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In Norse mythology, Durin was the first of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves. The character appears in J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth.
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
In Tolkien's mythology, King Durin I of Khazad-dum, better known as "Durin the Deathless", was the eldest of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, first created by Aulë the Vala. Durin was set to sleep alone beneath the mountains of Middle-earth until the Elves were born. The name Durin, like other names of Tolkien's Dwarves, was taken from old Norse: this was later explained by the translation fiction: because Westron was translated with English, the language of Dale was translated with Old Norse. The Dwarvish names were in Dalish, which therefore was translated in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with old Norse.
Upon his awakening in the First Age, he traveled until he came upon the Mirrormere, the lake that the Dwarves call Kheled-zâram. He created there a great city within the Misty Mountains. This was Khazad-dûm, later called Moria.
According to the Dwarves Durin awoke at Mount Gundabad in the north of the Misty Mountains, which remained a sacred place to them ever after. Durin and his heirs were revered by all Dwarves, and not just those of his own line.
Durin founded the line of Dwarves called Durin's Folk. Durin was called the Deathless because he was believed not to die, but rather to fall asleep, and reïncarnate in his own line. Apparently the first heirs of Durin, as well as Durin VII, had memories of their 'earlier lives', which suggest that this belief had some basis in fact.
