Sindar

2009-08-20T14:46:57Z

80.202.77.44:

{{sources}}
{{race
|image=[[Image:Marya Filatova - Sinda.jpg|300px]]
|name=Sindar
|dominions=[[Doriath]], the [[Falas]], [[Nan Elmoth]], much of [[Beleriand]].
|languages=[[Sindarin]].
|height=Tall.
|length=
|skincolor=White.
|haircolor=Usually dark.
|feathers=
|distinctions=Good singers, woodsmen, and shipbuilders.
|lifespan=Immortal.
|members=[[Elu Thingol]], [[Lúthien]], [[Daeron]], [[Mablung]], [[Círdan]], [[Beleg]], [[Oropher]], [[Legolas of Mirkwood]], [[Thranduil]].
}}
'''Sindar''' (meaning "Grey People", singular ''Sinda'', although the later term was not generally used by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]) were [[Elves]] of [[Teleri|Telerin]] descent. They are also known as the '''Grey Elves'''. Their language is [[Sindarin]]. The Kings of [[Doriath]], [[Elu Thingol]] and his grandson [[Dior Eluchíl]], were the High Kings of the Sindar.

The Sindar are "grey" perhaps because they were not [[Calaquendi|Elves of the Light]], never having actually set foot in [[Valinor]], but neither were they [[Avari]], since they did accept the invitation and set out on the journey (and therefore were technically counted among the [[Eldar]]). They are sometimes referred to as '''"[[Elves of the Twilight]]"'''. The term "grey" may also refer to Elu Thingol's grey cloak. The term ''Sindar'' is actually not Sindarin in origin: it is the [[Quenya]] name devised by the [[Noldor|Noldorin]] exiles. It may also be related to '''''[[Lindar]]''''', the Telerin name for themselves. The name that the Sindar used for themselves was simply '''''Edhil''''' ("Elves", singular ''Edhel'').

The Teleri were the greatest host of the Eldar. They had two kings, the brothers [[Elwë]] (known as Elu Thingol in the Sindarin tongue) and [[Olwë]]. When the Teleri reached [[Beleriand]] during the [[Great Journey]] from [[Cuiviénen]], Thingol went wandering in the forests as was his wont. In the forest of [[Nan Elmoth]] he met [[Melian]], one of the [[Maiar]]. They fell in love, and with Melian, Thingol stood spellbound in Nan Elmoth for several years.

In the meantime, Olwë and many of the Teleri could not delay longer, and went to [[Aman]] without Elwë and his following. Elwë's followers stayed in Beleriand, to search for their king. They later became known as the '''''[[Eglath]]''''' (the "Forsaken"). At long last he awoke from the spell and set up a kingdom in the midst of Beleriand: [[Eglador]] ("Land of the Forsaken" or "Land of the Elves", the etymology is not clear). The [[Dwarves]] of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]] in the [[Blue Mountains]] were contracted to aid in the building of the city of [[Menegroth]].

Other Teleri also stayed behind: these were the friends of [[Ossë]] the [[Maia]], who had fallen in love with the shores of [[Middle-earth]], and did not wish to depart. Their leader was [[Círdan]], and they established cities at [[Eglarest]] and [[Brithombar]]. They were known as the [[Falathrim]], or "Elves of the [[Falas]]". They were not part of the realm of Eglador, but still took Thingol as their High King.

Yet other stray bands of Teleri settled in [[Nevrast]] and [[Hithlum]] to the north of Eglador, although these did not form any realms.

The Teleri of Eglador, the northlands, and the Falas were collectively known as the Sindar in later days, because they developed a civilisation all its own, which almost equalled that of the [[Calaquendi]] or Light Elves of [[Valinor]].

A last group of Teleri in Beleriand were the [[Laiquendi]] or "Green Elves". They were descended from the [[Nandor]], which had split from the Great Journey before the [[Misty Mountains]], and gone south along the [[Great River]]. A part of them, under [[Denethor of the Nandor|Denethor]] son of [[Lenwë]], crossed the Blue Mountains eventually, and settled in [[Ossiriand]], or as it was later known [[Lindon]] ("Land of the Singers"). They remained a people apart for long, although many of them removed to Thingol's realm after Denethor was killed.

Just before the arrival of the Noldorin exiles, the Dark Lord [[Morgoth]] returned to his old stronghold of [[Angband]], and his activities increased. Thingol had Melian use her magic to create a girdle of bewilderment around Eglador, so that nobody could enter without the king's permission. Ever after it was known as [[Doriath]] ("Land of the Fence"). Thingol remained High King of the Sindar and nominal Overlord of Beleriand, although especially the Noldor following of the sons of [[Fëanor]] usually ignored his commands.

The language of the Sindar diverged from common Telerin over the long ages they were sundered from their kin, and became known as Sindarin. By the time the Noldor arrived in Beleriand, the languages had become mutually unintelligible, but the Noldor were quick to learn it. In the Second and Third Age, Sindarin became known as the "Noble Tongue", and became the [[Elvish]] tongue used in daily speech throughout [[Middle-earth]] (helped by the decree of Thingol, who forbade the use of [[Quenya]] in his realm). It was also adopted for daily use by the [[Númenóreans]], and remained somewhat in use in the realms-in-exile of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]].

Sindarin eventually replaced [[Quenya]] as the language used by the Noldor in [[Beleriand]], even in predominantly Noldorin settlements such as [[Gondolin]], although Quenya survived as a language of knowledge.

Some of the few Sindar left during the [[Third Age]] were [[Thranduil]], and possibly (though not probably) [[Celeborn (Lord of Lórien)|Celeborn]]. While the subjects of Thranduil were [[Silvan]], and those of Celeborn [[Nandorin]], the Sindar were apparently recognized as the ruling class by the lesser green-elves.

[[Category:Sindar|*]]

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Sindar