Inspiration for Tolkien’s World - Aglarond

Hello everyone. As always, this information is found in An Encyclopedia of Tolkien the History and Mythology That Inspired Tolkien’s World by David Day. This post is about Aglarond, the “Caves of Glory”.

“Meaning “Caves of Glory” in Sindarin (Grey Elvish), Aglarond is the name given to the spectacular caverns in the White Mountains, close to Helm’s Deep. Aglarond, as translated from the common tongue of Westeon, is known as the “Glittering Caves.” There, in the wake of the War of the Ring, Gimli the Dwarf founds a new colony of Durin’s Folk. Tolkien acknowledged that the caves were inspired by the vast real-world caves of Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills of Somerset, in southwestern England. One of the greatest “natural wonders” of Britain, this vast limestone gorge and cave complex is the site of some of the island’s earliest Paleolithic human remains” (18).

“Aglarond and the Cheddar George and Caves both appear to have been formed by underground rivers, and their vast galleries contain deep reflecting pools with remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations. Tolkien was know to have visited Cheddar George and its caves on at least two occasions: in 1916, while on his honeymoon and again in 1940” (18).