Middle-Earth Tours

Tour 1: The People of Middle-Earth

Dwarves
Dwarves have an origin different from any other race in Middle-earth. Elves, humans, hobbits, etc., are either creations of Ilúvatar or (as in the case of orcs) perversions of creations of Ilúvatar. Dwarves, on the other hand....

Aulë Attempts to Destroy his Children, by Ted Nasmith

 It is told that in their beginning the Dwarves were made by Aulë in the darkness of Middle-earth; for so greatly did Aulë desire the coming of the Children, to have learners to whom he could teach his lore and crafts, that he was unwilling to await the fulfilment of the designs of Ilúvatar....
     Now Ilúvatar knew what was done, and in the very hour that Aulé's work was complete...Ilúvatar spoke to him; and Aulë heard his voice and was silent. And the voice of Ilúvatar said to him: 'Why hast thou done this? Wy dost thou attempt a thing which thou knowest is beyond thy power and thy authority?'....
     Then Aulë took up a great hammer to smite the Dwarves; and he wept. But Ilúvatar had compassion upon Aulë and his desire, because of his humility; and the Dwarves shrank from the hammer and were afraid; and they bowed down their heads and begged for mercy. And the voice of Ilúvatar said to Aulé: 'Thy offer I accepted even as it was made. Dost thou not see that these things have now a life of their own, and speak with their own voices? Else they would not have flinched from thy blow, nor from any command of thy will.' Then Aulë cast down his hammer and was glad.... --The Silmarillion, "Of Aulë and Yavanna"

detail of Gimli and Glóin,
by Michael Kaluta

 Next to Frodo on his right sat a dwarf of important appearance, richly dressed. His beard, very long and forked, was white, nearly as white as the snow-white cloth of his garments. He wore a silver belt, and round his neck hung a chain of silver and diamonds. Frodo stopped eating to look at him.
      'Welcome and well met!' said the dwarf, turning towards him. Then he actually rose from his seat and bowed. 'Glóin at your service,' he said, and bowed still lower. --FotR, "Many Meetings"
John Rhys-Davies as Gimli, image from the limited edition 2001 New Line movie calendar

Resting at Lookout, by Michael Hague

detail of Gimli, by John Howe
an unexpected party, by John Howe
That's Bilbo at the top right, looking bewildered; and Thorin's the Dwarf with the harp.

detail of Gimli, by Alan Lee
the Council of Elrond, pic gleaned from the official movie site by a theonering.net spy
John Rhys-Davies as Gimli,
image from VGNett
Suddenly there was a great shout, and down from the Dike came those who had been driven back into the Deep. There came Gamling the Old, and Éomer son of Éomund, and beside them walked Gimli the dwarf. He had no helm, and about his head was a linen band stained with blood; but his voice was loud and strong.
     'Forty-two, Master Legolas!' he cried. 'Alas! My axe is notched: the forty-second had an iron collar on his neck. How is it with you?'
     'You have passed my score by one,' answered Legolas. 'But I do not grudge you the game, so glad am I to see you on your legs!' --TTT, "The Road to Isengard"
image courtesy of theonering.net
Full-size versions of these pictures are on display at Rolozo Tolkien, the official LotR movie site, and theonering.net.