The 7 Lives of Durin | Tolkien Explained

[@Katharina_Lieblich]

The Song of Durin that Gimli sings while the Fellowship is in Moria is absolutely stunning. It always gives me chills.

[@sha1tan138]

Theres a group called Clamavi de Profundis that has done Durin's Song. Its a very good interpretation.

[@VoiceoftheRings]

my Favorite song Version is Clamavi De Profundis version! ;)

[@Katharina_Lieblich]

@@VoiceoftheRings I just listened to it for the first time. Oh my word - I thought just reading it gave me chills! That was phenomenal.

[@Ben-eo4fu]

@@sha1tan138 I was about to say the same thing. They are absolutely amazing all tolkien fans would love their work

[@Svensk7119]

​@@sha1tan138Bah. All their songs sound the same, like dirges. They do a good job, I admit, but one song is the same as the next, as far as their Dwarven songs go. They do sound as if the actors from the Hobbit movies were part of it.

[@DominickRuocco]

The Dwarves reclaiming Khazad-dûm is such a beautiful end to their story. I always wondered what happened to Khazad-dûm and now I have my answer. Thanks!

[@StArShIpEnTeRpRiSe]

You can take your part in the story, there is the game "LotR Return to Moria" where you are the one, who help retake Khazad-dûm.

[@gray9818]

I highly recommend that everyone look up Clamavi de Profundis' rendition of The Song of Durin. It really goes and shows the nostalgia and glory of the text super well

[@kbernardjohnson]

Gray, agreed it's a wonderful song. I listen to it often

[@VeteranGaming_GamingUnited]

music.kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3nKq5VjedGfbdU&feature=share for anyone interested

[@FallenMonk]

I listen to that channel daily they have so many renderings of Tolkiens poems and they are ALL GOD TIER 🙌

[@Kalafinwë]

The World was young, the mountains green, No stain yet on, the Moon was seen. No words were laid on stream or stone, When Durin woke, and walked alone.

[@DisorderedArray]

What was the meaning of 'stain' in this context? I don't recall much mention of the Moon while reading Tolkien.

[@Kalafinwë]

@@DisorderedArray I could not say. I always thought of it as a metaphor for how young the world was, with the Moon and Sun being created. It might also refer to Tilion who became the vessel for the Moon, who flew too close to Anar (who became the vessel for the Sun), because of the love he had for her. Thus burning him in the process, and making it so that the stains on the Moon are from the burns. Now, that may have happened before the Dwarf-father awakened, as the Elves were already in Aman. All of this is from the Book of Lost Tales (Part one). I am not sure if it could be considered canon, nor embody the metaphor for the verse of the song.

[@josecarioca8785]

@@DisorderedArray Melkor's Mar

[@bear576]

@@DisorderedArray Before craters dotted the lunar surface. A very long time ago.

[@yuri_the_bomb1223]

He named the nameless hills and dells He drank from yet untasted wells He stooped and looked in Mirrormere And saw a crown of stars appear

[@etienneporras7252]

I've seen it pointed out that the Song of Durin is six stanzas, as though each describes one of the Durins. When Durin the Last reaches the pinnacle of his reign, perhaps a seventh, grand stanza will at last be added to the song, finally reaching it's completion.

[@opalglass8101]

It will never stop being sad to me that the dwarves fade away as time goes on. It hits me right in the feels T.T

[@pendragon2012]

Thanks for this! I always wished we had more info on dwarven history and religion!

[@Spanishballanimations]

Same

[@bobblehead67]

Dwarven history is stirring stuff . There's that sublime moment in the first meeting of the Fellowship and Galadriel where she laments the downfall of Moria and wins Gimli over.

[@ZaddyGohan]

Galadriel and Gimli have some of my favorite interactions in the trilogy! Especially when he asks for locks of her hair

[@DrAlberts]

I love your scripts. Always explaining everything in a way it actually makes sense even for people who don't know much beyond LotR and with a little poetic touch.

[@ForFrodoOfficial]

" Moria... You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dum... shadow and flame. " - Saruman, the white.

[@morgothfromangband6082]

Bullshit Saruman, the Balrog was too cowardy and fled from the battles of the War of Wrath to the caves below Khazad-Dum. It's a wonder the dwarves didn't notice him when he arrived there.

[@KittenDestroyerOfPlanets]

One of the reasons your content is so good is that your scripts are very tight and you don't repeat things unnecessarily.

[@David.Bowman.]

Is it me or is the dwarf lore the most romantic/noble sounding storyline and poetry Tolkien wrote.

[@TheDesertSpear]

Just you hahaha

[@rejvaik00]

_"For true quality warfare you have to go for a Gimli"_ - John Rhyes-Davies

[@i20coyote85]

​@@TheDesertSpearnot just him but sure

[@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886]

The Elves are so Ethereal that they can be admired, but not really related to. But Dwarves are proud to be creatures of mortal tastes and passions, who endure tenaciously to their desires and their relations in the face of both mortality and hardships. Elves are like stars; beautiful but distant guides. Dwarves are like Torches; easier to grasp and hard to extinguish. We admire Elves but we'd all love to have drinks with Dwarves.

[@garrettcantrell1034]

The BEST video that you have done yet concerning the Dwarves.

[@po_bo4369]

It's like in Mythology, the gods never truly die. The idea of reincarnation is fascinating, especially for Dwarves who see death as a continuation of life. Working with aule after their death. Hope they can use this aspect of Dwarves in ROP following seasons. Great topic Nerd.

[@bencebuda4599]

I just imagined Aule forging stuff in his workshop, teaching thousands of his kids. Sounds almost too perfect.

[@i20coyote85]

ROP will butcher it like most things

[@MrRoSSoS2]

And in true ROP fashion, while working with Aule, some random dwarf tries to teach him how to smelt ore. Spare me this abomination of a series.

[@thegungadfly8930]

Beautiful, you really have a talent for summation, transporting the listener yet cutting out the fat. Well done.

[@tefnenes3426]

They should make a series on the dwarve-goblin wars

[@gryffthedonkey]

no they shouldnt

[@michaeldickson2106]

That's the next Amazon prime show after rings of power

[@neverjabr8588]

They’ll just screw it up,!! 😢

[@TolkienAnswers]

A small detail about that war that I like is that some of the goblins tried to flee south, but they were hunted down and killed by Brytta, the 11th king of Rohan.

[@wellwisher2681]

A lot of things should be done. 'They' should not do it.

[@kiprasmussenart6142]

All of your videos are great, but this made so much about the Dwarves clear to me. Great scholarship! Thanks.

[@andreastraut864]

I always wondered about the Durins, thanks for the video!

[@JuliaLott]

Thanks for another great video! Love your channel. My son watches your videos all the time. We would love to see a video about the life and travels of Beleg.

[@hoo7797]

I find it very interesting how Durin is placed alone in Gundabad. The Silmarillion says the Misty Mountains were made by Morgoth to hinder Oromë, and Gundabad is the northernmost peak of the Misty Mountains. I wonder what prompted Aulë to put him there, and what did Durin take the crown of stars as a sign of; my theory is that he took it as the indicator that his wife would be under one of the three Mountains of Moria. I also find it very fitting that the Silmarillion doesn't mention that Aulë must have also made the Dwarf-women, seeing as the vast majority of the book is told from an Elvish PoV and they used to believe the Dwarves just sprouted from the earth lol.

[@apollion888]

Videos like these are why I subscribe, brilliant, thank you

[@zfz5495]

Very nice video as always. Really glad this was the video I clicked on to get back into the lore and more details, had to give it and social media a break after RoP. Don't know why people just can't enjoy it for being back in middle earth

[@VoiceoftheRings]

Thanks for making this!!! Amazing Job Matt! Loved it! I still believe that the dwarves End was when the World is remade. Many just don't know they are still under the Ground haha :)

[@jaysgamingcorner8539]

Another awesome video. Dwarves are always a cool species in fantasy stories. I guess that started with Tolkien, because his dwarves are epic.

[@JessWLStuart]

Well presented and awesome as usual! :D

[@Azzyos]

Dwarves are my most favorite races

[@fingersTitan]

I wish we had more details and stories from Tolkien on the best race of M/E.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Same. If only their history wasn't so sad! 😢

[@visaug3680]

Same

[@OnlyKaerius]

Not as sad as the history of the Petty-dwarves.

[@trapsquatch4937]

We need more movies/shows with more Dwarven lore and Dwarves in full battle rattle! Even though they were of "Lesser" stature, they had the fire of the mountain in their hearts! ❤️‍🔥

[@55clonemaster]

we have a game coming out tomorrow Lord of the rings return to moria

[@Kitava.]

This channel is amazing, I binge watched every single video and now I am lost, nothing to watch wanting more. I was disappointed to not find a single video about Celebrimbor, maybe in the future it will happen. Cheers

[@dianahowell3423]

This was beautiful - thank you so much.

[@allisonkreutzberg6079]

Wonderful video! This answered so many of my questions!

[@stevejackson7570]

Who's music do you sample for you videos? I absolutely love your choice in it as it brings your presentations to life even more

[@danielgbadebosmith9330]

There are as many wonderful things about this story as there are songs in Arda, what is so great about this is that all the races seem to represent a part of the author's truest self, and a reflection of all they loved and hated in the world and in themselves. The dwarves are no exception.

[@nhhieu35190]

1:07 can I have a silly question? How did Durin the first have children if he was the only one that was alone and had no wife?

[@doigt6590]

Obviously, they just sprouted from the earth. That's what the elves told me.

[@D.Jay.]

He had six

[@vaclavsoukup7302]

The Silmarillion is supposed to be read from Elvish POV and in those days, many believed that Dwarves simply sprouted from earth due to their women looking exactly like men. So, it’d make sense if they simply didn’t include her because of this belief.

[@figment5872]

This is getting me pumped for return to Moria!!

[@NerdoftheRings]

👀🤐

[@AndrewCarlisle11B]

Great video Matt!

[@WhoIsCalli]

Loved this one, thanks Matt

[@Thrudd2]

What an absolutely fantastic video. Thank you sir! 😍

[@speedcuberz2561]

I’m so early! Keep up the great work❤❤

[@Dr_Cole]

One thing I still ponder is, if the Dwarves were not appreciably impacted by their rings of power, why not consider Gimli for the ring barer? I’m sure The One ring would have substantially more sway over the barer than any of the other rings of power, but it’s never even discussed. It’s the lack of consideration that surprises rather than the ultimate decision.

[@jduncan459]

I don't think it's possible to run out of lore to discuss in JRRT's world.

[@BichinAround]

Great video as always

[@AndBra-q2m]

I want to say something. Khazad-dûm is the greatest name you can think of for a place. Althogh I tried to find a name at least half as good as Khazad-dûm for my own embareising stories, I simple can't find one. So good job Tolkien, great name. Also good job you did makeing this video.

[@uber_stuber]

i really wish there could be more recognition of the Dwarves. personally, they are my favorite race of Middle Earth. i always enjoy trying to find more fan art and such of dwarven cities, but there's little to nothing available from what i've found thus far.

[@samsschool3639]

One thing that stuck with me is the fact that Mîm was captured and bound with rope and since the Dwarves were forced to sleep until the Elves arrived, they really HATE being bound, like I hate you forever and wont rest until I Kill you type of rage

[@Spanishballanimations]

You Should Make a video on The lesser rings! (unless you already have)

[@jordonainscow9753]

The song should of been in the movie love the nerd of the rings didn't know any of this so interesting thank you for sharing your info about this

[@evanairnomad4361]

Gotta love the Dwarven lore!

[@mintkit1]

7 original dwarf fathers, 7 dwarven rings, 7 lives of Durin. I’m sensing a bit of a trend 🤔

[@jamesogle5045]

Too good, man. Too good.

[@bettamom7593]

That was really good thank you!

[@TolkienAnswers]

7:15 It would be cool to see dwarves vs dwarves in live action.

[@DianaW3431]

Thanks for collecting all this info into one video!

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much!

[@JLaneboy5]

That was a really good video. Is it one of my favorites? No, I don't think so. But I do think this is one of your best.

[@gunner947]

do we know anything about the other 6 dwarf leaders? would be cool to see a video about them too

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Nothing. We don't know their names and how many times they've been reincarnated. We don't even know the location of the four houses of the east.

[@marcfrancisteodoro7720]

Amazing video!

[@Serger989]

I tried to find the artist of the map in the references you listed but could not... Would you be able to share the artist of the map of middle-earth in the video from 1:03 to 1:13? It looks like it's the 1st to 3rd ages combined, it looks cool!

[@Bismo]

Great video! thanks

[@mr.boombastic2280]

its crazy how this one tiny part of the middle-earth compendium could be an entire book series in itself.

[@mrmaxmondays]

I'd love to see a theory video about what would happen if there were 7 dwarf ring wraiths

[@Eureus22]

great video thanksss i lovee dwarves history

[@RazorFang18]

I need to know the music used in these videos, they make me so emotional. x'D

[@themoonman-4]

Bravo Matt

[@r.blakehole932]

J.R.R. Tolkien is perhaps the greatest myth-maker of the last 1000 years. I can think of a couple challenges to that assertion...can you.

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

Do you think, during the Second Music of the Ainur, there would be seven Durins jamming together with Aule or would there be one Durin singing for seven?

[@kurtshaw8553]

I'm no expert, but I believe the seven Durin's would be the same single 'soul' being reincarnated in new physical bodies. So there would only be one Durin singing with Aule, as he IS/was all seven.

[@Alikk784]

i wish tolkien wrote in details about the "ending of days". It would be so interesting and sad at the same time to see middle earth slowly and finally fading away into nothing.

[@guitarchim]

The way they did this in the Gundabad expansion of Lord of the Rings Online was really good

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

I have been slowly going through the Fall of Númenor (mainly because I have not had the time to read) and just read the section that touched on this yesterday.

[@MLP-Trinary]

I have some questions about this one. I thought it was left unclear or unanswered if the seven stars Durin saw were the Sickle of the Valar or not, but here's it's being stated as if that's definitely the case. Ditto for the other six Dwarf Fathers being reincarnated like Durin. It's quite possible, even probable, both would be the case and that would make sense; it's just that I don't recall that ever being explicitly confirmed anywhere to be the case. Also, something I've always been confused by. I remember it was a big deal that Durin saw the seven stars like a crown over his head, and the impression I always had was that it was seen as remarkable because this happened during the day, when the stars wouldn't normally be visible or anything. But the dwarves awoke before humans, and humans awoke when the sun was first raised. So when Durin was wandering around, it would've been all nights and stars, right? If that's the case, then why is it treated like such a big deal that he saw stars above his own reflection? If it was constantly night and the stars were constantly out, it doesn't seem like seeing some in an arc over his head would be as big a deal as to be seen as a sign or anything. Seeing stars mid-day when the sun is out would make sense for a bigger deal worthy of song and story and all--but the timeline issue gets in the way there.

[@Theorak]

I'm a big fan of Dwarves and their idea of reincarnation. That they could remember their past king's lives would also make them wiser with each generation, a great hopeful thought.

[@leonardofaber5823]

The Dwarves only believed in the possibility of their kings' reincarnation because of the appearance of the new one. Saddly we don't have info about them remembering or not. Tolkien did not elaborate on the topic.

[@nathanwesche]

Did you say how Durin the First started a population of dwarves if he wasn't given a wife? Do we think they were his children (from a wife he found), or did he immediately have to bring in offspring from one of the other 6 original male dwarves?

[@stuartc2170]

I believe that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground

[@harrysarso]

@@stuartc2170 some say there are no female dwarves

[@fulviopontarollo2952]

@@stuartc2170 which is of course ridiculous

[@istari0]

I think there were other dwarves that the Founding Fathers and Mothers eventually found. This would be similar to what happened with the Elves where there were 3 pairs of Elves initially for the 3 main "houses" of the Elves but there were others nearby who were recruited into one of those houses.

[@nathanwesche]

@@Alexs.2599 that's what I figured, that at some point he married a daughter (or granddaughter, or whatever) of one of the other dwarf fathers. As opposed to the rest of them probably starting off with isolated (technically via incest) populations.

[@i20coyote85]

I kniw this almost a year old but the new game "lord of the rings return to moria" is a fun game and is fairly accurate to the lore and seems to somewhat accurately fill in the gaps of how Durin is reborn and how Khazad-dum is reclaimed, it certainly takes some liberties with the texts as most of the games have but its good about being being faithful for the most part

[@ryanmcfarland7747]

Just a video suggestion is to the the geography of aman or the undying lands would be great

[@drabengamez1013]

Dude I love this guy. I also love Lotr lore

[@milojones8348]

a question if Durin was by himself when he awoken Where did the other dwarves from his clan come from?

[@varyar77]

He eventually poached them from the other six houses, presumably.

[@fulviopontarollo2952]

I guess eventually dwarves from other houses begun exploring around, found Durin’s halls as he was building them, and decided to join him He lived long enough to have many occasions to produce offspring with these dwarves, probably, so that as that offspring mingled with the newly colonizing dwarves from other clans, a majority of Khazad-Dum’s dwarves ended up being actual descendants of Durin

[@istari0]

I think there were other dwarves that the Founding Fathers and Mothers eventually found. This would be similar to what happened with the Elves where there were 3 pairs of Elves initially for the 3 main "houses" of the Elves but there were others nearby who were recruited into one of those houses.

[@scottmccrea1873]

Ahhh! Thank you! I'd always wondered how the Dwarf Fathers made more dwarves without dwarf mothers. And there we go. There were six dwarven women with the men.

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

Here is a video idea for you what did Morgoth think of the name Morgoth and did he have any of his servants use it or did he hate it and only went by Melkor.

[@cboynt8128]

I swear I thought that the thumbnail was Matt in a dwarf costume.

[@NerdoftheRings]

🤣🤣🤣

[@cmf613]

What is the background music here it's beautiful?

[@luciusdebeers6176]

Yay back to lore videos

[@a.r11384]

Andy serkis version of this song is so great. I’m biased toward the Andy serkis version of all the songs in the books but Gimli’s durin song, Legolas’s song of the sea and Frodo’s final song before we goes to the grey havens are my favourites

[@PitboyHarmony1]

Soo ... the story here says "Throughout the coming millennia, the dwarves would await one born to the line of Durin who had such the same appearance and character that they would be named the next Durin." That suggests that each succeeding Durin ... personally and physically knew his predecessor, although it is always possible that a future Durin was not born directly as the child of the King that was Durin, but generationally separated. The problem is ... thats not specifically suggested by this quote. There is a lot of condemnation of the Rings of Power Amazon show, because we have what effectively is two different Durins (father and son) arguing with each other, and commenters suggest that as Durin is a reincarnate being, which has to be ... well ... one gotta die before another can be born. Soo ... which is it?

[@bindair_dundat]

What about the other 6 dwarf kings that awoke alongside Durin? Where is their kingdom/capital? Do they also reincarnate among their people? Are their lines friends or foes? Are their lines alive or dead?

[@Goriszoon]

Clamavi de profundis durins song is amazing

[@Sam-ig2jm]

A very beautidul and nice video topic, I hope there will be a future adaptions on the dwarves lives espicially Durin's folks, and how they wait the incarnation etc...

[@gooselord9159]

It will be a sad day if Debbie ever stops being a patreon supporter. The outro just wouldn't feel the same

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Durin would not actually reincarnate in the sense of him being born and reborn in a new body. Rather, his original body was preserved, and his spirit would return to it and be granted life again. He would share this trait along with the other fathers of the Dwarves.

[@caiobotelho9733]

His version is the one from the LOTR appendix

[@davistimpson117]

What music is used in these videos? I absolutely love it.

[@Terminator9145]

Where did you find the background music to this video? Thanks!

[@PK0550]

Can you do a video about the ravens of Erebor and Roan

[@agucci]

The lives are really good. Dwarves know how to live, how to work hard and celebrate. We can all learn from him and have our seven lives for ourselves and the world.

[@CAG2417]

I’ve gotten to the Beren and Luthien chapter in the silmarillion but I’ve also just bought the book of B&L, should I skip the chapter and then just read the book after? Not sure if it will spoil the book too much.

[@Th3_Czar]

What is the song you use at the end of your videos? It’s quite pleasing to the ears.

[@kevinmoore4845]

I was always curious how the seven rings assisted the dwarves in locating treasure. Tolkien was vague about how it worked in this regard. At the heart of each dwaven treasure hoard lays a ring of power...so they say. Yet another topic the Amazon series can expand on...if they are smart.

[@doigt6590]

you're asking for too much; either they expand on the story or else...

[@ΒασίληςΤσαβαλιάς]

clamavi de profundis have done an amazing song regarding the story of Durin the I

[@jacksonhaslam2753]

With the theories that Dwarves would be among the army of good in the Dagor Dagorath, and the Dwarves' belief that they would aid Aule in rebuilding the world, i wonder how that factors into the statement that Durin's Folk wpuld live in Khazad-Dum until the world grew old and their race failed. Does that mean that the Dwarves will go extinct, but be brought back by the Valar after the world is remade? Or only Durins Folk will die out? Makes me wonder...

[@coldtimber4972]

Great video! How do you do your dwarf/gimli accent? What's it based off, if anything?

[@celtictara29]

A lot of sevens involving the dwarves. Seven rings of power, seven houses of dwarves, seven reincarnations of Durin, and the list goes on.

[@TheHick1997]

Video on the other six of the original seven drawfs?

[@professorhaystacks6606]

You have missed an interesting point here. Tolkien was uncomfortable with the idea of reincarnation, and at later points tried to keep it vague for dwarves (while eliminating it from elves). Thus one text suggests Durin I did not truly die, but went back to the sleep all the Dwarven fathers began in, set there by Illuvatar until the time of the Elves' awakening had past. When he grew weary, he would withdraw and 'die' for some centuries, until emerging again when his people needed him. Like a lot of things, Tolkien never seemed to have made a definitive decision on this, and his work published in his lifetime leaves it deliberately vague, as does the published 'Silmarillion'.