The Glittering Caves of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth were inspired by the caves of Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. After the events of The Return of the King, Gimli son of Gloin became the Lord of the Glittering Caves and Settled it and the Hornburg fortress along with the Dwarves he led from the Lonely Mountain. Hecalled the caves one of the marvels of the Northern World, and their beauty is said to have even left Legolas speechless. The Numenorians, who discovered the caves, gave them the name “Aglarond“ which translates from elvish to mean “caves of glory.“

I have long been struck by the splendor and beauty of the environments that Tolkien creates so vividly in his work. This one no less—in fact somewhat more because we see/read almost nothing about them in the entire series. I have had the privilege to have seen many caves throughout the United States including Mammoth Cave, Wind Cave, Cave of the Mounds, and Mark Twain Cave. Each time i have been let dumbfounded at how the earth, water, wind, and time have molded works so breathtaking. This piece seeks to capture an impression of that beauty and wonder of the natural world steeped in the mystique of Tolkein’s own glittering caves.