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Alfirin · 06-23-2007, 12:47 PM

Don't think I've ever seen a picture of Carcaroth either but there would be three things to consider

1. Caracroth its described as the "Greatest of Wolves" and in Tolkein terms this probably means he is ENORMOUS. Add on that almost all of the beasts in the First age were much much bigger that in the third (who in turn were much bigger than in the first.) For example Thorondor the Lord of the Eagles in the first age (the one who scarred Ancalgon) is supposed to have a wingspand of thirty fathoms i.e. 180 feet. I therfore think it likey that Carcaroth could easily be the size of a medium horse or even a small elephant (I mean a modern elephant not a Mumakul) I admit however that making him so large would be the question of why her merely bit Beren's hand off instead of swallowing him whole.

2. Since Caracroth proably is based (at least loosely) on Fenrir the wolf from Norse mythology an illistration from that would pobably give one a clue as to what Tolkein envisioned.

3. There may actually be Illustrations of Carcaroth (in a roundabout way) in "The Return of the King." Just as the battering ram used against Minas Tirith is named "Grond" after Melkor's great black mace. I have alaways though that it head described as being shaped "in the likeness of a ravening wolf" is meant to be an image of Carcaroth. Some support for this may be in the fact that a ravening wolf usually means one with it's jaws wide open. Carcaroth's alternate name (after he devours the Silmaril) is Anfauglir which is usally translated as "The Jaws of Thirst." However it is interesting to note that the two Sindar root worlds of the name could also be transalted as "The Jaws which Gape"

06-23-2007, 12:47 PM	#15
Alfirin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 435	Don't think I've ever seen a picture of Carcaroth either but there would be three things to consider 1. Caracroth its described as the "Greatest of Wolves" and in Tolkein terms this probably means he is ENORMOUS. Add on that almost all of the beasts in the First age were much much bigger that in the third (who in turn were much bigger than in the first.) For example Thorondor the Lord of the Eagles in the first age (the one who scarred Ancalgon) is supposed to have a wingspand of thirty fathoms i.e. 180 feet. I therfore think it likey that Carcaroth could easily be the size of a medium horse or even a small elephant (I mean a modern elephant not a Mumakul) I admit however that making him so large would be the question of why her merely bit Beren's hand off instead of swallowing him whole. 2. Since Caracroth proably is based (at least loosely) on Fenrir the wolf from Norse mythology an illistration from that would pobably give one a clue as to what Tolkein envisioned. 3. There may actually be Illustrations of Carcaroth (in a roundabout way) in "The Return of the King." Just as the battering ram used against Minas Tirith is named "Grond" after Melkor's great black mace. I have alaways though that it head described as being shaped "in the likeness of a ravening wolf" is meant to be an image of Carcaroth. Some support for this may be in the fact that a ravening wolf usually means one with it's jaws wide open. Carcaroth's alternate name (after he devours the Silmaril) is Anfauglir which is usally translated as "The Jaws of Thirst." However it is interesting to note that the two Sindar root worlds of the name could also be transalted as "The Jaws which Gape"