Fall of Gondolin

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

.....in the name of Lomion.

Isn't it usual to bump a thread when there's something to respond to? Are you waiting for a 'what do you mean by that?'? I figured you were just picking on me.

Since this is the FoG thread... what's up with Penlod, Lord of the Houses of the Pillar and the Tower of Snow? He's pretty much the least-referenced of the lords of Gondolin - he's mentioned in the assembly, comes to a meeting, then dies. But for some reason Tolkien not only gave him an epithet, but two Houses to rule? I mean, that's got to make sense somehow, right?

hS

[Urwen]

No, I wasn't picking on you. I just figured out it was funny, since you mentioned Eol, when we wouldn't have the book without his child.

Speaking of which, how do we know for sure that Lomion did what he did? History is written by the winners, after all. And get this: said winners supported Tuor.

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

Isn't it usual to bump a thread when there's something to respond to? Are you waiting for a 'what do you mean by that?'? I figured you were just picking on me.

Since this is the FoG thread... what's up with Penlod, Lord of the Houses of the Pillar and the Tower of Snow? He's pretty much the least-referenced of the lords of Gondolin - he's mentioned in the assembly, comes to a meeting, then dies. But for some reason Tolkien not only gave him an epithet, but two Houses to rule? I mean, that's got to make sense somehow, right?

hS

Want to hear my biased answer or my non-biased one?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Want to hear my biased answer or my non-biased one?

You have a biased opinion on Penlod the Tall? o.O This I have got to hear.

And also the unbiased one, of course.

hS

[Urwen]

Well, as it happens, Turgon had three siblings: Fingon, father of Gil-Galad, Aredhel, mother of Maeglin, and Argon, father of Penlod.


So according to my theory, that's why.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

While we're at it: T says Glorfindel was "a kinsman" of Turgon. Any speculation just how they were related?

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

While we're at it: T says Glorfindel was "a kinsman" of Turgon. Any speculation just how they were related?

I don't know that for sure, but I do have a headcanon that he had something akin to a crush on M[a]eglin, before the betrayal.

[Urwen]

Maeglin, at the moment he fell:

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

While we're at it: T says Glorfindel was "a kinsman" of Turgon. Any speculation just how they were related?

Assuming the later House Finwe family tree is valid, they can't be that close, but... could blond Glorfindel be descended from a sibling of Indis? We know that the 'children of Indis' identity was pretty strong among Fingolfin and Finarfin's lines, so a cousin on the Vanyarin side could be treated as somewhat closer kin than he actually was.

Come to think of it, Elenwe was a Vanya too, wasn't she? Could it be as simple as Glorfindel being Turgon's brother-in-law?

As a bonus, it would explain why he, rather than anyone else, went all-out against the Balrog up on the high pass - because it was threatening Idril, his niece who was the only living reminder of his dead sister.

Urwen - that's a lovely picture, though I have to wonder where his sword's gone. Tolkien was very clear about what Maeglin was doing with his hands: one was holding Earendil and got bitten, one was stabbing Earendil with a dagger and got broken. Anguirel should still be in its sheath, unless by some inconceivable chance he lost it.

(Given that at least three swords are known to have escaped Gondolin, there's always the possibility that Anguirel was also looted, and wound up in some troll's horde somewhere in the eastern lands...)

hS

[Urwen]

If Anguirel was indeed looted, then I wish I could get my hands on it, or at least a model of it. An everlasting reminder of M[a]eglin.