White cow

A white cow belonged to the Fairies dwelling in Artanor, according to an Elvish poem. Although nothing else is known about this creature, possibly the cow itself was a Faërie creature.^[1]

Commentary

As noted by Arden R. Smith, "nothing about a white cow in Artanor or Doriath appears elsewhere in the published legendarium, but white cows as denizens of the fairy world are a common motif in Celtic mythology."^[1][2]

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, "Tengwesta Qenderinwa and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets Part 2", in Parma Eldalamberon XVIII (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 142
2. ↑ For more on white cows as fairy creatures, cf. James MacKillop, Oxford Dictionary of Celic Mythology, p. 108