed afar in the light. Lastly it is to mention the attire of Aragorn Elessar and that of Legolas Greenleaf while they fought together with the Rohirrim, the Horselords. Round those shields were, displaying a white horse or a rayed sun, both upon a green field. Armour Now we come to yet another part of this writing, and Arien is already well upon her way into the depths unchartered and unknown for Elves and Men.. First of all we must give credit to the crafty Naugrim, who in the years of the First Age made much of the armour for the Eldar, and who first devised mails of linked rings, which none could make so strong. Hauberks, long mail-coats…all was ever-shinning, could not be withstood or surpassed in the subtlety of devising . They mostly used copper and iron rather than precious metals. Indeed, a great tribute is to be given to these crafty smiths, of whom Telchar is most renowned. Now we should, methinks, speak of the people whose armour, or the image of it, had been passed down through time, so that you learn what protected, and still protects my people. We return again to Fingolfin, who bravely stood against Morgoth in his shining silver mail, white help, Ringil and blue shield in hands grasping firmly. Accomplished by his mighty steed Rochallor, he seemed unstoppable, but alas! Slain Fingolfin the fair was! In Gondolin, the Houses had their own arrays. Tuor wore a suit of armour overlaid with silver; his helm had two swan's wings by both sides, made of metal and adorned with jewels. In full armour and with his shield and axe, he seemed unstoppable. But before he came to be the Lord of the Wing, he wore the outfit left by Turgon in Nevrast - a silver hauberk that glittered with gold, a helm he also had, a blue shield, and a long sword. The men of the Houses of the Swallow and of the Heavenly Arch wore a fan of feathers upon their helms, and they were of uncounted wealth; arrayed in a glory of colours and with arms inlaid with jewels, they were a joy to behold, even on the fields of battle. Men of the House of the Heavenly Arch also had a large opal on their helms, making them widely known in all Gondolin. Men of the House of the Golden Flower had arms and armour crafted with gold, and Glorfindel himself wore a shinning mail, which had a strange gleam in the Moon. Those of the House of the Hammer of Wrath wore heavy armour, and of the House of the Fountain were known for their arrays inlaid with crystals and diamonds. Their lord Ecthelion was clad all in silver; upon his helm was a spike of steel, pointed even with a diamond, shinning far, and his shield of crystal added to the glory of his image. The guards at the Iron Gate wore black mails, as was the colour of all their attire. The most frightening thing of them were the visors of their helms, which were shaped as the beaks of eagles, making them seem fearful. The Golden Guards were clad in gilded mails, and a tall golden plum rose from their helm; along with their red shields, they were an image of splendour and glory. Of Gil-galad I had oft spoken in this lay, but I must mention him again. As his shield, his helm and mail were overlaid with silver, making him visible form afar. He bore a device adorned with white stars, and Aiglos – his mighty spear, was ever at his side. The last of the High-Kings of the Noldor in exile, clad in might! Of the son of Tuor much have I already said, too. Yet to give you an insight of what he was clad in, as he journeyed into the West, I shall cite a poem which Master Bilbo Baggins of the Shire folk kindly agreed to lend me. ‘In panoply of ancient kings In chained rings he armoured him; His shinning shield was scored with runes To ward all wounds and harm from him; His bow was made of dragon-horn, His arrows shorn of ebony, Of silver was his habergeon, His scabbard of chalcedony, His sword of steel was valiant, Of adamant his helmet tall. An eagle-plum upon his crest Upon his breast an emerald.’ Turning back to the Third Age, we should mention again Legolas of the Elves, and Aragorn of the Dunedain of the North. They were clad in shinning mail, adorned with gold, green and red gems. Yet, of the Helm of Hador forget we should not. Let me here cite what was written in the scrolls of Master Elrond. It was made of gray steel, and adorned with gold. Upon it were runes of victory; it was guarded heavily by a power of old, which spoke that whoever wore it in battle would never be wounded or die; swords broke upon it, darts sprang aside. Wrought by Telchar of the Naugrim, it also had a visor that struck fear into the hearts of those who saw it, and made it was in the fashion of the old helms of the Dwarves. As if in defiance, the image of Glaurung was embedded upon the helm's crest. The hearts of Hithlum were lifted when they saw this Helm in times of war. The Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, it was called, and one of the greatest of the heirlooms of the house of Hador it was. Worn by Hador and later by Galdor, and yet even later passed to Túrin, this helm had not been made for Men, but for the lord of Belegost, Azghal. He passed it on to Maedhros, and from there it travelled long ere it reached the hands of the Edain, those whose shoulders were strong enough to bear it. In battle oft a cry went into the air, and that cry had bitterly set into the black hearts of Melkor and his servants, and also of all of the free peoples of that time. It still lives, even after all those years, recorded in scrolls: »Of more worth is the Dragon of Dor-lómin than the golden worm of Angband!« And now, as Arien has finally sailed into the dark, and twilight creeps onto Elven homes, I finally place down my quill. My goal has been achieved, the scroll is written. It shall now be shelved and stored for the future generations, to remember and learn of what once was. You, who read this, know that long labours have been taken for this to be made; and honour what lore is passed to you, for it is a guide for the after-comers. By Anárië Quotes and parts of poems taken from The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, The Peoples of Middle-earth, The Book ofUnfinished Tales and The Lays of Beleriand. Research I Research II Back to the top