Several artificial scripts in the fictional world of John R. R. Tolkien were also created in the image and likeness of Germanic runes. An Oxford professor and specialist in Old English language and literature, Tolkien not only knew many ancient languages, but also invented new ones, painstakingly developing their grammar and alphabets. One of them, kirt, is based on Germanic runes. For example, kirt was used to make the tombstone inscription “Balin, son of Fundin, lord of Moria”, found by the heroes of “The Lord of the Rings” in the underground city.