Character Bios
Gil-galad
Meaning: Star of Radiance
Other Names: Ereinion (Scion of Kings)
Location(s): Beleriand, Balar, Lindon
Race/Species: Elf
Type/Kind: Noldor
Title(s): High King of the Noldor
Dates: I - II 3441
Parents: Fingon (father) from The Sil, later disputed*
Siblings: [Finduilas]*
Spouse: N/A
Children: N/A
Description:
* In The Peoples of Middle-Earth, HoMe Vol. 12, The Shibboleth of Feanor, his father is said to be Orodreth ( son of Angrod, not Finarfin). His name there is Artanáro (Q) or Rodnor (S).
"It is recorded that Ereinion was given the name Gil-galad 'Star of Radiance' 'because his helm and mail, and his shield overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars, shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight, and could be seen by Elvish eyes at a great distance if he stood upon a height'."
Unfinished Tales, Part Two: The Second Age, II Aldarion and Erendis, Note 24
Gil-galad and Elendil formed the Last Alliance and with a great host of Elves and Men, they marched to Mordor. For seven years, they lay siege to Sauron's stronghold. At the end, Gil-galad and Elendil were killed and Sauron was overthrown.
Gil-galad used a great spear in battle: "Against Aeglos the spear of Gil-galad none could stand..." Aeglos = snow-point.
The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
Gil-galad's end was memorialized in the poem, The Fall of Gil-galad, some of which was translated into Westron(?) by Bilbo Baggins. Gil-galad was an Elven-king...
LotR, FotR, Book One, XI - A Knife in the Dark
Etymology
gil 'star' in Dagor-nuin-Giliath, Osgiliath (giliath 'host of stars'); Gil-Estel, Gil-galad. ...
kal- (gal-) This root, meaning 'shine', appears in Calacirya, Calaquendi, Tar-Calion; galvorn, Gil-galad, Galadriel. The last two names have no connexion with Sindarin galadh 'tree'....
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
ar(a)- 'high, noble, royal' appears in a great many names, as Aradan, Aredhel, Argonath, Arnor, etc.; extended stem arat- appearing in Aratar, and in arato 'champion, eminent man', e.g. Angrod from Angaráto and Finrod from Findaráto; also aran 'king' in Aranrúth. Ereinion 'scion of kings' (name of Gil-galad) has the plural of aran; cf. Fornost Erain 'Norbury of the Kings' in Arnor. The prefix Ar- of the Adûnaic names of the Kings of Númenor was derived from this.
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
Contributors:
Ying, 01.08.03
Finch, 01.04.03
added Etymology: Elena Tiriel 5Jan05
