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Urambo Tauro
Ossiriand
Dec 25 2007, 12:26am
Post #1 of 5
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Sting Inscription
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The Sting presented in the TLotR movies shows an inscription bearing its name.
The inscription is in Tengwar (mode of Beleriand) and reads, "Maegnas aen estar nín - dagnir in yngyl im". The "poetic" translation being, "Sting is my name, I am the Spiders bane".
As far as I am aware, PJ & Co. created this inscription, and did not draw it from the text.
So, according to the story PJ puts forth, where does this inscription come from?
In The Hobbit (book), Elrond does not identify the weapon.
Elrond knew all about runes of every kind. That day he looked at the swords they had brought from the trolls' lair, and he said: "These are not troll-make. They are old swords, very old swords of the High Elves of the West, my kin. They were made in Gondolin for the Goblin-wars. Chapter III, A Short Rest
Here it is possible that Tolkien may be generalizing. "...He looked at the swords..." may include Sting as well. Therefore, Elrond may or may not have attributed the knife as being from Gondolin. However, the emphasis in this passage is his knowledge about runes and the runes being the identifying factor to the history of the blades. Since he does not specifically translate runes from "Sting", this would mean that either Bilbo did not offer it for inspection, or there was no inscription to translate.
Later, Bilbo learns more about the weapon:
It shone pale and dim before his eyes. "So it is an elvish blade, too," he thought; "and goblins are not very near, and yet not far enough." But somehow he was comforted. It was rather splendid to be wearing a blade made in Gondolin for the Goblin-wars of which so many songs had sung; and also he had noticed that such weapons made a great impression on goblins that came upon them suddenly. Chapter V, Riddles in the Dark
Bilbo realizes by himself that it is an elvish blade and feels comforted because apparently it came from Gondolin just as Glamdring and Orcrist did. Perhaps Tolkien is informing the reader, "Yes. This one is from Gondolin, too."
Bilbo finally names the sword:
"I will give you a name," he said to it, "and I shall call you Sting ." Chapter VIII, Flies and Spiders
Bilbo of his own accord gives it a name that he came up with himself.
So, to explain the existence of the inscription, there are a few possibilities.
1. Bilbo was very lucky and by coincidence guesses the name that this knife has borne for centuries.
2. On the return journey from the Lonely Mountain, he has the inscription engraved on the knife while in Rivendell (he spends a week there).
3. After the Long-expected Party, he retires to Rivendell, and has the engraving done, before he passes it on to Frodo (possibly while the forge is still hot from the re-forging of Narsil?).
The poetic nature of the inscription seems have "riddle" written all over it, something I wouldn't put past Bilbo. How nice of him to have it done in Sindarin!
What are your thoughts?
(This post was edited by Urambo Tauro on Dec 25 2007, 12:28am)
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sador
Gondolin
Dec 25 2007, 6:29pm
Post #2 of 5
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...and obviously, the inscription is a 'prophecy' - as Sting will become The Spider's (Shelob's) bane.
Thanks for the geeky information!
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Woodyend
Mithlond
Dec 25 2007, 8:19pm
Post #3 of 5
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 and here
http://www.elvish.org/...hics/stingblade2.jpg
May your beer be laid under an enchantment of surpassing excellence for seven years!
~~~~~~~~Gandalf~~~~~~~
Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!
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entmaiden
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Dec 26 2007, 2:54am
Post #4 of 5
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I don't think Peter realized that any inscription would have significantly pre-dated the name given it by Bilbo.
Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.
`Are these magic cloaks?' asked Pippin, looking at them with wonder.
`I do not know what you mean by that,' answered the leader of the Elves.
NARF since 1974.
Balin Bows
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Finding Frodo
Dor-Lomin
Dec 26 2007, 4:44am
Post #5 of 5
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I'd rather imagine that Bilbo had it inscribed -- probably on his return trip from the Lonely Mountain. I would think that if the inscription had already been there, he would have had Elrond look at it the first time along with Orcrist and Glamdring.
Where's Frodo?
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That's very nice
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