Dragon-Helm of Dor-Lomin
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Nicholas Palazzo
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Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
I thought Turin doesn't get the mask until he reaches Nargothrond, where he finds it just lying around.
Octoburn
Active Member
I thought the mask was something from earlier versions that didn't make it into later versions? That was the impression I'm left with. Though the dwarves making it after Glaurung's revealing himself and the fact they use masks against him later makes it reasonable that he would.
Also, let's consider this said of the helm:
"A power was in it that guarded any who wore it from wound or death, for the sword that hewed it was broken, and the dart that smote it sprang aside."
so it should have some dwarf runes on it to guard it.
a few other artistic sections.
This one has the eye mask, but not a full mask. Very Norse.
This one is interesting, but I prefer the dragon from the previous ones presented. I like the face mask though.
This one... Is probably over the top, especially for the helm that eventually goes to Turin, but I really like it as a dwarf helm, later on, and without the dragon perhaps.
Also, let's consider this said of the helm:
"A power was in it that guarded any who wore it from wound or death, for the sword that hewed it was broken, and the dart that smote it sprang aside."
so it should have some dwarf runes on it to guard it.
a few other artistic sections.
This one has the eye mask, but not a full mask. Very Norse.
This one is interesting, but I prefer the dragon from the previous ones presented. I like the face mask though.
This one... Is probably over the top, especially for the helm that eventually goes to Turin, but I really like it as a dwarf helm, later on, and without the dragon perhaps.
Rhiannon
Well-Known Member
If I remember correctly (I don't have my book with me at the moment), that mask was something Turin found in Nargothrond after losing the Dragon-helm. However, I think the Dragon-helm should still have a mask. Dwarf-masks protect the wearers from Dragon-fire, so I think it should cover the wearer's full face. I think it would be kind of cool to have the masks resemble gas masks in design.
Nicholas Palazzo
Well-Known Member
Yes, but the helm may have originally come with a mask.
Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
He still had the Dragon-helm in the Fall of Nargothrond. After that point, it disappears from the story entirely.
Rhiannon
Well-Known Member
In The Children of Hurin and "Narn i Hin Hurin" from Unfinished Tales, the Dragon-helm is described as having "a visor (after the manner of those that the Dwarves used in their forges for the shielding of their eyes)." I looked through both versions, and I'm pretty sure the Dragon-helm disappears when Turin is captured by Orcs. However, the version in Unfinished Tales does have Christopher Tolkien's note, "... it was my father's intention to extend the history of the Dragon-helm into the period of Turin's sojourn in Nargothrond and even beyond; but this was never incorporated into the narratives ... An isolated scrap of writing tells that in Nargothrond Turin would not wear the helm again 'lest it reveal him,' but he wore it when he went to the battle of Tumhalad," and the scene Tolkien wrote of Turin raising the visor of his helm when taunted by Glaurung.
The entry for year 495 in the Grey Annals in The War of the Jewels mentions that as well, and Christopher Tolkien's notes on that section say, "In the published Silmarillion (p. 210) I adopted a passage from another text in the vast assemblage of the Narn papers, telling how Turin found in the armories of Nargothrond 'a dwarf-mask all gilded,' and wore it into battle. It seems probable that this story arose at a stage when my father was treating the Dragon-helm as lost and out of the story (from the end of Dor-Cuarthol, the Land of the Bow and Helm, when Turin was taken by the Orcs), and I extended Turin's wearing of it to the battle of Tumhalad (p. 212)."
For SilmFilm, it seems we can choose between two options:
The entry for year 495 in the Grey Annals in The War of the Jewels mentions that as well, and Christopher Tolkien's notes on that section say, "In the published Silmarillion (p. 210) I adopted a passage from another text in the vast assemblage of the Narn papers, telling how Turin found in the armories of Nargothrond 'a dwarf-mask all gilded,' and wore it into battle. It seems probable that this story arose at a stage when my father was treating the Dragon-helm as lost and out of the story (from the end of Dor-Cuarthol, the Land of the Bow and Helm, when Turin was taken by the Orcs), and I extended Turin's wearing of it to the battle of Tumhalad (p. 212)."
For SilmFilm, it seems we can choose between two options:
- The Dragon-helm is lost when Turin is captured, so he wears a Dwarf-mask he found in Nargothrond to Tumhalad. (published Silmarillion)
- The Dragon-helm is with Turin in Nargothrond and he wears that to Tumhalad and when he faces Glaurung for the first time. (other notes)
Rhiannon
Well-Known Member
I don't think he could wear a mask and a visor at the same time.
Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
Maybe wear a mask over the lower half of his face, like a samurai’s menpo?
Rhiannon
Well-Known Member
I think the visor would cover his whole face, especially if it's designed after the PPE that the Dwarves use in their forges.
Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
Most of the drawings (including the one that forms the cover for The Children of Hurin) shows the Helm with the lower half of Turin's face visible.
Rhiannon
Well-Known Member
But that helmet doesn't have a visor. While I really like Alan Lee's design, I think the Dragon-helm should have a visor that Turin can raise and lower, especially if he still has it when he faces Glaurung in Nargothrond.
There seems to have been enormous variety in visor design. Some examples:
These are all fairly plain, but the Dragon-helm would likely be much more elaborately decorated.
I also agree that Telchar would design the dragonhelm with a visor, as one of the few details she knows about dragons after the fight in the season finale is a) they breathe fire and b) don't look them in the eye. Dwarf-helms are known to have faceplates protecting them, so...make it happen.
When Túrin will lose the Dragon-helm is something we have yet to determine in Silm Film, but I think that the mask feature is important. No doubt the actor will always wear it open, as it seems more important that you can see an actor's face than that he wear a helmet in a battle situation on film 😉.
When Túrin will lose the Dragon-helm is something we have yet to determine in Silm Film, but I think that the mask feature is important. No doubt the actor will always wear it open, as it seems more important that you can see an actor's face than that he wear a helmet in a battle situation on film 😉.