"Aen estar
Hadhafang i chathol hen, thand arod dan i thang an i arwen"
Written in Tengwar
in the Sindarin language of the Grey Elves, the inscription reads: 'This
sword-blade is called 'Throng-cleaver' [Hadhafang],
a noble defence against the enemy throng for a noble-lady [arwen]'.
Hadfafang quite literally
means 'throng-cleaver' - it once belonged to Idril Celebrindal, a Noldor
Elf and daughter of king Turgon of the lost kingdom of Gondolin. She passed
the sword down to her son, Eärendil (a Half-elf because of his mortal
and elven parents). He gave the sword to his own son and second son, Elrond,
master of Rivendell. Elrond used Hadhafang in the War of the Last Alliance
against Sauron at the end of the Second Age.
Elrond entrusted Hadafang to
his daughter Arwen; she used it when she helped Frodo escape from the
Nazgul, The Ringwraiths, and bore him safely to Rivendell (as seen in the PJ movie, which was not in the book). The original
inscription would have included the line: "Idril i hel en aran
Gond dolen", meaning: "Idril, daughter of the king of the
Hidden Rock [ie. Gondolin]". This important inscription points to
the original wielder of the sword and makes it possible to determine its
movements through the line of Elves.
There is an intentional pun in
the main inscription - the Sindarin translation of "noble lady [or
noble-maid]" is in fact "arwen". In a sense the
blade claims a relationship with it's current bearer even though she was
born almost an age after its forging. Perhaps Elrond named Arwen after
the title on this family heirloom.
Overall Length: 38-1/8"
Blade Length: 30"
Blade Thickness: 1/4"
Blade Material: Tempered 420 J2 stainless steel, sharp-edged.
Hand Grip: Wood handgrip adorned with an Elven vine design, solid metal
pommel, rat-tail tang construction.
Display: 11-15/16" x 4" x 4-5/16" wood, silkscreened Elven design. Includes
a parchment certificate of authenticity.
