House of the Hammer of Wrath

The House of the Hammer of Wrath was one of the twelve houses of the Gondothlim, according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.
== History ==
They lived in Gondolin and their lord was Rog. They were much recruited by Noldoli that escaped from Melko's mines, so they deeply hated him and his Balrogs. They were great smiths and craftsmen, and revered Aulë more than any other Ainu. In battle they carried great maces like hammers, and heavy shields, for they had strong arms. The device of this people was the Stricken Anvil, and a hammer that smites sparks about it; this was set upon their shields, for red gold and black iron was their delight.:174
When Melko sent his armies to attack the city, Gothmog led them to the northern gate, where the Houses of the Hammer and of the Tree were positioned. When the enemies opened a breach, both folks falled upon them.:176 But later a great number of Balrogs and Iron Dragons climbed into the city. Then Rog encouraged his people in a great voice.
The Noldoli still sing how their charge slew a great number of the serpents and Balrogs, being the first of Elves and Men alike to slay a Balrog. Gothmog counterattacked cutting their withdrawal to the city, but Rog realized this and knew they were lost, so he kept the attack. Therefore, the house harried their front enemies until they reached Tumladin. There a fire-drake was loosed upon them, but they kept fighting, untill all of them perished, "and it is yet sung that each man of the Hammer of Wrath took the lives of seven foemen to pay for his own.