Nerdanel

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Nerdanel
Noldo
Marya Filatova - Mahtan's daughter.jpg
Biographical Information
Other names"the Wise"
AffiliationNot Oath of Fëanor
LanguageCommon Eldarin and
Quenya
BirthDuring the Years of the Trees
Family
HouseHouse of Mahtan
ParentageMahtan
SpouseFëanor
ChildrenMaedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, and Amras
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorPresumably red[note 1]
Eye colorGray[source?]
GalleryImages of Nerdanel

Nerdanel (Q, pron. [ˈnerdanel]) was the daughter of the Noldorin smith Mahtan and the wife of Fëanor.

She bore Fëanor seven sons: Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, and Amras (see Sons of Fëanor). Nerdanel, unlike her husband, was of a peaceful nature and sought to moderate his fiery temper and pride with wisdom. For a time she was the only one able to influence him. Called "the Wise", Nerdanel refused to follow her husband to Middle-earth, and apparently still lives in Aman.

Nerdanel was a noted sculptor. She is said to have made statues so lifelike that people thought them real.

On a minor note, Nerdanel's family is interesting to fans of Tolkien's Elves because they are the only attested examples of Elves with red hair. Nerdanel's father Mahtan and three of her sons (Maedhros, Amrod, and Amras) are described by Tolkien as having red hair (actually a reddish brown) and this is described as a trait "of Nerdanel's kin". Nerdanel's own hair color is never specifically stated; although it is said that she possessed a ruddy complexion and it may be assumed that Tolkien did intend for Nerdanel to have red hair.

Etymology

Nerdanel's name has no clear etymology, and the Quenya inflection stem is unknown too.

Genealogy


Mahtan
 
Míriel
 
 
 
Finwë
 
 
 
Indis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NERDANEL
 
 
 
Fëanor
 
 
 
 
 
 
Findis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maedhros
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingolfin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maglor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Celegorm
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Irimë
 
 
 
 
 
Caranthir
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Curufin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finarfin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amrod
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amras
 
Celebrimbor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


See Also

Notes

  1. Her kin all had red-brown hair. See J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor" pp. 353 & 365-6