Twelve Houses of the Gondothlim

The twelve houses of the Gondothlim were the kindreds of Gondolin, according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales. Their lords and deeds are described in the "The Fall of Gondolin" in great detail.
== History ==
When the Gondothlim knew that Melko's armies were approaching Gondolin, all the folks and lords were reunited coming from all parts of the city. Here are named in the order they came when King Turgon called them to council::172-174
Emblem	House 	Leader 	Symbols and atributes
 	House of the King 	Turgon 	Moon, Sun, Scarlet Heart
 	House of the Wing 	Tuor 	White wing
 	House of the Mole 	Meglin 	(No emblem), moleskin
 	House of the Swallow 	Duilin 	Arrowhead, fan of feathers
 	House of the Heavenly Arch 	Egalmoth 	Rainbow, opal, jewelled boss
 	House of the Pillar 	Penlod 	A pillar
 	House of the Tower of Snow 	Penlod 	A tower
 	House of the Tree 	Galdor 	Tree, iron-studded club, slings
 	House of the Golden Flower 	Glorfindel	Rayed sun, golden flower (celandine)
 	House of the Fountain 	Ecthelion 	Fountain, silver, diamonds, flute
 	House of the Harp 	Salgant 	Silver harp, tassels of silver and gold
 	House of the Hammer of Wrath	Rog 	Stricken anvil, red gold and black iron, maces
During the council, nearly all the lords agreed with Tuor that the Gondothlim should leave the city before the siege began, but Turgon was convinced by Meglin and Salgant to stay and fight in the city that they loved. Thus, all the houses prepared to battle.
When the Fall of Gondolin began, all of them suffered great losses or were completely destroyed, except the House of the King, who remained in the palace to protect the King.:183 First, the folk of the Mole were scattered after they attacked the folk of the Wing and Meglin was killed by Tuor. Later, after the northern gate was lost, Duilin was killed, but the house of the Swallow kept fighting without their lord. Soon the folk of the Hammer and their lord Rog were butchered outside the walls; Penlod suffered the next attack, so he was killed and both of his houses lost many men.:178-179 Meanwhile, the host of the Harp abandoned their treacherous lord Salgant and went to save the folk of the Golden Flower, being mostly destroyed in the Great Market.:182-183
Thereafter the survivors of all kindreds were reunited in the Square of the Palace, save those of the Hammer of Wrath alone. In that square, Ecthelion and Gothmog slew each other. There also King Turgon proclaimed the fall of Gondolin and ordered the survivors to follow Tuor, but his royal folk stayed with him.:183-184 Later he and his house were killed when the Tower of the King fell.:187 After the exiles of Gondolin escaped, Glorfindel died saving them from a Balrog.:194
Thus, apart from Tuor, the only lords who survived the Fall of Gondolin were Egalmoth and Galdor. Egalmoth was later killed in a battle at the Mouths of Sirion, but Galdor would reach Tol Eressëa and even keep some followers.