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Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin

Revision as of 19:59, 28 June 2006 by Ebakunin (Talk | contribs)
File:The Negroli Burgonet.jpg
The "Beast" helm, a burgonet crafted by Italian armorer Filippo Negroli (c. 1510–1579), shares a remarkable likeness to Tolkien's description of the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin.

The Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, also known as the Helm of Hador, was a visored steel helm, embossed and embellished with gold, that bore as its crest the head of Glaurung the Dragon. It was made by the Dwarf-smith Telchar for his lord Azaghâl, who gave it as a gift to Maedhros, who in turn passed it on to his cousin Fingon. When Fingon made Hador the Lord of Dor-lómin, he gave the Dragon-helm to the new lord, and indeed legend tells that only Hador and his son Galdor had the strength to bear the mighty helm.

There was at least one other Man strong enough the bear the helm: Galdor's grandson Túrin. He often wore the Dragon-helm to war, and took one of his many names from it: Gorthol, the "Dread Helm". The last clear record of the Dragon-helm is at the Battle of Tumhalad, where Túrin is known to have worn it. Beyond this, there is a suggestion that he may have taken it with him to the Forest of Brethil, and perhaps even wore it at the slaying of Glaurung himself. After that point, the great heirloom of the House of Hador is lost to history.