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Ancalagon the Black

Meaning: Rushing Jaws

Location(s): Angband

Race/Species: Beasts & Monsters

Description:
Ancalagon is described in the Silmarillion as "the mightiest of the dragon-host," and this is alluded to in FotR:

"It has been said that dragon-fire could melt and consume the Rings of Power, but there is not now any dragon left on earth in which the old fire is hot enough; nor was there ever any dragon, not even Ancalagon the Black, who could have harmed the One Ring, the Ruling Ring, for that was made by Sauron himself."

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 2, The Shadow of the Past

In the Silmarillion "Eärendil slew Ancalagon the Black, the mightiest of the dragon-host, and cast him from the sky; and he fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim, and they were broken in his ruin."

The Silmarillion, Chapter 24, Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath

In other versions of the legend "the prophecy is put into the mouth of Andreth, the Wise-woman of the House of Beor: Turin will 'return from the Dead' before his final departure, and his last deed within the Circles of the World will be the slaying of the Great Dragon, Ancalagon the Black."

Peoples of Middle-earth, Part 2, Ch XII, The Problem Of Ros

Etymology

anca: 'jaws' in Ancalagon (for the second element in this name see alqua).

alqua: 'swan' (Sindarin alph) in Alqualondë; from a root alak- 'rushing' occurring also in Ancalagon.

The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names

Contributors:
Lyllyn 10.11.03
added Etymology: Elena Tiriel 29Nov04

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