ANGBAND Meaning and
Definition
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Angband is a term that holds various meanings and can be interpreted differently based on the context. In ancient Norse mythology, Angband refers to a massive fortress described as a subterranean stronghold, said to be the dwelling place of the evil Morgoth, the main antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Morgoth, also known as Melkor, was the supreme dark lord who sought domination over Arda, the fictional world, and Angband served as his base of operations.
In a more contemporary sense, "Angband" primarily refers to a rogue-like computer game developed by Alex Cutler in the 1980s. Known as the earliest roguelike title that was not written in assembly language, Angband gained popularity and set the foundation for the genre. The game presents a challenging dungeon-crawling experience, where players delve into randomly generated underground tunnels filled with treacherous monsters and valuable treasures. Angband offers a turn-based playing style with ASCII graphics, granting players the freedom to explore, battle enemies, and amass powerful equipment while striving to defeat Morgoth, the ultimate adversary.
In summary, from a mythological standpoint, Angband represents a mythical fortress associated with the malicious Morgoth in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. On the other hand, in the realm of gaming, Angband refers to a seminal roguelike game that introduced and shaped the genre, revolving around dungeon exploration, combat, and the pursuit of triumph over challenging adversaries.
Etymology of ANGBAND
The word "Angband" is primarily derived from Old English and Old Norse languages. "Ang" as a prefix comes from the Old English "ang-" or "enge-" meaning "narrow" or "tight". "Band" is derived from the Old Norse word "bönd" meaning "enclosure" or "prison".
In J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, specifically in his works "The Silmarillion", "Angband" refers to the fortress of the Dark Lord Morgoth, located in the fictional world of Middle-earth.
