Literature
Ecthelion was one of the lords of the city-kingdom of Gondolin, ruled by Turgon; he led the House of the Fountain, one of the city's twelve noble houses. In "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin", Tolkien makes him a guard of the last of Gondolin's seven gates. In "The Fall of Gondolin", Tolkien writes that he had the most beautiful voice and greatest musical talent of all the people of Gondolin. In both early and late versions he wears a helmet adorned with a silver spike.
He led a wing of Gondolin's forces at the disastrous NÃrnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears) and defended a flank as Turgon retreated. He fought valiantly in the defence of the city when it was finally attacked and taken by Morgoth's armies.
It was he who fought Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs in single combat: standing alone defending a wounded Tuor, he slew and was slain by Morgoth's mightiest captain.
In "The Fall of Gondolin", Tolkien has him slay three Balrogs before his final duel, but lose the use of his shield arm in the process; however, this is one of the elements in the story that are at odds with Tolkien's later ideas. Christopher Tolkien comments that at this stage, Balrogs were "less terrible and certainly more destructible than they afterwards became". "The Fall of Gondolin" also elaborates on his death: Ecthelion loses the use of his sword-arm as well. Weaponless, he drives his helmet's spike deep into his enemy's breast, and they fall into the fountain together, entangled.
In "The Fall of Gondolin" Tolkien states that his name thereafter became a warcry of the Eldar, and a terror to the Orcs.
Read more about this topic: Ecthelion Of The Fountain
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