Durin I
First Dwarf ever to awake in Middle-Earth. Durin I was the first of the seven fathers of the Dwarves. Durin was created by the Vala Aule sometime during the Years of the Trees, a period in the early history of Arda which predated the First Age. Eru had created the Elves around 1050 of the Years of the Trees and had requested for Aule to wait for the Elves to settle in great lands before the Dwarves could be created in Middle-Earth. Durin I was finally placed in the Misty Mountains, under Mount Gundabad, sometime in the late Years of the Trees after Elves had settled Middle-Earth and the Undying Lands. He was alone. Somehow, Durin raised many Dwarves and created Durin's Folk.
Dwarves for countless generations would remember Durin I, and they told many stories about him. One story was that
he looked into the Mirrormere River and saw in his reflection a starry crown that became known as the Crown of Durin. Another story was the Durin never died, for they believed his spirit would live in the Kings of Durin's Folk.
Durin I became King and his line lasted forever onward. He died before the Second Age, though his date of death is not known. It would appear that Durin had lived at least several thousand years, for he had awoken during the Years of the Trees and each year during the Years of the Trees was equivalent to 9.582 solar years, making Durin many years older than his descendants would live. The average lifespan of a Dwarf would become around 250 years. Durin was the oldest Dwarf on record. Several Kings of Durin's Folk were named after the great Durin I, and it was said amongst the Dwarves that whatever king bore Durin's name would be a great ruler. The line of Durin lasted at least until the Fourth Age.
Dwarves for countless generations would remember Durin I, and they told many stories about him. One story was that
he looked into the Mirrormere River and saw in his reflection a starry crown that became known as the Crown of Durin. Another story was the Durin never died, for they believed his spirit would live in the Kings of Durin's Folk.
Durin I became King and his line lasted forever onward. He died before the Second Age, though his date of death is not known. It would appear that Durin had lived at least several thousand years, for he had awoken during the Years of the Trees and each year during the Years of the Trees was equivalent to 9.582 solar years, making Durin many years older than his descendants would live. The average lifespan of a Dwarf would become around 250 years. Durin was the oldest Dwarf on record. Several Kings of Durin's Folk were named after the great Durin I, and it was said amongst the Dwarves that whatever king bore Durin's name would be a great ruler. The line of Durin lasted at least until the Fourth Age.
Names & Meanings
Durin was the name of a Dwarf in the Old Norse poem Voluspa. The name means "sleepy" in Old Norse. Durin was called Durin the Deathless by his people because it was believed that his spirit lived in his descendants.
Notice: Dwarves seldom allowed their true names to be known by outsiders. It is possible that Durin was simply a name given to the first Dwarf by the men of the North, and his true identity may be unknown.
Notice: Dwarves seldom allowed their true names to be known by outsiders. It is possible that Durin was simply a name given to the first Dwarf by the men of the North, and his true identity may be unknown.
References
The Hobbit: "A Short Rest," page 63
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Journey in the Dark," page 318-319, 329-330; "Lothlorien," page 348
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "Durin's Folk," passim
The Silmarillion: "Of Aule and Yavanna," passim
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," pages 5-10, 29-30; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion - Concerning the Dwarves," pages 201-215
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Making of Appendix A," pages 275-279; "Of Dwarves and Men," pages 301, 304, 322; "Last Writings," pages 382, 383, 384
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #212
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Journey in the Dark," page 318-319, 329-330; "Lothlorien," page 348
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "Durin's Folk," passim
The Silmarillion: "Of Aule and Yavanna," passim
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," pages 5-10, 29-30; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion - Concerning the Dwarves," pages 201-215
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Making of Appendix A," pages 275-279; "Of Dwarves and Men," pages 301, 304, 322; "Last Writings," pages 382, 383, 384
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #212
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