Gondolin or Last Alliance - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

tinewelt · 06-27-2003, 10:33 AM

I would like to hear some feedback on what some of you think about this topic. Which do you think was more powerful, the Last Alliance or the Host of Gondolin. I tend to lean toward the host of Gondolin, and the warriors of the seven gates. Tuor, Turgon, Glorfindel, these are all very powerful warriors. The last alliance had some worthy names, (elrond, isildur) but I believe the power of Gondolin was stronger, mainly because the last alliance fought mainly against Orcs and goblins. (a few trolls) But the host of Gondolin was seiged by Balrogs at unawares, and I believe had they known they were going to war, they would have achieved victory. Opinions? Speak not ill-boding! If the messenger of the Lord of the Waters go by that door, then all those who dwell here will follow him. Lord of the Fountains, hinder not the messenger of the Lord of Waters!

Finwe · 06-27-2003, 10:37 AM

Hmmm... that's a bit of a hard choice.

Well, the way that Tolkien put it was, the might of the Elves decreased from the First Age onwards, because less and less Elves survived, who had seen the light of Aman. Now apparently, that makes them stronger than the normal Elf, and since almost all of the Elf-Lords of Gondolin had come from Aman, I'm assuming that they were much stronger than the warriors of the Last Alliance (no offense to Gil-galad and Cirdan!).

Findegil · 06-29-2003, 07:39 AM

Thinking of what the two hosts did, I can't agree that Gondolins host had greater strengh.
The host of Gondolin was only build of the people one city and it was nihilated in more or less a day.
The host of the last alliance assembled for 4 years. They fought a war against a realm of a dark lord not only tried to protect their own city. After a terible battle with graet loses they managed a siege of 7 years. For that war they needed lines of supply for their wariors. So the host was even graeter then the fighting people.

So in my view there can't be any doubt, that the last alliance had the graeter and mightier host than the single city of Gondolin.

Respectfully
Findegil

Afrodal Fenyar · 06-29-2003, 07:57 AM

The Host of the Last Alliance was greater. It's even said in the books, as no host as great has ever been seen after it, and only once before it, in the War of Wrath. For me, that settles it.

Aredhel Idril Telcontar · 06-29-2003, 08:14 AM

Yep, I also think the Last Alliance was greater. The host of Gondolin pretty much had one race fighting (appart Tuor), but the Last Alliance honoured the unity between Humans and Elves.
Though in the Fall of Gondolin they did fight a few Balrogs [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Quote:

The host of Gondolin was only built of the people one city and was nihilated in more or less than a day.
The host of the last alliance assembled for 4 years <...> managed a siege of 7 years

Yeah, that sums it all up [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Finwe · 06-29-2003, 05:03 PM

That's true. I was actually thinking about the people themselves, that made up the force of Gondolin. There is no way that either Gil-galad or Elendil could have fought Glorfindel or Tuor and survived, unless it be by some bit of luck.

06-27-2003, 10:33 AM	#1
tinewelt Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: the Seventh Gate of Gondolin Posts: 76	Gondolin or Last Alliance I would like to hear some feedback on what some of you think about this topic. Which do you think was more powerful, the Last Alliance or the Host of Gondolin. I tend to lean toward the host of Gondolin, and the warriors of the seven gates. Tuor, Turgon, Glorfindel, these are all very powerful warriors. The last alliance had some worthy names, (elrond, isildur) but I believe the power of Gondolin was stronger, mainly because the last alliance fought mainly against Orcs and goblins. (a few trolls) But the host of Gondolin was seiged by Balrogs at unawares, and I believe had they known they were going to war, they would have achieved victory. Opinions? Speak not ill-boding! If the messenger of the Lord of the Waters go by that door, then all those who dwell here will follow him. Lord of the Fountains, hinder not the messenger of the Lord of Waters!

06-27-2003, 10:37 AM	#2
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	Hmmm... that's a bit of a hard choice. Well, the way that Tolkien put it was, the might of the Elves decreased from the First Age onwards, because less and less Elves survived, who had seen the light of Aman. Now apparently, that makes them stronger than the normal Elf, and since almost all of the Elf-Lords of Gondolin had come from Aman, I'm assuming that they were much stronger than the warriors of the Last Alliance (no offense to Gil-galad and Cirdan!). __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

06-29-2003, 07:57 AM	#4
Afrodal Fenyar Haunting Spirit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 94	The Host of the Last Alliance was greater. It's even said in the books, as no host as great has ever been seen after it, and only once before it, in the War of Wrath. For me, that settles it. __________________ "Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!" ~Eomer

06-29-2003, 05:03 PM	#6
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	That's true. I was actually thinking about the people themselves, that made up the force of Gondolin. There is no way that either Gil-galad or Elendil could have fought Glorfindel or Tuor and survived, unless it be by some bit of luck. __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

06-29-2003, 07:39 AM	#3
Findegil King's Writer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,694	Thinking of what the two hosts did, I can't agree that Gondolins host had greater strengh. The host of Gondolin was only build of the people one city and it was nihilated in more or less a day. The host of the last alliance assembled for 4 years. They fought a war against a realm of a dark lord not only tried to protect their own city. After a terible battle with graet loses they managed a siege of 7 years. For that war they needed lines of supply for their wariors. So the host was even graeter then the fighting people. So in my view there can't be any doubt, that the last alliance had the graeter and mightier host than the single city of Gondolin. Respectfully Findegil