Eöl, called the Dark Elf, was a kinsman of Thingol who lived apart in the forest of Nan Elmoth, east of Doriath, where the trees were tall and the shade deep. He shunned the sun and hated the Noldor, whom he blamed for the wars with Morgoth that troubled the land.1
He was a great smith, and more friendly with the Dwarves than any other Elf. He devised the black metal galvorn, and from the iron of a fallen star he forged two swords, Anglachel and Anguirel. Anglachel he gave to Thingol as the price of leave to dwell in Nan Elmoth; it later passed to Beleg and then to Túrin. Anguirel he kept, until his son stole it.1,2
When Aredhel, sister of King Turgon, strayed into his forest, he took her as his wife, and she bore him Maeglin. He kept them both from the Noldor, and when they fled to Gondolin without him he followed and was taken before Turgon.1
Told that he must stay in the hidden city for ever, he chose death instead and threw a poisoned javelin at his son. Aredhel stepped in its path and died of the wound. Turgon condemned Eöl to be cast from the cliff of Caragdûr, and as he fell he cursed Maeglin to die the same death.1
The curse was fulfilled when Gondolin fell. Maeglin, who had betrayed the city, was thrown from its walls by Tuor and fell to his death down the same steep sides.3
Sources
Citations name the chapter rather than the page, so they work in any edition. The colour of each note shows what kind of source it is.
- Edited posthumously The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and Tolkien's late writings on the Elder Days, assembled by Christopher Tolkien from his father's papers.
- Edited posthumously The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, ch. 16, “Of Maeglin”
- Edited posthumously The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, ch. 21, “Of Túrin Turambar”
- Edited posthumously The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, ch. 23, “Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin”