Awakening of the Elves

2006-04-15T19:02:56Z

70.171.200.25:

The '''Awakening of the Elves''' is an event which took place long before the beginning of the [[First Age]] of [[Middle-earth]].

According to a legend of the [[Elves]], the first Elves were awakened by [[Eru Ilúvatar]] near the bay of [[Cuiviénen]]. The first [[Elf]] to awake was called '''[[Imin]]''' ("First"). Next to him lay '''[[Iminyë]]''', who would become his wife. Near where [[Imin]] woke, awoke '''[[Tata]]''' ("Second") and '''[[Tatië]]''', and '''[[Enel]]''' ("Third") and '''[[Enelyë]]'''.

[[Imin]], [[Tata]], and [[Enel]] and their wives joined up, and walked through the forests. They first came across six pairs of [[Elves]], and [[Imin]], as eldest, claimed them as his people, and woke them. After a short time [[Imin]] and his people, together with [[Tata]] and [[Enel]], continued their journey. Next, they came across nine pairs of [[Elves]], and [[Tata]] as second eldest, claimed them as his people. After a short time the now thirty-six [[Elves]] continued their journey. Then they found twelve pairs of [[Elves]], and [[Enel]], as third eldest, claimed them as his people.

For many days the now sixty [[Elves]] dwelt by the rivers, and they began to invent poetry and music.

Finally they set out again, but [[Imin]] thought to himself that since each time they had found more Elves, and his folk was least in size, he would now choose last.

They came across eighteen pairs of [[Elves]], who were watching the stars, and [[Tata]] and [[Enel]] waited for [[Imin]] to claim them for his people, but [[Imin]] told them he would wait, so [[Tata]] added them to his folk. They were tall and had dark hair, and they were the fathers of most of the [[Ñoldor]] of later times.

The ninety-six [[Elves]] now spoke with each other and invented many new words, but then they continued their journey. Next they found twenty-four pairs of [[Elves]], who were singing without language, and again [[Imin]] was offered the choice, but refused. Therefore [[Enel]] chose them as his people, and from them came most of the [[Lindar]] or singers of later times.

And the hundred and forty-four [[Elves]] now dwelt long together, until all had learned the same language, and they were glad. But then [[Imin]] said it was time to seek more companions for him, but most of the others were content and did not join him. So [[Imin]] and [[Iminyë]] and their twelve companions set out alone, and they searched long near [[Cuiviénen]], but never found any more companions.

And because all [[Elves]] had been found in pairs of twelves twelve became the number they counted with ever after, and 144 was for long their highest number, and in none of their later tongues was there therefore any common name for a greater number.

After the tale of the Awakening of the Elves the ''[[Companions of Imin]]'' or the [[Eldest Company]] (the later [[Vanyar]]) numbered fourteen, and they remained the smallest company.
The ''[[Companions of Tata]]'' (half of whom became the Ñoldor) numbered fifty-six, and they remained the second-largest company.
The ''[[Companions of Enel]]'' (the later [[Lindar]] or [[Teleri]]) were the largest company, numbering seventy-four.

[[Melkor]] was the first to learn of the Awakening. He soon began sending evil spirits among the [[Elves]], who planted seeds of doubt against the [[Valar]]. It is also rumoured that some of the [[Elves]] were being captured by a Rider if they strayed too far, and as later turned out these were brought to [[Utumno]] and twisted into [[Orcs]].

[[Oromë]] one day came across the [[Elves]], and realized who they were. At first the [[Elves]] were suspicious of him, fearing he was the Rider who captured the [[Elves]], and because of the lies of [[Melkor]]. Nevertheless, three lords of the [[Elves]] agreed to come with [[Oromë]] to [[Valinor]]. These were [[Ingwë]] of the ''[[Minyar]]'' (later ''[[Vanyar]]''), [[Finwë]] of the ''Tatyar'' (later ''Ñoldor''), and [[Elwë]] of the ''Lindar''. In due time, Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë returned to [[Cuiviénen]], and told the [[Elves]] of the glory of [[Valinor]], and there befell the [[Sundering of the Elves]]. All the [[Minyar]] and half of the [[Tatyar]] were persuaded, along with most of the [[Lindar]], and followed [[Oromë]] into the west on the [[Great Journey]]. These have been known ever since by the name [[Eldar]], or "Star-folk", which Oromë gave to them in their own language. The remainder of the [[Tatyar]] and [[Lindar]] remained suspicious, or simply refused to depart from their own lands, and spread gradually throughout the wide lands of [[Middle-earth]]. They were after known by the name [[Avari]], meaning 'the Unwilling', because the refused the summons, in [[Quenya]], the language of the [[Eldar]] that eventually reached [[Valinor]].

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The tale of [[Imin]], [[Tata]] and [[Enel]], known as '''''[[Cuivienyarna]]''''', was a very late writing by Tolkien, written as part of ''[[Quendi and Eldar]]''. They replaced [[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]] and [[Elwë]] as the eldest [[Elves]], who now merely became the first ambassadors and the Kings of the [[Elves]] in exile.

Vanyar

2006-04-15T18:55:16Z

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The '''Vanyar''' are the highest of the High [[Elves]]. According to legend, the clan was founded by [[Awakening of the Elves|Imin]], the first Elf to awake in [[Cuiviénen]], his wife Iminyë, and their twelve companions; but eventually it was [[Ingwë]], the first Vanya to travel with [[Oromë]] to [[Valinor]], who became their king.

Ingwë is called ''High King of the Elves''. He lives on [[Taniquetil]] beneath the halls of [[Manwë]]. All of the Vanyar journeyed to [[Valinor]] before the beginning of the [[First Age]], and remained there. They are said to have the greatest skill in poetry of all the Elves, and Manwë loves them for it.

Another notable Vanya was [[Indis]], the second wife of [[Finwë]] and grandmother of [[Galadriel]]. It is to her Vanyarin blood that Galadriel owes her famous silver-gold hair.

The Vanyar were the first and smallest clan of the Elves. They typically had blonde hair. Few of them were ever seen in [[Middle-earth]], as they only returned for the [[War of Wrath]].

The name ''Vanyar'' means "the Fair" in [[Quenya]], referring to their golden hair. The Vanyar often called themselves ''Minyar'', "Firsts", their ancient name.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest versions of Tolkien's mythology (see: ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''), they were called '''''Teleri''''', while the elves known as [[Teleri]] in the published version of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' were called ''Solosimpi''.

[[Category:High Elves]]

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Awakening of the Elves

Vanyar