Angerthas

Angerthas is the Dwarven runic alphabet of Middle-earth, a branch of the Cirth used to write Khuzdul, the Dwarven language. The name Angerthas comes from Khuzdul and is generally understood as referring to the dwarves’ runic system. The script is characterized by angular, straight strokes suited to carving in stone and metal.

Origins and variants germane to Tolkien's legendarium hold that the Dwarves adapted the Elvish Cirth to their own phonology, producing several regional forms. The principal forms cited in the lore are Angerthas Daeron, Angerthas Moria, and Angerthas Erebor. Angerthas Daeron represents the early Dwarven adaptation of the Cirth, while Angerthas Moria is described as the older form used in Khazad-dûm. Angerthas Erebor refers to a later variant associated with the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. Although distinct in shapes and conventions, these variants are mutually intelligible to some degree and reflect regional evolution within Dwarven communities.

Usage and features: Angerthas was employed for monumental inscriptions, epitaphs, tools, and everyday writing among Dwarves, primarily to render Khuzdul. It was also used in some contexts to inscribe messages on doors, weapons, coins, and stonework. In Tolkien’s narratives, examples of Angerthas appear on artifacts and in inscriptions tied to Dwarven realms, illustrating the script’s cultural importance.

See also: Cirth, Khuzdul, Dwarves. References to Angerthas appear in Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings, and related writings, as well as scholarly discussions of Middle-earth scripts.