Gollum

Gollum is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. Originally known as Sméagol, he was later named Gollum after the disgusting gurgling noise he made in his throat. He is estimated to have been born in the year 2430 of the Third Age. more...

He died on March 25, 3019. His life was extended far beyond its natural limits by the effects of possessing the One Ring. At the time of his death, Gollum was about 589 years old, a remarkable age for a creature who was once a Hobbit, but had been deformed and twisted in both body and mind by the corruption of the Ring. His one desire was to possess the Ring which had enslaved him, and he pursued it for seventy-six years after he lost it.

Also see: Timeline of Arda.

Story

Once a Stoorish Hobbit, Sméagol spent the early years of his life with his extended family under a matriarch, his grandmother. In 2463 T.A., Sméagol became the fourth Bearer of the One Ring, after Sauron, Isildur, and Déagol. Déagol was his relative, and on Sméagol's 33rd birthday they went fishing in the Gladden Fields north of Lothlórien. It was there that Déagol found a gold ring, after being pulled into the water by a large fish. Sméagol demanded the ring as a birthday present and strangled Deágol when he refused. Sméagol was quickly corrupted by the Ring and, banished by his people, was forced to find a home in a cave in the Misty Mountains. The Ring's malignant influence twisted his Hobbit body and mind and prolonged his life far beyond its natural limits. He called it his "precious" or his "birthday present," the latter as a justification for killing Déagol, a crime that haunted Gollum for the rest of his life.

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