Orcrist
|
Orcrist is a noted sword mentioned in the fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It was the weapon of the Dwarf Lord Thorin Oakenshield from Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit.
In Sindarin Orcrist is said to mean "Goblin Cleaver", (Goblin being a synonym for Orc used mainly in The Hobbit). Many of the famed weapons in Tolkien's stories had names, such as Glamdring, Narsil and Sting (see chart below). It was crafted by the Elves, who not only made it a valuable weapon, also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth. Like Glamdring and Sting, the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.
In The Hobbit, Thorin is mortally wounded at the Battle of Five Armies. After his death Orcrist is placed upon Thorin's tomb and that it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached" (The Hobbit Chapter 18, "The Return Journey").
Weapons of Middle-earth |
Aeglos | Andúril | Anglachel | Anguirel | Angrist | Aranrúth | Belthronding | Dagmor | Dailir | Dramborleg | Durin's Axe | Glamdring | Grond | Gúthwinë | Hadhafang (movie only) | Gurthang | Herugrim | Morgul blade | Narsil | Orcrist | Red Arrow | Ringil | Sting |