Henneth Annun Reseach Center

Things of Middle-earth

Nauglamír

Type: Gems & Jewelry

Meaning: the necklace of the Dwarves

Description:

The famous jewelled necklace fashioned by the Dwarves:
[The] Nauglamír, the Necklace of the Dwarves, most renowned of their works in the Elder Days... was a carcanet of gold, and set therein were gems uncounted from Valinor; but it had a power within it so that it rested lightly on its wearer as a strand of flax, and whatsoever neck it clasped it sat always with grace and loveliness.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 13, Of the Return of the Noldor

[It] came into [Thingol's] mind that it should be remade, and in it should be set the Silmaril....

[The] greatest of the works of Elves and Dwarves were brought together and made one; and its beauty was very great, for now the countless jewels of the Nauglamír did reflect and cast abroad in marvellous hues the light of the Silmaril amidmost.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath


History
First Age
c 100
(Estimated Date) 1
[See: Building of Nargothrond]

Thus Finrod came to the Caverns of Narog, and began to establish there deep halls and armouries after the fashion of the mansions of Menegroth; and that stronghold was called Nargothrond. In that labour Finrod was aided by the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains; and they were rewarded well, for Finrod had brought more treasures out of Tirion than any other of the princes of the Noldor. And in that time was made for him the Nauglamír, the Necklace of the Dwarves....

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 13, Of the Return of the Noldor

501 2
[See: Húrin takes the Nauglamír to Thingol]

Now Húrin journeyed eastward, and... was taken by the Elves that guarded the western marches of Doriath, and brought before King Thingol.... Húrin... drew forth from beneath his cloak that one thing which he had taken with him out of Nargothrond; and that was no lesser treasure than the Nauglamír, the Necklace of the Dwarves.... And Húrin cast it at the feet of Thingol with wild and bitter words.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

502 2
[See: Nauglamír remade to incorporate the Silmaril]

In those days the Dwarves still... travelled the ancient road to Doriath; for their skill in the working of metal and stone was very great, and there was much need of their craft in the halls of Menegroth.... At that very time great craftsmen of Nogrod were lately come into Doriath; and the King therefore summoning them declared his desire, that if their skill were great enough they should remake the Nauglamír, and in it set the Silmaril. Then the Dwarves looked upon the work of their fathers, and they beheld with wonder the shining jewel of Fëanor; and they were filled with a great lust to possess them, and carry them off to their far homes in the mountains. But they dissembled their mind, and consented to the task.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

502 2
[See: Thingol Slain by Dwarves of Nogrod in Menegroth]

Then Thingol, being alone among them, made to take it up and clasp it about his neck; but the Dwarves in that moment withheld it from him, and demanded that he yield it up to them.... But Thingol... bade them with shameful words be gone unrequited out of Doriath.

Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King; and they rose up about him, and laid hands on him, and slew him as he stood.... Then the Dwarves taking the Nauglamír passed out of Menegroth and fled eastwards through Region. But tidings went swiftly through the forest, and few of that company came over Aros, for they were pursued to the death as they sought the eastward road; and the Nauglamír was retaken, and brought back in bitter grief to Melian the Queen.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

503 2
[See: Dwarves of Nogrod Sack Doriath]

[The] host of the Naugrim crossing over Aros passed unhindered into the woods of Doriath; and none withstood them... and the halls of Thingol were ransacked and plundered. There fell Mablung of the Heavy Hand before the doors of the treasury wherein lay the Nauglamír; and the Silmaril was taken.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

503 2
[See: Dwarves of Nogrod are destroyed by Beren and Dior at Sarn Athrad]

These tidings came soon to Beren and... summoning to him Dior his son they went north to the River Ascar; and with them went many of the Green-elves of Ossiriand.

Thus it came to pass that when the Dwarves of Nogrod, returning from Menegroth with diminished host, came again to Sarn Athrad, they were assailed by unseen enemies.... In that battle by Sarn Athrad Beren fought his last fight, and himself slew the Lord of Nogrod, and wrested from him the Necklace of the Dwarves; but he dying laid his curse upon all the treasure....

Beren took the Nauglamír and returned to Tol Galen... it is said and sung that Lúthien wearing that necklace and that immortal jewel was the vision of greatest beauty and glory that has ever been outside the realm of Valinor....

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

505 3

There came a night of autumn, and when it grew late, one came and smote upon the doors of Menegroth, demanding admittance to the King.... [He] gave to the King a coffer, and took his leave. But in that coffer lay the Necklace of the Dwarves, wherein was set the Silmaril; and Dior looking upon it knew it for a sign that Beren Erchamion and Lúthien Tinúviel had died indeed, and gone where go the race of Men to a fate beyond the world.

.... Then Dior arose, and about his neck he clasped the Nauglamír....

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

506 2
[See: Ruin of Doriath]

But now the rumour ran among the scattered Elves of Beleriand that Dior Thingol's heir wore the Nauglamír.... Celegorm stirred up his brothers to prepare an assault upon Doriath....

Thus Doriath was destroyed, and never rose again.

But the sons of Fëanor gained not what they sought; for a remnant of the people fled before them, and with them was Elwing Dior's daughter, and they escaped, and bearing with them the Silmaril they came in time to the mouths of the River Sirion by the sea.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 22, Of the Ruin of Doriath

At this point, the fate of the Nauglamír becomes uncertain. The way the Silmaril is referred to in the texts concerning the Destruction of the Havens at Sirion and Eärendil coming to Valinor suggests it has become separated from the Nauglamír, which is not mentioned again after the reference to Dior wearing it.

Commentary by Tanaqui


Etymology
naug 'dwarf' in Naugrim; see also Nogrod in entry groth. Related is another Sindarin word for 'dwarf', nogoth, plural noegyth (Noegyth Nibin 'Petty-dwarves') and nogothrim.

The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names

NAUK - Q nauko dwarf. N naug. Cf. Nogrod Dwarf-city [cf. ROD?]. Also in diminutive form naugol (naugl-). The name Nauglamir is strictly Doriathric, in which genitive in -a(n) preceded. The true N idiom is mir na Nauglin or Nauglvir > Nauglavir.

[N naug was struck out and replaced by: 'N nawag (pl. neweig, neweg); Dor. naugol, whence EN naugl'; but the rest of the entry was allowed to stand. The stem NAWAK was written beside NAUK.]

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies

mîr 'jewel' (Quenya mîrë) in Elemmírë, Gwaith-i-Mírdain, Míriel, Nauglamír, Tar-Atanamir.

The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names

MIR - Q, ON mire; N mir jewel, precious thing, treasure. Cf. Nauglamir (Doriathrin form). Mirion ordinary N name of the Silevril (Silmarilli), pl. Miruin; = N Golo(d)eir or Mir in Geleid, Dor. Goldamir. [The name Borommiro is scribbled in: see BOR.]

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies


Notes
1The date is estimated from the entries in The War of the Jewels, HoME Vol 11, Part 1, The Grey Annals, which give the building of Nargothrond as taking place between 52 and 102 First Age. However, the same source also gives a date of 150 (and therefore after the completion of Nargothrond) for Caranthir's people first encountering the Dwarves. According to The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 13, Of the Return of the Noldor, the Dwarves "after the onslaught of Morgoth and the coming of the Noldor had ceased their traffic into Beleriand." There is therefore a significant discrepancy between the accounts in The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 13, Of the Return of the Noldor and in The War of the Jewels, HoME Vol 11, Part 1, The Grey Annals of the building of Nargothrond and making of the Nauglamír, regarding the presence (or absence) of the Dwarves.

Researcher's note by Tanaqui

2For the way in which this date was sourced, please see the linked event entry.
3Source of date: The War of the Jewels, HoME Vol 11, Part 1, The Grey Annals.

Contributors:
Tanaqui 28-31Aug05
Elena Tiriel 31Dec12

Related Library Entries

Things Search

   

Full Text Search


Character Bios

No related characters

Go to Character Bios

Places

No related places

Go to Places