Elves of Mithrim

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 09:19, 5 November 2014 by Schmit (talk | contribs) (Added etymological information)
"We have a long way to go, and there is time ahead for thought." — Treebeard
This article or section is in the early stages of construction and should not be viewed as complete, or even close to being finished.
The name Mithrim refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Mithrim (disambiguation).

The Elves of Mithrim were the Sindarin inhabitants of the land of Mithrim.

The Elves of Mithrim crossed into Hithlum from Beleriand at some time before the rising of the Sun, settling in the regions around Lake Mithrim.[1] They were the first Elves of Middle-earth encountered by the Noldor upon their return from Aman.[2] Fingolfin took up lordship in Hithlum, with most of his own people dwelling around the shores of Lake Mithrim,[3] and there was presumably a degree of intermingling between the two peoples. It is not stated to what extent the Grey-elves of Mithrim participated in the Wars of Beleriand under Fingolfin and Fingon. After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad they sheltered Rían;[4] when she departed Hithlum, one of the Elves, Annael, fostered her son Tuor.[5]

Language

The Elves of Mithrim spoke a marked dialect of Sindarin.[6]

Etymology

Mithrim has two alternate etymologies. In the earlier version, Mithrim was Noldorin in origin, including the roots mith- "fog, misty, grey" and -rhim(b) "cold" or "cold lake".[7]


A later version is that Mithrim "grey folk" was applied by the Sindar of Beleriand to their kindred who had gone north into Hithlum. The climate north of Ered Wethrin cool, misty, and grey, but the Elves also wove a grey cloth that aided in their concealment. It is also suggested that the Noldor first used the term Sindar (or Sindeldi) to refer to the Elves of Mithrim, later applying it to all the Sindarin-speaking Elves of Beleriand.[8]

References