Ecthelion

Ecthelion, also known as, Ecthelion of the fountains, [1] is a magnificent hero of Middle-earth during the First Age and a great Lord of Gondolin. The people of the land admired the fearless fighting of Ecthelion.

Ecthelion is presumed to dwell in Aman in Tirion, during his early life as there is no accurate information on his early days. He must have been one of the disciples of Fingolfin. He crossed the perilous Helcaraxe successfully and survived the grinding ice. He settled, initially, in Vinyamar in Nevarest after he outlived his brave deeds. In FA 116, he moved on to Gondolin. Ecthelion later governed the House of the Fountain.

Following the creation of Gondolin 200 years later, Ecthelion, Glorfindel, and Egalmoth went away from the Hidden city. The three lords aided the white lady of Noldor, Aredhel, in her pursuit of freedom. She yearned for freedom after she lived through it in Valinor for a very brief time. Aredhel was supposed to meet up with her elder brother, Fingon. Hence, the escorts guided her to Hithlum to assist in her meeting, as per the instruction. Upon her wish to set eyes on the Sons of Feanor, she directed the forces to go around the south after they reached Ford of Brithiach. To achieve this, Ecthelion and his alliances needed permission to enter Doriath. But, unfortunately, the guardians denied their entry into Girdle of Melian. Hence, they had to choose the deadly route in the middle of the haunted valleys of Ered Gorgoroth. Aredhel and her companion got lost near the valley of dreadful death, Nan Dungortheb. The group got lost themselves in the tangle of deadly shadows. Their efforts to find her turned futile. Since they were not able to find Aredhel, they retreated. The three lords went back to their land, Gondolin, facing a near-death situation when the dark spider chased them. They went home heavy-hearted, and the people of Gondolin mourned on losing their precious princess.

In the First Age in FA 473, Ecthelion assisted Turgon in the first battle of Noldor in the First Age against the Dark Lord, Morgoth, to overthrow his power in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. When the Noldor was defeated, he guarded a border helping Turgon to flee away safely. Twenty-three years after the events of Nirneath Arnoediad, Tuor and Voronwe of Gondolin set their voyage to the Hidden city. First, they encountered Elemmakil in the Seven Gates, who led them in. Finally, they came to face the mighty Lord, Ecthelion, who was guarding the gate. He was not easy on them and denied to let them in. On the mention of the name of Ulmo, the Lord of the waters, he finally ushered them, allowing their entry. Ecthelion, the most lauded Lord of the House of the Fountain, lead one of the Twelve Houses of the Gondolindrim. The people of his land loved diamonds and silver, and their attires were always a feast to the eyes. FA 510 was the year in which the Fall of Gondolin happened. During the battle, Ecthelion assisted by leading the forces under his command. The music of their flutes was supposed to give strength to their people, and with music, they destroyed their enemy mightily with their shining swords.

Ecthelion, accompanied by his companions, made his entry through the southern part of Gondolin. This area was earlier preserved cautiously. He guided his troops so efficiently that his voice made the enemies tremble with fear. The clinging sounds of the sword and the terrible killing made him a Warcry to the Eldar, a dreaded name among his enemies. Ecthelion. Tuor, and the House of the wing, fought together courageously repulsing the orcs, anticipating the regain of the gate completely. Morgoth's army strengthened with the addition of Dragons. But Ecthelion valiantly killed three Balrogs and even hurt their fire with his mighty sword. However, Morgoth's army overpowered them when Ecthelion was injured in his left arm after losing his shield.

Ecthelion and his men drew back, where Tuor united with the surviving leaders, bearing injured Ecthelion in the king's square. Ecthelion recuperated his power by drinking water from the fountain of the king. The enemy troops swooped the square vigorously, led by the seven dragons, driving back Gondolin's forces. Everyone except Ecthelion was ready to set their return to their land. But the mighty Lord, Ecthelion, stood with great might, unseen in all the tales, alone in the fountain, which was remembered forever by the people with pride. There, he faced alone the deadly Lord of Balrogs, Gothmug.

Tuor struggled with his full might to stop Gothmug, only to be thrown away. The noblest Lord among the Noldor, Ecthelion, with his face as pale as grey steel, fought Gothmug fearlessly. The sword of Ecthelion went missing as he faced an injury, making him vulnerable. The mighty Lord, who was unarmed, refused to give up and hopped on to the demon. Ecthelion strangled Gothmug with his legs and pushed the spike of his helmet into the dragon's body. Finally, Gothmug gave up, taking them both together into the fountain of the king. This caused the great Lord and the dragon to drown. Earendil cried with pain when he heard the death of Ecthelion and uttered his despair and said he no more wanted to visit the streets of Gondolin. He wished Ecthelion was still with him to play him his flute and make him the willow whistles.

The three resources that give the translation of Ecthelion have significant differences. The appendix of The Book of Lost Tales Part Two says that name Ecthelion, arises from the citation of his title as Lord for the House of Fountain. It is derived from Quenya, the elf's language, meaning ethtele, which means "Issue of water" or "spring." In the history of The Last Road and Other writings, it is said that Ecthelion's name originated from Ehte, meaning spear, and thela, meaning spear. It can be translated as spear-point or even spear-head. J.R.R.Tolkien wrote the history of his name in the very last part of The War of the Jewels. He wrote that it was originated from Aeg, meaning sharp, and thel, meaning intent or resolve. Together, the name has a meaning of "sharp resolve."

In the year 1916, in his days off from World War I, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a complete tale entitled "The Fall of Gondolin." Eclethion first emerged in the volume The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, [2] which was published by Tolkien's son, Christopher Tolkien. But the historical timeline takes it back to the chapter of Meaglin from The Silmarillion. Turgon consigned Ecthelion along with Glorfindel of Gondolin and Egalmoth to escort Areldhel to her lost journey. The chapter of Maeglin described all the above incidents to be happening 150 years before the Fall of Gondolin. But there was no name mentioned as it went in the name of three lords from his Household. It was later explained in a separate note in the volume of The War of the Jewels, revealing the escorts' identity.

1. ^Lord of the Fountains.
2. ^The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two.