Dates
First appeared early in the history of the World1
Meaning
Ultimately from the Latin word aquila2
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 7 October 2001
- Updates planned: 12
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Eagles
The harbingers of Manwë
The great birds who were the friends of Elves and Men in Middle-earth; the mightiest of the Eagles was Thorondor, who dwelt in the Encircling Mountains; he and his kin carried spirits akin to the Maiar.
Notes
1 |
The mighty Eagles of the Elder Days were more than mere birds, they were gigantic, intelligent creatures. Thorondor, the greatest of them, had a wingspan of thirty fathoms (55 metres, or 180 feet), and spoke with Elf-lords as an equal. Beings like this first appeared after the awakening of the Elves, when spirits sent by Eru entered the World and inhabited certain of its living things (the Ents first appeared at about this time, for the same reason). 'Ordinary' eagles, of the kind we still know today, must presumably have predated the arrival of these spirits. |
2 |
The Latin word for eagle, aquila, seems to be related to Aquilo, a name for the north wind. This connection occurs in Tolkien, too. The Eagles are the special emissaries of Manwë, who rules the airs and winds of the World, and the great Eagle of the Third Age, Gwaihir, has a name that means 'Windlord'. |
See also...
Ancalagon, Battle of Five Armies, Crissaegrim, Eagle of the Star, Echoriath, Elves of Gondolin, Eruhantalë, Erukyermë, Forostar, Gondolin, Gwaihir, Hallow of Eru, Hawks, Huor, Kelvar, [See the full list...]King of Eagles, Landroval, Lord of Eagles, Meneldor, One-hand, Pinnacle of Orthanc, Sorontil, Soronúmë, Súlimo, Taniquetil, Tar-Ancalimon, The Wooden Whale, Thorondor, Windlord, Witnesses of Manwë
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Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.
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