Gimli

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."

—Gimli, to Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South"

Gimli, son of Glóin, was a Dwarf of the House of Durin and a member of the Fellowship of the Ring. Unlike other Dwarves, he readily fought alongside Elves in the War of the Ring against Sauron at the end of the Third Age. After the defeat of Sauron, in the early Fourth Age, he was given the lordship over the Glittering Caves at Helm's Deep, which he presided over until he departed from Middle-earth.

Biography

Early life

Gimli as Young — Gimli's mother (left) and young Gimli (right), as depicted in Glóin's locket in *The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug*

Born in TA 2879, Gimli was the son of Glóin and a nephew of Óin, both former companions of Bilbo Baggins. He was a descendant of Durin the Deathless, father of the first house of the Dwarven people. Gimli was descended from, but was not a member of the royal line. Through his father, Gimli was also the first cousin once removed of Balin, Lord of Moria, and his brother Dwalin, two more former companions of Bilbo. It is also stated in Unfinished Tales that Gimli was prevented from traveling with his father on the Quest of Erebor because Thorin and Company thought him too young, though Gimli, being in his sixties, considered himself ripe for adventure and was disappointed to be left behind.^[1]

Involvement with the Ring

In TA 3018, an emissary from Mordor approached the King under the Mountain, Dáin II, with offers of friendship and requests for news of a Hobbit bearing a Ring, as Sauron had become aware that the name Baggins was known to the Dwarf king. Not trusting the messenger, Dáin sent Glóin and Gimli to Rivendell to seek the advice of Elrond, and to warn Bilbo that the Enemy was seeking him. As a result, they were summoned to the Council of Elrond, where Elrond believed they would find the answers to their questions and would be able to contribute. Whilst there, Glóin told Elrond of the messenger and made reference to Balin, who had entered Moria and attempted to reclaim it. However, he had not sent any word to King Dáin II for over twenty years, and Glóin was concerned. The Council ultimately chose to send Frodo Baggins to Mordor to destroy the Ring and decided that a small fellowship should go with him. Gimli volunteered to accompany the Fellowship to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.^[2]

Gimli1 — Gimli portrayed by John Rhys-Davies in the films

Gimli at Helm's Deep, Giancola — Donato Giancola's depiction of Gimli battling Uruk-hai at Helm's Deep

He volunteered to join the company at least in part because Legolas had volunteered and he doubted the Elf's intentions. Gimli journeyed with the Fellowship southward along the Misty Mountains. However, the Fellowship was stymied in their attempt to traverse the pass of Caradhras, and were compelled to travel under the mountain rather than go over it. While none in the Fellowship were particularly keen on passing through Moria, Gimli was at least eager to learn what may have happened to Balin. Unfortunately, whilst in Moria, Gimli discovered Balin's Tomb as well as evidence that all of the Dwarves who had attempted to retake Moria had been slain years prior; his uncle Óin had been killed by the Watcher in the Water.

After Gandalf fell with Durin's Bane from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm,^[3]^[4] the Fellowship entered the Woods of Lothlórien, thus making Gimli the first Dwarf to enter that realm since the Balrog was awakened in Moria. However, there was some tension regarding Gimli's being in the Wood, and his Elven escorts wished to blindfold him for the journey. Gimli staunchly refused until Aragorn decided that all in the Fellowship should be blindfolded to make the Elven demand more equitable. While in Lórien, he accompanied Legolas on many walks through the woods, and the two became fast friends. When the Fellowship departed, he asked for one strand of Galadriel's hair, intending to set it inside impregnable crystal and become an heirloom of his house. While she had refused the same request from Fëanor, Galadriel generously gave him three, which would lead to his name in later years of "Lockbearer". When the Fellowship of the Ring fractured, Gimli accompanied Aragorn and Legolas in pursuit of Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, who had been captured by the forces of Isengard.

Gimli With Axe — Gimli fighting at Parth Galen

Eventually, the three were reunited with Gandalf and became involved in the War of the Ring. Gimli played a critical role in the defeat of the army of Isengard at the Battle of the Hornburg, where he was separated from Aragorn and Legolas and driven into the caves which he would later become lord of. He fought his way out alongside Éomer when the forces of Isengard were driven from Helm's Deep. His skill with an axe led to his winning, by one Orc, the friendly contest he and Legolas held over who could kill the most Orcs, despite starting with a disadvantage.

Gimli then accompanied Aragorn, Legolas and the Grey Company through the Paths of the Dead in an attempt to recruit the Army of the Dead. Capturing the Corsair ships and gathering many men of southern Gondor, the forces under Aragorn, including Gimli, sailed to Minas Tirith. After being victorious at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Gimli accompanied Aragorn and a mixed force from Gondor and Rohan to the Black Gate.

"To Gimli son of Glóin, give his Lady's greeting. Lockbearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!"

—Galadriel's message to Gimli

Life after the War

After the War, Gimli led a number of Durin's Folk south to establish a new Dwarf settlement in the Glittering Caves, which were located behind Helm's Deep where Gimli was trapped during the battle, and he became the first Lord of the Glittering Caves. The Dwarves of the Glittering Caves, led by Gimli, would repair much of the physical damage that was incurred during the War of the Ring in both Gondor and Rohan. Most notably, they rebuilt Minas Tirith's Great Gate with a new one made of mithril and steel, as well as improving upon the existing layout of the entire city.

Gimli was 139 years old (born in 2879 of the Third Age) when the Fellowship of the Ring set out from Rivendell, making him 52 years older than Aragorn. The date of his death is not known, and according to the Red Book of Westmarch, he is said to have traveled with Legolas into the West, thus becoming the first Dwarf to visit the Undying Lands. Of this possibility, Tolkien wrote that it would be strange indeed, that any Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-earth for any love, or that the Eldar should receive him, or that the Lords of the West should permit it, but that it is said that Gimli went not only because of his great friendship with Legolas but also out of desire to see again the beauty of Galadriel; and that she, being mighty among the Eldar, may have obtained this grace for him. Regardless of this, he was not seen again in Middle-earth.^[5]

Abilities

As a Dwarf, Gimli enjoyed the great brawn and stamina typical of his race. He was said to be able to carry the weight of his armor like it was nothing, and together with Aragorn and Legolas, he ran 45 leagues in less than four days with only a few hours of sleep. He was undoubtedly a powerful warrior and capable axe wielder, who survived innumerable confrontations with Sauron's forces.

In adaptations

In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy

Gimli at the siege of moria — Gimli as portrayed in Peter Jackson's films

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Gimli (played by John Rhys-Davies) accompanies his father, Glóin, and a deputation of Dwarves who had been summoned to the Council of Elrond to discuss the fate of the One Ring. In this adaptation, he attempts to destroy the Ring by hitting it with his axe, but the axe breaks upon the Ring and shatters, leaving the Ring unblemished. At the end of the Council, he volunteers to join the company, in part because Legolas had just volunteered, and being an Elf, Gimli doubted his intentions. In his subsequent journey he becomes good friends with Legolas. As the Fellowship passes through the Misty Mountains, it is Gimli's idea initially to travel through the mines of Moria, whereas in the books it was Gandalf's. Later at the Battle of Helm's Deep, Gimli and Legolas are in competition to see who kills the most Uruk-hai. This happens again in the next film, at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Gimli serves as much of the three films' comic relief in tense moments.

A notable miniature of Gimli sitting on a dead Uruk (from a scene in the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) was sculpted by Briggite Wuest as a Weta Workshop collectible.

Weapons

Gimli-axes — Axes used by Gimli in the films

In the books, as well as Ralph Bakshi's 1978 film, Gimli uses only one axe. In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, however, Gimli wielded a handful of different axes.

A "bearded" axe
Two throwing axes
A battle axe
Double-bladed Axe

Melee axes

Like most Dwarves, Gimli favored the axe and carried an assortment of variations of the weapon throughout his travels. At the beginning of his journey, Gimil was already equipped with a long-handled axe which doubled as a walking stick, to ease the strain of long walks through the vast grasslands of Middle-earth, a value to the heavily clad Dwarf. As with most Dwarven Axes, the staff was square edged, with tightly wrapped double-cross leather strapping, which kept the axe from slipping through his grasp. The length of this staff gave the weapon a much longer reach, which combined with his great strength, enabled him to hack into enemies at a three-foot distance. One of his axes was subsequently destroyed in a noble yet failed attempt to destroy the One Ring, as the Ring was indestructible to all conventional means. A throwing axe he has was also destroyed, in Fangorn Forest by Gandalf the White whom Gimli mistook for Saruman.

Gimli Moria — Gimli in *LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game*

During the Fellowship's travels through Moria, Gimli was able to retrieve a double bladed battle axe which apparently belonged to his father's cousin Balin, Lord of Moria, who had perished during the Goblin and Orc attack on Dwarrowdelf. Being double bladed, it allowed Gimli to swing it in both directions, without any need to constantly change the angle or grip. But it was much heavier, with a shorter handle, which meant it was more suited to close combat but was compensated by its great striking power. He is never seen using it during the The Return of the King film, as it remains pinned to his cloak. Gimli used all the axes mentioned above throughout the War of the Ring. He used them depending on the battlefield conditions and the types of enemies that he would have to face. No matter what axe, however, Gimli used them all with devastating power in every battle he faced, working in perfect conjunction with Aragorn's swordplay and Legolas' skill with the bow.

Throwing axes

In addition to his melee weapons, Gimli utilized several throwing axes for ranged attacks. These axes, though obviously not the ones with the most range, could effectively kill whatever they were thrown at (with the exception of large, heavily armored enemies like trolls); however, he rarely uses them in the films. In the movies, Gimli threw an axe at the cave troll and at Gandalf in Fangorn Forest. He also throws one at an Uruk at beginning of the skirmish of Amon Hen. It is apparent that he prefers engaging in direct combat rather than using his throwing axes. Only on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube platforms of the Two Towers Gimli has 25 throwing axes and has 30 throwing axes in The Return of the King video game on the same above mentioned platforms, as well as Mac and PC. (This game also came out on the Gameboy Advance.)

In Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings

Bakshi Gimli — Gimli as seen in the animated film

In Ralph Bakshi's animated The Lord of the Rings film, Gimli is a bald-headed dwarf, voiced by David Buck.

In video games

LOTRO - Gimli — Gimli in *The Lord of the Rings Online*

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Volume 1, 1994, Gimli is an character that can be controlled however he is an A.I. character who wanders around the game fighting enemies.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002), Gimli makes a cameo in the game (voiced by James Horan) but he isn't a playable character. However in the Gameboy Advance port, he's a playable character.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Gimli is a playable character (voiced by John Rhys-Davies) that can be used in the campaign.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Gimli is a playable character (voiced by John Rhys-Davies) that can be used in the campaign.
In The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring (2003), Gimli is a playable character unit that can be controlled in the campaign missions.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game (2012), Gimli is a playable Lego character (voiced by John Rhys-Davies) that can be used in the campaign.

Voice dubbing actors

Foreign Language	Translated name
Spanish (Latin America)	Alejandro Villeli
Spanish (Spain)	Miguel Ángel Jenner
Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD)	Antônio Moreno
Polish	Jan Kulczycki (1978)
German	Wolfgang Hess
Hungarian	Ádám Rajhona
French (France)	Vincent Grass
Czech (Czech Republic)	Pavel Pípal
Slovak	Boris Farkaš
Italian (Italy)	Renato Mori
Turkish	Ender Yiğit

Gallery

John Rhys-Davies as Gimli

Gimli mourning the loss of Balin

Gimli as a LEGO minifigure

He's got my axe embedded in his nervous system!

Legolas and Gimli arrive in Valinor; Gimli being the first and only Dwarve to enter Valinor.

Gimli in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

Gimli in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game - The Sands of Harad Expansion

Gimli in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game - The Treason of Saruman Expansion

Translations

Foreign Language	Translated name
Amharic	ጊምሊ
Arabic	جيملي
Armenian	Գիմլի
Azerbaijani	Qimli
Belarusian Cyrillic	Гімлі
Bengali	গিমলি
Bulgarian Cyrillic	Гимли
Burmese	ဂင်းမလီ
Catalan	Guimli
Chinese (Hong Kong)	金靂
Chinese (China)	吉姆利
Georgian	გიმლი
Greek	Γκίμλι
Gujarati	ગિમલી
Hebrew	גימלי
Hindi	गिम्लि
Japanese	ギムリ
Kannada	ಗಿಮ್ಲಿ
Kazakh	Гимли (Cyrillic) Gïmlï (Latin)
Korean	김리
Kyrgyz Cyrillic	Гимли
Macedonian Cyrillic	Гимли
Malayalam	ജിംലി
Marathi	गिमली
Mongolian Cyrillic	Гимли
Nepalese	गिम्लि
Persian	گیملی
Punjabi	ਗਿਮਲੀ
Russian	Гимли
Sanskrit	गिम्लि
Serbian	Гимли (Cyrillic) Gimli (Latin)
Sinhalese	ගිම්ලි
Tajik Cyrillic	Гимли
Tamil	கிம்லி
Telugu	గిమ్లి
Thai	กิมลี
Ukrainian Cyrillic	Гімлі
Urdu	گیملی
Uzbek	Гимли (Cyrillic) Gimli (Latin)
Yiddish	גימלי