How Many Years Did Smaug Sleep On The Gold Of Erebor
Dive into the Depths of Smaug’s Lair: How Many Years Did He Sleep on the Gold of Erebor?
The enigmatic dragon Smaug, a central figure in J.R.R Tolkien’s epic saga ‘The Hobbit’, left an indelible mark upon Middle-earth and cinema history alike. One question that has intrigued fans for years is: How long did Smaug sleep on the gold of Erebor before being awakened by the unexpected arrival of Bilbo Baggins?
The Lair of the Dragon
In ‘The Hobbit’, Smaug sleeps atop a vast hoard of gold and treasure in the ancient dwarf-city of Erebor. The dragon had taken possession of the city and its contents after slaying the last king of Durin’s line, Thrain II. However, Tolkien does not provide an exact number of years as to how long Smaug stayed there.
Clues from Film and Lore
In Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of ‘The Hobbit’, Smaug refers to the “repack of canting doors [that] would come crawling back to the mountain.” This suggests that Smaug had been asleep for quite some time, as the dwarves had not attempted a reclaimation of Erebor since their last failed attempt in T.A. 2799 (Third Age). Thus, we can infer that Smaug’s slumber lasted at least a century.
Extrapolating from the Lore
Tolkien’s Middle-earth lore provides further evidence to support a century-long slumber. In the Second Age, Smaug was born around S.A. 1600 and grew to maturity by S.A. 2590. Assuming that Smaug reached his full size at this point, it is reasonable to assume that he would have been too large to fit in his lair prior to this time. Thus, we can safely estimate that Smaug slept on the gold of Erebor for several hundred years before Bilbo Baggins awoke him.
The Long Sleep Awakened
In the film adaptation, Smaug is awakened by Bilbo Baggins and the company of dwarves who had sought refuge in the Lonely Mountain. The unexpected arrival of these intruders, combined with his innate curiosity and desire for knowledge, prompted Smaug to awake from his slumber.
Conclusion
Though we cannot say with certainty how many years Smaug slept on the gold of Erebor, evidence from both Tolkien’s lore and Peter Jackson’s film adaptations suggest that it was likely several hundred years. This long sleep only served to heighten the dragon’s curiosity and paranoia, ultimately leading to his demise at the hands of Bard the Bowman.
