Khazad Dum - Tumblr Posts
The Doors of Durin, also called the West-gate or the West-door, formed the western entrance to Moria. When shut, the gates were invisible and impossible to open by physical means. They were however decorated with designs engraved in ithildin made by the elf-Lord Celebrimbor of Eregion and the dwarf Narvi from mithril mined in Moria. The designs included the emblems of Durin, the two trees of the High Elves, and the Star of the House of Fëanor. Tolkien's drawing of the designs on the Doors of Durin was the only illustration in The Lord of the Rings during his lifetime (other than cover-art and calligraphy). In moonlight, a password made the designs visible. The designs contained a second password to open the doors. When the Fellowship entered, the Watcher in the Water, the aquatic guardian of the gates, slammed the doors shut with its tentacles, plunging the Fellowship into darkness.
The inscription was in the Elvish language of Sindarin, using the Tengwar script: Gandalf translates it as "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs". Scholars have commented that "Moria", an unfriendly Elvish description meaning "The Black Pit", was hardly how a ruler of Khazad-Dûm would choose to describe his realm; and that since the name was not used until the Balrog was awakened in the Third Age, it was also anachronistic. Possible resolutions have been proposed: that Celebrimbor had foresight of the name; that the magic lettering reshaped itself; or that Gandalf indeed saw the Sindarin name "Hadhodrond" on the door, and read it out as "Moria" for the benefit of those listening (and in the same way, he must have seen "Eregion" and read out "Hollin").
Oooh, halls that imitate the heavens. The Golden Hall of Noontide. The Corridor of Dusk. The Treasure Chambers of Midnight.
Day 5: Stars Durin's Folk star lamps inspired by their architecture in the books (did you know that they like to carve their pillars in the shape of trees? )
Prompt list:
‘The Bridge of Khazad-dûm’ A piece from last year that I didn’t post until now. Felt tip pen & Watercolor
I don't think I understand dwarves. I get that Khazad-dûm is their main, greatest and most beautiful city, a cultural treasure, but some pretty terrible things did happened there. And yet all they want is to reclaim it again and actually live there. It's like if elves were trying to restore the ruins of Gondolin (were it possible). "Sure, it was our most beautiful stronghold once, but on the other hand thousands of our people died here horribly... which doesn't give me nightmares at all..." I mean, the dwarves deserve our respect.
"The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
2021
...suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm.
-"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", by J.R.R. Tolkien
Behold! Unarguably the most iconic scene in the whole of the Lord of the Rings: Gandalf the Grey's battle against the Balrog of Morgoth upon the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.
This scene embodies everything that makes the fantasy genre great. It's a classic, mythical clash of good and evil, a confrontation between magical equals (more or less) of opposing sides. Yet Gandalf, alone on the bridge, appears to be small and weak against the monstrous power of the Balrog. At the same time it's this contrast that makes Gandalf's stand all the more courageous, and it's through his bravery that his inner power is revealed and matches that of his seemingly greater enemy.
Long before Game of Thrones this scene also provides with a devastating plot twist, when Gandalf, after having cast down the Balrog, gets dragged into the abyss with it. At the time I first watched it as a kid, I don't think I've ever felt as shocked by any film I had watched since. Already kind of bummed that my favorite villains (the Nazgûl) had been seemingly destroyed, I was completely out of words to watch my favorite hero perish too. I remember having doubts at this point on wether I liked a film that killed off all of my favorite people, but I was undeniably very involved in the story indeed.
It's easy to overlook the significance of Gandalf's sacrifice because of his later return. But at this time he was not only laying down his life for the Company, he was also sacrificing any hope of personal success in his mission on Middle-earth. With his demise the Order of the Istari would have effectively failed. His last stand at the bridge was a very courageous act of self-sacrifice and of faith in his comrades to carry on the struggle after his passing... and given his divine nature and his commitment to the cause entrusted to him, that sacrifice and that faith would be rewarded.
I like to imagine the moment Gimli stands up in the ruins of Khazad-dum and sings The Song of Durin for the company as the moment Legolas first falls hard.
Gimli: But still the sunken stars appear / In dark and windless Mirrormere / There lies his crown in water deep / Til Durin wakes again from sleep
Legolas: Well, fuck. He can wake ME from sleep ANYtime. Wait. What?