Finduilas

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This article is about the daughter of Orodreth. For the wife of Denethor, see Finduilas.
Finduilas
Noldo
Elena Kukanova - Princess of Nargothrond.jpg
"Princess of Nargothrond" by Elena Kukanova
Biographical Information
Other namesFaelivrin (S, epessë)
LocationNargothrond
LanguageSindarin
BirthPossibly F.A. 272[1][note 1]
Beleriand
DeathF.A. 495[2] (aged 223)
Crossings of Taeglin
Family
HouseHouse of Finarfin
ParentageOrodreth (father)
Unnamed Sindarin mother[3]
SiblingsGil-galad
SpouseBetrothed to Gwindor; never married
Loved Túrin
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorGolden
GalleryImages of Finduilas

Finduilas was a Noldorin princess of the First Age. She was the daughter of Orodreth, the ruler of Nargothrond, and the sister of Gil-galad.[3]

History[edit | edit source]

Finduilas lived in Nargothrond with her father and brother under the rule of Finrod Felagund. She was betrothed to Gwindor, who named her Faelivrin, which meant "Gleam of the Sun on the Pools of Ivrin".[4]

Nargothrond - Turin and Finduilas by Elena Kukanova

Her betrothed was captured in F.A. 472 during the Battle of Unnumbered Tears by Morgoth,[5] but he returned in 490 with a companion[6] who called himself Agarwaen, son of Úmarth ("Bloodstained, son of the Cursed"). Unknown to Finduilas, this was actually Túrin son of Húrin.

Despite her old feelings for Gwindor, who was now mutilated, Finduilas fell in love with noble Túrin who became an influential warrior of Nargothrond. Túrin failed to notice her feelings, she reminded him of Lalaith, the sister he lost in childhood. Gwindor realized that Finduilas had fallen in love with Túrin, and revealed his name to her in an attempt to discourage her pursuit.[4]

At the Sack of Nargothrond by Glaurung, Finduilas was captured. Gwindor was slain after ordering Túrin to protect Finduilas as only she could save him from his fate; however he was entranced by the dragon, and he could not hear Finduilas' cries as she was being dragged past him by the Orcs as a captive for Angband.[7]

Due to Glaurung's deceit, Túrin abandoned Finduilas and instead went to Hithlum in search for his kin. When the Orcs were waylaid by the Haladin of Brethil at the Crossings of Teiglin they killed all their captives, pinning Finduilas to a tree with a spear.

By this time, Túrin had regained his senses, and the Haladin buried her in a mound they called Haudh-en-Elleth ("Mound of the Elf-maiden").[8]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name Finduilas is a Sindarin name. The first element of the name seems to be fîn ("hair"), but the etymology of the rest of her name is unclear.[9]

A similar name in Noldorin, "Mindor Uilas" from a draft of The Lord of the Rings, was suggested by Roman Rausch to translate as "Isolated Mountain of Ever-leaf".

Other names[edit | edit source]

Finduilas was also called Faelivrin (meaning "Gleam of the Sun on the Pools of Ivrin" in Sindarin), from fael ("gleam of the sun") + the proper name Ivrin.[10]

GenealogyNB[edit | edit source]

Míriel
d. Y.T. 1170
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olwë
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fëanor
Y.T. 1169 - 1497
 
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. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Orodreth
d. F.A. 495
 
 
 
 
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
Celebrían
b. S.A. 300
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINDUILAS
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

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

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Notes

  1. The figure of F.A. 272 is the most recent date that Tolkien gave for Finduilas' year of birth in Beleriand. In the same complex of texts in which this figure appears, Tolkien later decided that Finduilas was the youngest of the Exiled Noldor (thus born in Aman) - however, years later (c. 1965), Tolkien decided to make Finduilas the sister of Gil-galad, born to Orodreth and an unnamed Sindarin lady: thus placing her birth in Beleriand once again, hence the adoption of the F.A. 272 date.

References