The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
I 116 - I 510 (endured 394 years)
Location
North of Beleriand and west of Dorthonion, within the Encircling Mountains
Race
Divisions
Culture
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 27 May 2015
  • This entry is complete

Hidden City

A name for Gondolin

Map of the Hidden City

When Turgon son of Fingolfin came to Middle-earth with the Exiles, he at first settled in the land of Nevrast on the coast, establishing a seat at Vinyamar beneath Mount Taras. A vision from Ulmo guided him inland, where he found a hidden tunnel through the mountains that led him to Tumladen, a wide green plain surrounded on all sides by the Echoriath, the Encircling Mountains.

In the middle of the plain of Tumladen stood a rocky hill, Amon Gwareth, and on that hill Turgon set about building a new city, concealed from the eyes of Morgoth by the mountains. After decades of work, the city was finished, and Turgon summoned all his people from Nevrast to find a new home there. The city had many names, but it was known most famously as the Hidden City of Gondolin.

Completed in I 116, the Hidden City remained concealed from friend and foe alike for centuries, and survived longer against Morgoth than any of the other Elf-realms of Beleriand. It was not until the sixth century of the First Age that its location was betrayed by Maeglin, and in I 510 Morgoth's forces attacked and overwhelmed it. A small band of survivors escaped the sack, led by Turgon's daughter Idril, Tuor, and their young son Eärendil.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 27 May 2015
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001, 2014-2015. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.
How do your personal strengths fit in with career matching? How can you identify them? Try a free personality test from myDISCprofile.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Menu
Homepage Search Latest Entries and Updates Random Entry