Eärwen

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Eärwen
Falmar
Elena Kukanova - The Swan-Maiden of Alqualonde.jpeg
"The Swan-Maiden of Alqualonde" by Elena Kukanova
Biographical Information
PronunciationQ, [eˈarwen]
Other namesSwan-maiden of Alqualondë
TitlesQueen of the Noldor
LocationAlqualondë
LanguageTelerin
BirthBefore Y.T. 1280
Family
ParentageOlwë
SiblingsUnnamed brothers[1][note 1]
SpouseFinarfin
ChildrenFinrod, Angrod, Aegnor, and Galadriel
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorStarlike silver[2]
GalleryImages of Eärwen

Eärwen, known as the "swan-maiden of Alqualondë", was the daughter of Olwë, lord of the Teleri.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

In Y.T. 1280,[3] she married Finarfin, the youngest prince of the House of Finwë.[1] She became the mother of Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor, and Galadriel.[note 2][1] She was said to be close friends with Anairë, the wife of Fingolfin, her husband's older brother.[4]

Her children, being also in part Sea-elves, had a love of the sea and a longing for distant places; and it was in part due to this inheritance that all four of Eärwen's children chose to return to Middle-earth, exiling themselves from Valinor,[5] although Eärwen herself stayed in Aman.

Because of their Telerin blood, Eärwen's children were well received in Doriath, the realm of her father's elder brother, Thingol.[6]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Eärwen is clearly Quenya. As Paul Strack explains, it probably means "Sea-maiden", being a compound of eär ("sea") + -wen ("maiden").[7]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olwë
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Findis
b. Y.T.
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Írimë
b. Y.T.
 
Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
 
 
EÄRWEN
b. Y.T.
 
unknown sons
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finrod
Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 465
 
Angrod
d. F.A. 455
 
Eldalótë
b. Y.T.
 
Aegnor
d. F.A. 455
 
Galadriel
b. Y.T. 1362
 
Celeborn
b. F.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Orodreth
d. F.A. 495
 
 
 
 
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
Celebrían
b. S.A. 300
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FinduilasNB
F.A. 272 - 495
 
Gil-galad
d. S.A. 3441
 
Elladan
b. T.A. 130
 
Elrohir
b. T.A. 130
 
Arwen
T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121
 

Notes

  1. She is said to have at least two brothers according to a passing reference in The Silmarillion, whose names are not mentioned in the narrative. According to an early genealogy, one of them is named Elulindo; cf. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Appendix: I. The Genealogies".
  2. Orodreth appears as one of Eärwen's sons in The Silmarillion. In Tolkien's writings, however, he was clearly marked as Angrod's son. Cf. more in Orodreth#Other versions of the legendarium.

References