The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Location
Race
Closely associated with the Dwarves
Division
Culture
Settlements
Associated with Khazad-dûm (later called Moria)
Passes
The Redhorn Pass ran across the northern side of this peak
Pronunciation
zi'rak
Meaning
A shortened form of Zirakzigil, meaning 'silver spike'
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 March 2016
  • This entry is complete

Zirak

A Dwarvish name for Zirakzigil

Map of Zirak

The Mountains of Moria

The shortened version of Zirakzigil, the Dwarvish name for the Mountain of Moria on which Durin's Tower stood. The mountain's full name meant 'silver spike' or 'silver pinnacle', and the same meaning is found in its Elvish and Common forms: Celebdil and 'Silvertine' respectively. There is some confusion over the meaning of the individual elements of the name Zirakzigil, and hence over the precise interpretation of the short form Zirak. At one time Tolkien defined zirak as a Dwarvish word for 'silver', but he later seems to have reconsidered this, making zigil 'silver' and zirak 'a narrow peak or pinnacle'. Zirak also appears as the surname of the Dwarven smith Gamil Zirak, which we're presumably intended to take in a broader sense of 'tall' or 'high'.1


Notes

1

Given Gamil's fame as a smith, a connection to the metal silver seems to make rather more sense, so perhaps Tolkien named this Dwarf before he reconsidered the meaning of the word zirak.

See also...

Zirakzigil

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 March 2016
  • This entry is complete

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