The Runes (Cirth)

The Cirth (singular certh), also known as Daeron's Runes or the Angerthas, are a runic writing system that appears in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, most prominently in The Lord of the Rings. Unlike the flowing, calligraphic Tengwar (Fëanorian letters) used by the Elves for writing with pen or brush, the Cirth were originally devised for scratched or incised inscriptions, giving them a characteristically angular, runic appearance. Their history spans the First through Third Ages of Middle-earth, evolving from a simple, unsystematic script into a complex alphabet used by Elves, Dwarves, and Men alike, and they serve as a key piece of world-building that connects the ancient past to the events of the War of the Ring.

Origins and Development

The Cirth were first created by Daeron, the minstrel and loremaster of King Thingol of Doriath, in the Elder Days. In their earliest form, the Certhas Daeron, they were a limited set of characters designed to represent the sounds of the Sindarin language, with no systematic assignment of phonetic values. This original script spread eastward during the Second Age, becoming known to Men, Dwarves, and even Orcs, each of whom altered the forms to suit their own languages and purposes. A simple, unadorned variant was still used by the Men of Dale and the Rohirrim in the Third Age.

A major reorganization and expansion occurred in Beleriand before the end of the First Age, influenced by the more sophisticated Tengwar of the Noldor. This richer, more ordered form became known as the Alphabet of Daeron. Among the Elves, however, the Cirth were largely superseded by the Fëanorian letters for everyday writing, though they were maintained and further developed in the realm of Eregion (Hollin). From there, the Alphabet of Daeron passed to the Dwarves of Moria, who adopted it as their own and created a specialized variant called the Angerthas Moria (the Long Rune-rows of Moria). This Dwarvish adaptation introduced new characters and altered the phonetic values of many existing ones to suit the Khuzdul language, and it remained in use among the Dwarves for millennia, even after the fall of Moria.

The Cirth in The Lord of the Rings

The most significant appearance of the Cirth in the narrative is on the tomb of Balin in Moria. When the Fellowship of the Ring enters the Chamber of Mazarbul, they find a large slab of white stone laid upon a rectangular block. Gandalf identifies the script as Daeron's Runes, of the kind used in Moria in ancient days. The inscription is written in two languages: the tongue of Men and the tongue of Dwarves. Gandalf reads the runes aloud: "Balin son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." This moment confirms the fate of Balin's colony and deepens the sense of loss and doom that pervades the dwarves' ancient home. The runes are deeply graven, a testament to the permanence and solemnity with which the Dwarves treated their dead.

Principles and Structure

The later, reorganized Angerthas operated on principles that echoed the Fëanorian system, though with a distinct logic. Adding a stroke to a branch typically added "voice" to a consonant (e.g., turning a voiceless t into a voiced d). Reversing a certh indicated opening the sound to a spirant (e.g., t to th). Placing a branch on both sides of the stem could indicate both voice and nasality. These rules, however, were not applied with perfect consistency, and the Dwarves of Moria introduced further unsystematic changes when they adapted the script for Khuzdul. The result is a script that is both deeply historical, bearing the marks of its evolution through different cultures and ages, and functionally practical for the peoples who used it.

Significance

The Cirth are more than a mere decorative element; they are a tangible link to the deep history of Middle-earth. Their origin with Daeron in Doriath connects them to the great Elvish kingdoms of the First Age. Their adoption and transformation by the Dwarves of Moria reflect the complex relationship between Elves and Dwarves, a friendship of craft and lore that ultimately soured. The appearance of the runes on Balin's tomb in The Lord of the Rings serves as a poignant reminder of the fallen glory of Khazad-dûm and the doomed attempt of the Dwarves to reclaim it. The Cirth, therefore, function as a silent witness to the passage of ages, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the enduring power of writing to preserve memory even in the face of ruin.