Eärwen

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Eärwen
Falmar
Marya Filatova - Earwen.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesSwan-maiden of Alqualondë
TitlesTelerin Princess
BirthSometime during Years of the Trees: Middle-earth, Tol Eressëa, or Alqualondë
DeathDid not die
Family
ParentageOlwë + ?
SpouseFinarfin
ChildrenFinrod, Angrod, Aegnor, Galadriel
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorProbably Silver
GalleryImages of Eärwen

Eärwen (Q "sea-maiden", pron. [eˈarwen]) was the daughter of Olwë1, King of the Falmari, the Teleri of Aman. She was known as the "Swan-maiden of Alqualondë". Around Valian Year 1280 during the Years of the Trees she married Finarfin, a Noldo of the House of Finwë. She became the mother of Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor, and Galadriel. She was said to be friends with Anairë, the wife of Fingolfin, her husband's older brother.

Eärwen stayed in Aman after the Flight of the Noldor. She presumably still lives there with Finarfin.

Her name means "Maiden of the Sea" in Quenya (from eär = "sea" and -wen = "maiden").

Genealogy

          Finwë = Indis                   Olwë
                |                           |
   _____________|____________           ____|____
  |         |        |       |         |         |
  |         |        |       |         |         |
Findis  Fingolfin  Irimë  Finarfin = EÄRWEN    sons1
                                   |
                       ____________|_____________
                      |        |       |         |   
                      |        |       |         |
                   Finrod   Angrod   Aegnor   Galadriel

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the published The Silmarillion, Orodreth is the son of Finarfin and Eärwen. This was an editorial decision by Christopher Tolkien, and an admitted mistake. Orodreth is actually Eärwen's grandson, the son of her child Angrod.

Notes

  1. In The Silmarillion, the family-tree of Elwë shows the Eärwen was the only child of Olwë. However, in the text she is said to have brothers, whose names are unknown.

References