Anglachel

Anglachel

In The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien, Anglachel (meaning Iron of the Flaming Star in Sindarin) is a sword smithed by E�l the Dark Elf. It was one of two swords E�l forged out of a black meteorite: the other he kept for himself. E�l gave this sword to Thingol as payment for staying in his forest, Nan Elmoth, though he did not relish giving it away. Thingol's wife, Melian, prophesied the following:

"There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves, neither will it abide with you long."

Thingol gave the sword in keeping to his subject Beleg. Whenever Beleg took the sword out of its sheath, the sword is said to have sung with gladness.

At one time, Beleg was unbinding the unconscious T�rin, who had been held captive. However, whilst undoing his bonds, the sword slipped or fell and cut T�rin in his foot. T�rin then woke, and not knowing who it was, slew Beleg with Anglachel, a mistake that he mourned for a long time.

T�rin was then given the sword by Gwindor, and T�rin travelled to Nargothrond, Gwindor's place of birth.

Anglachel was then re-forged by the expert smithies at Anglachel, and was re-named by its new keeper, T�rin, to Gurthang, which means Iron of Death.