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Dates
Used as a refuge by the Rohirrim from III 2510 (especially in the winter of III 2759); occupied and worked by Dwarves after the War of the Ring
Location
Caverns behind Helm's Deep in the northern White Mountains
Races
Men, and later Dwarves
Divisions
Dúnedain, Northmen, and later Longbeard Dwarves (Durin's Folk)
Cultures
Originally part of Gondor, but later fell within the realm of the Rohirrim; after the War of the Ring, the Caves were settled by a colony from the Dwarves of Erebor
Settlements
Associated with the Hornburg and the defences of Helm's Deep; settled after the War of the Ring by Gimli and his followers
Source
Probably the source of the Deeping-stream1
Important peaks
Lay beneath the Thrihyrne in the White Mountains
Other names
Aglarond, Caverns of Helm's Deep, Glǣmscrafu

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 31 January 2022
  • This entry is complete

Glittering Caves

The caverns behind Helm’s Deep

Map of the Glittering Caves

Also called Aglarond, the spectacular jewelled caverns that lay in the White Mountains behind Helm's Deep. Gimli Elf-friend was astonished by their beauty during the War of the Ring, and they were later colonised by the Dwarves of Erebor, with Gimli becoming Lord of the Glittering Caves.

The Glittering Caves is one of very few locations in Tolkien's work that we can associate with a real place. They were inspired by the caves of Cheddar Gorge, in the southern English county of Somerset.


Notes

1

Strictly, all we know about the source of the Deeping-stream is that it ran out of the Deeping-coomb, the deep valley into which the Glittering Caves opened. We know, however, that the caves were filled with pools and the sounds of water, so it is hard to escape the conclusion that the stream's source lay within them.

See also...

Caverns of Helm’s Deep, Glǣmscrafu, Lord of the Glittering Caves, Seven Gates of Minas Tirith, The Burg

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 31 January 2022
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2002, 2012, 2022. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

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Glittering Caves

The caverns behind Helm’s Deep

Dates
Used as a refuge by the Rohirrim from III 2510 (especially in the winter of III 2759); occupied and worked by Dwarves after the War of the Ring
Location
Caverns behind Helm's Deep in the northern White Mountains
Races
Men, and later Dwarves
Divisions
Dúnedain, Northmen, and later Longbeard Dwarves (Durin's Folk)
Cultures
Originally part of Gondor, but later fell within the realm of the Rohirrim; after the War of the Ring, the Caves were settled by a colony from the Dwarves of Erebor
Settlements
Associated with the Hornburg and the defences of Helm's Deep; settled after the War of the Ring by Gimli and his followers
Source
Probably the source of the Deeping-stream1
Important peaks
Lay beneath the Thrihyrne in the White Mountains
Other names
Aglarond, Caverns of Helm's Deep, Glǣmscrafu

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 31 January 2022
  • This entry is complete

Glittering Caves

The caverns behind Helm’s Deep

Map of the Glittering Caves

Also called Aglarond, the spectacular jewelled caverns that lay in the White Mountains behind Helm's Deep. Gimli Elf-friend was astonished by their beauty during the War of the Ring, and they were later colonised by the Dwarves of Erebor, with Gimli becoming Lord of the Glittering Caves.

The Glittering Caves is one of very few locations in Tolkien's work that we can associate with a real place. They were inspired by the caves of Cheddar Gorge, in the southern English county of Somerset.


Notes

1

Strictly, all we know about the source of the Deeping-stream is that it ran out of the Deeping-coomb, the deep valley into which the Glittering Caves opened. We know, however, that the caves were filled with pools and the sounds of water, so it is hard to escape the conclusion that the stream's source lay within them.

See also...

Caverns of Helm’s Deep, Glǣmscrafu, Lord of the Glittering Caves, Seven Gates of Minas Tirith, The Burg

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 31 January 2022
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2002, 2012, 2022. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
In-depth but accessible, Discus provides the ultimate in DISC reporting.