King-helm of Turgon

The great helm of King Turgon of Gondolin, worn by him as a royal crown, and hence also known as the Crown of the Hidden Kingdom. Above the centre of the Seventh Gate of the Orfalch Echor, the Gate of Steel, a huge image of the King-helm was set, surrounded by diamonds.

The King-helm is not described in any detail, but the fact that Turgon's crown was known by that name implies that it was adapted from a war helmet, rather than being designed solely as a crown. Long after Turgon's time, the Crown of Gondor had a similar story, originating as the helmet of Elendil the founder of the Two Kingdoms (and indeed the King-helm of Turgon may have helped to inspire the Gondorian use of a helm as a crown in this way).

It is unclear whether Turgon's King-helm was merely a royal symbol, as its jewelled image on the Gate of Steel might suggest, or could be used as an actual helm in battle. When Turgon led his armies to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in I 472, it is at least possible that he wore his King-helm as part of his royal armour, though he may have preferred a simpler and more practical helm in actual warfare.

The fate of the King-helm is not described, but it was presumably lost or looted during the Fall of Gondolin in I 510, and probably destroyed in the cataclysm at the end of the First Age. This is not, however, absolutely certain. We know that Turgon's sword Glamdring was carried away from Beleriand and survived into the Third Age, and so, in principle, the same fate might have befallen the King-helm of Turgon.