Middle-earth

Artifact

Aeglos

Also known as Snow-thorn, The Spear of Gil-galad

The spear of Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor, named Snow-thorn and dreaded by the enemies of the Last Alliance.

Supplementary writingsFrom posthumously published works, notes, drafts or appendices.
Type
Weapon
Forged by
Unknown; a spear of the Elves of the Elder Days, borne by Gil-galad

Description

Aeglos is the spear of Gil-galad, whose name is usually rendered as Snow-thorn. The texts note that the enemies of the Last Alliance feared it, and that Gil-galad wielded it through the War of the Last Alliance until he fell with Elendil before Barad-dur. Like many First Age heirlooms, the spear is described more by the standing of its bearer than by any enchantment. Its history before Gil-galad and its fate after his fall are not recorded, and the legendarium is content to let the weapon be remembered chiefly through the king who held it.

Powers

  • A long, keen Elven spear of great repute in war.
  • Its name and the fame of its bearer were enough to make Sauron enemies fear it.

Limitations

  • No special magic or curse is attributed to it; its power is that of a fine weapon and a great name.
  • It could not save Gil-galad from falling in the final battle.

Line of owners

  1. 1

    Gil-galad

    Second Age

    Borne as the spear of the High King through the wars against Sauron.

Symbolism

Symbolism

The strength and dignity of the last High King of the Noldor, and the fact that even the greatest weapon may not preserve its wielder.

Fate

Gil-galad fell at Barad-dur at the end of the War of the Last Alliance. What became of Aeglos afterward is not narrated in the surviving texts.

Interpretation

Reasoned analysis — not from the books

Aeglos is attributed in passing within the accounts of the Last Alliance. Claims about its making and its later history are not supported by the texts.

Characters

Sources

  • The Silmarillion · 1977

    Posthumously edited. Contains the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power.

  • Unfinished Tales · 1980

    Expanded and alternative accounts of the First, Second and Third Ages.

  • The History of Middle-earth · 1983–96

    Twelve volumes documenting the evolution of the legendarium.

  • The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien · 1981

    Authorial commentary useful for interpretation, but not always narrative canon.

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