The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The original Runes of the Certhas Daeron dated back to the Years of the Trees; the Angerthas Moria emerged after II 750;1 Moria was abandoned III 19812
Origins
A variation of the Certhas Daeron, the original Runes of the Elves
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
Devised and used in the Dwarf-city of Khazad-dûm (called Moria by the Elves)
Pronunciation
ange'rthas mo'ria (the g sound in Angerthas should be hard, as in the English word 'anger')
Meaning
Angerthas means 'long rune rows'; Moria means 'Black Chasm'

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About this entry:

  • Updated 10 July 2023
  • Updates planned: 1

Angerthas Moria

The rune-writing of Khazad-dûm

A runic writing-system developed by the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm from the older Elvish system known as the Angerthas Daeron. Though originally designed for carving into wood or stone, the Dwarves found the runes peculiarly suited to their own language, and developed character forms suitable for writing with a pen and ink. The Angerthas Moria was similar to Daeron's original system in many ways, but with several minor alterations of sound, and with six entirely new cirth. The runes of Khazad-dûm themselves became the basis of at least one later writing-system, the Ereborian Cirth.


Notes

1

We're told that the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm learned of the Runes of the Certhas Daeron from the Elves of Eregion, so the Angerthas Moria cannot predate the founding of Eregion in II 750. Eregion itself survived for nearly a thousand years, and doubtless the Dwarves' system of Runes took some time to develop into their own form, so in actuality the Angerthas Moria probably did not emerge until some time after this early date. Eregion was destroyed in II 1697, so this is last possible date for the adoption of the Dwarves' Runes, though in practice such a late date seems highly unlikely.

2

The Dwarves fled the Balrog of Moria in III 1981, and soon established themselves at the Lonely Mountain of Erebor. At some point after the settlement of Erebor in III 1999, the Runes of the Angerthas Moria evolved into the Ereborian Cirth. It seems unlikely that this would have been an immediate transition, and in practice the Angerthas Moria probably continued in use for some time, even though Moria itself had been abandoned.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 July 2023
  • Updates planned: 1

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