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King Thorin's sister's name

I just finished reading Dante's inferno for my world literature class and I came across a name that could be considered disturbing considering the title I gave this thread. In the last canto the two main characters come across Satan, Judas, Brutus and Cassius. Another name that Dante gives Satan is Dis. I seem to remeber reading that Fili and Kili's mother's name was Dis. Does anyone have any thoughts on the matter.

Dis means maiden in the old Norse language. Most dwarf names also come from that language.

Tolkien took most of his Dwarf names from the Voluspa in the Elder Edda:

Quote:

The high Gods gathered in council.
In their hall of judgement: Who of the dwarves
Should mould man by master craft
From Brimir's blood and Blain' s limbs?

Motsognir was their mighty ruler,
Greatest of dwarves, and Durin after him :
The dwarves did as Durin directed,
Many man forms made from the earth.

Nyi and Nidi, Nordri, Sudri, Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin, Bivor,
Bavor Bombur, Nori, An and Anar, Ai, Mjodvitnir, Veignr and Gandalf,
Vindalf, Thorin, Thror and Thrain, Thekkur, Litur, Vitur, Nar and Nyradur,
Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali Hefti, Vili, Hanar, Sviur, Billing, Bruni, Bildur,
and Buri, Frar, Hornbori Fraegur, Loni, Aurvangur, Jari, Eikinskjaldi:
(All Durin's folk I have duly named,)

I must tell of the dwarves in Dvalin' s host;
Like lions they were in Lofar's time:
In Juravale's marsh they made their dwelling,
From their Stone hall set out on journeys,

There was Draupnir and Dolgthrasir, Har, Haugspori, Hlevangur, Gloi, Dori,
Ori, Dufur, Andvari, Skirvir, Virvir Skafidur, Ai, Alf and Yngvi,
Eikinskjaldi ('Oakenshield'), Fjalar and Frosti, Finn and Ginnar: Men will remember while
men live
The long line of Lofar's forbears.

I'm fairly sure that the Dis that Dante refers to in the Inferno is the Roman equivalent of Hades (Dante being Italian...) As Davem mentioned above Tolkien's Dis is from the Voluspa.

Though maybe Tolkien was just "Dis-sing" the dwarves... ;) *groan*

Oh man what a BAD pun! (Actually I have committed worse)

I love Dante to bits. I doubt, however, his Dis, the city of hell, has anything to do with dwarf women. Although I am certain dear gentle Virgil would have a thing or two to say about Dwarves.

Frosti huh? As in Frosti the snowman...er..snowdwarf? (speaking of bad puns....) :rolleyes:

Gandalf....I knew that was a norse name. hmm Durin the Deathless methinks. I suppose Dvalin would be Dwalin. Wow, everybody's there but Gimli!

Im sure with all those names, if you looked into more sources Gimli would be there somewhere! :p
________
Marijuana indica

Perhaps this would be of interest:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durin's Folk, HoME XII

Finally, there is a note on the absence of record concerning the women of the Dwarves:

They are seldom named in genealogies. They join their husbands' families. But if a son is seen to be 110 or so years younger than his father, this usually indicates an elder daughter. Thorin's sister Dis is named simply because of the gallant death of her sons Fili and Kili in defence of Thorin II. The sentiment of affection for sister's children was strong among all peoples of the Third Age, but less so among Dwarves than Men or Elves among whom it was strongest.