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Only a few times in the history of [[Arda]] have there been '''unions of Elves and Men'''. The offspring of such marriages were known as [[Half-elven]].
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[[File:Jenny Dolfen - Tuor and Idril in Gondolin.jpg|thumb|''Tuor and Idril in Gondolin'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]]


* [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]]
{{quote|Nai elen atta siluvat aurenna veryanwesto.|[[Quenya]] wedding wish by [[Tolkien]]<ref>{{VT|49b}}, p. 44</ref>}}
* [[Tuor]] and [[Idril]]
* [[Imrazôr]] and [[Mithrellas]] (according to local legend)
* [[Aragorn]] and [[Arwen]]


Only a few times in the history of [[Arda]] were there '''unions of Elves and Men'''. The offspring of such marriages were known as [[Half-elven]].


There were three unions: [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], and [[Tuor]] and [[Idril]], in the [[First Age]]; and [[Aragorn]] and [[Arwen]] in the [[Third Age]].<ref>{{App|A1i}}, p. 1034</ref>
Additionally, according to a local legend, [[Imrazôr]], the [[Princes of Dol Amroth|Prince of Belfalas]], married the Elf-maiden [[Mithrellas]], who gave birth to [[Galador|a son]] and [[Gilmith|a daughter]] before disappearing.<ref>{{UT|Amroth}}, p. 248</ref>
==Similar cases==
[[Finduilas]], a Noldorin princess of [[Nargothrond]], fell in love with [[Túrin]], but he rejected her advances.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Children of Húrin]]'', "[[Túrin in Nargothrond]]"</ref> [[Gwindor]], a lord of Nargothrond, advised her:
{{Blockquote|"Not fitting is it that the Elder Children of Ilúvatar should wed the Younger; nor is it wise, for they are brief, and soon pass, to leave us in widowhood while the world lasts. Neither will fate suffer it, unless it be once or twice only, for some high cause of doom that we do not perceive."|''[[The Children of Húrin]]'', "[[Túrin in Nargothrond]]"}}
The ''[[Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth]]'', the debate of [[Finrod]] and [[Andreth]], contains an in-depth discussion about relationships between Elves and Men. Andreth, a [[Wise-woman]] of the [[Edain]], and [[Aegnor]], Finrod's brother, had fallen in love during the [[Siege of Angband]]. However, Aegnor turned away, though neither took another partner for the rest of their lives.<ref name=":0">{{MR|P4c}}, pp. 323-4</ref>
Finrod explained to Andreth that the Eldar do not wed during times of war, and that Aegnor knew that the [[Dagor Bragollach|Siege of Angband would break]] soon. Additionally, while Andreth would grow old and die, Aegnor would carry the memories of Andreth until the [[Dagor Dagorath|end of Arda]], and he "''would rather have a memory that is fair but unfinished than one that goes on to a grievous end.''"<ref name=":0" />{{References}}


[[Category:Concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts]]

Latest revision as of 12:09, 26 October 2023

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Tuor and Idril in Gondolin by Jenny Dolfen
"Nai elen atta siluvat aurenna veryanwesto."
― Quenya wedding wish by Tolkien[1]

Only a few times in the history of Arda were there unions of Elves and Men. The offspring of such marriages were known as Half-elven.

There were three unions: Beren and Lúthien, and Tuor and Idril, in the First Age; and Aragorn and Arwen in the Third Age.[2]

Additionally, according to a local legend, Imrazôr, the Prince of Belfalas, married the Elf-maiden Mithrellas, who gave birth to a son and a daughter before disappearing.[3]

Similar cases[edit | edit source]

Finduilas, a Noldorin princess of Nargothrond, fell in love with Túrin, but he rejected her advances.[4] Gwindor, a lord of Nargothrond, advised her:

"Not fitting is it that the Elder Children of Ilúvatar should wed the Younger; nor is it wise, for they are brief, and soon pass, to leave us in widowhood while the world lasts. Neither will fate suffer it, unless it be once or twice only, for some high cause of doom that we do not perceive."
—The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Nargothrond"

The Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, the debate of Finrod and Andreth, contains an in-depth discussion about relationships between Elves and Men. Andreth, a Wise-woman of the Edain, and Aegnor, Finrod's brother, had fallen in love during the Siege of Angband. However, Aegnor turned away, though neither took another partner for the rest of their lives.[5]

Finrod explained to Andreth that the Eldar do not wed during times of war, and that Aegnor knew that the Siege of Angband would break soon. Additionally, while Andreth would grow old and die, Aegnor would carry the memories of Andreth until the end of Arda, and he "would rather have a memory that is fair but unfinished than one that goes on to a grievous end."[5]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Five Late Quenya Volitive Inscriptions" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 49, June 2007, p. 44
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor", p. 1034
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Amroth and Nimrodel", p. 248
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Nargothrond"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Four. Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth: 'The Debate of Finrod and Andreth'", pp. 323-4
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