Daeron
| Daeron | |
|---|---|
| Sinda | |
 | |
| "Daeron" by Elena Kukanova | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Position | Loremaster, Minstrel |
| Location | Doriath |
| Language | Doriathrin (Sindarin dialect) |
| Birth | Before Y.T. 1300 |
| Notable for | Devising Cirth (Certhas Daeron) |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | Tall |
| Hair color | Dark |
| Eye color | Grey |
| Gallery | Images of Daeron |
- "He became the greatest of all the minstrels of the Elves east of the Sea."
- ― Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien"
Daeron was a Sindarin Elf who dwelt in Doriath as the loremaster and minstrel of King Thingol during the First Age.[1] He was also a skilled linguist and invented the Cirth alphabet[2] in Y.T. 1300.[3]
History
When Fingolfin, King of the Noldor, held his great feast near the Pools of Ivrin only two came out of Doriath to attend, Daeron and Mablung, sent by King Thingol as messengers.[4]
Daeron loved Lúthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian the Maia, but she did not love him. Nevertheless they were good friends, and Lúthien would often dance to his music. After Daeron found out about Lúthien's love for the mortal Beren, he betrayed them both to Thingol. When Lúthien later sought his help in assisting captive Beren, Daeron again betrayed her to Thingol, though this time in love and fear for her rather than jealousy.
After Lúthien departed in secret from Doriath, Daeron repented and set out to search for her. He never did find her and never returned to Doriath either, passing over the Ered Luin into the East where he apparently dwelt long after.[5]
Daeron is mentioned as one of the greatest minstrels of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and only Maglor son of Fëanor is said to come close to his skill. Also in the Lay of Leithian there is named one called Tinfang who is counted among the three great minstrels, along with Maglor and Daeron.
Etymology
The name derives from the Sindarin word daer ("large, great").[6]
In the earlier Etymologies the Doriathrin name is given as Dairon shown as related to the Doriathrin word for shadow, dai.[7]
Consequently, Christopher Tolkien speculated in The Silmarillion, that the name perhaps included the Sindarin word dae "shadow".[8]
Other versions of the legendarium
In earlier versions of the mythology as set out in The Book of Lost Tales, Dairon was originally envisioned as Lúthien's brother. He was among the three best elvin musics with Tinfang Warble and Ivárë.[9] Dairon's name went through a number of changes before Tolkien settled upon the final form - first it was Kapalen, then Tifanto, then Dairon, before Daeron.[10] Kapalen was used in the pencil-version and is only preserved in one occasion.[11] Tifanto was used in the version written in ink above the pencil-version.[12] Dairon was used in corrections of the ink-version and the typescript-version.[13] Tifanto, and very likely Kapalen before, returned to Tinwelint (> Thingol) and took part in the wolf-hunt.[14] This part was given to Mablung in corrections of the ink-version. The typescript does not preceed so far.[15]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Cirth"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Commentary on the fourth section of the Annals of Aman", p. 106
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, p. 11
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 354 entry DAY
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel", p. 10
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", Note 9, p. 49
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", Note 9, p. 49
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", p. 50
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", p 43.
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", Notes 12 - 14, pp. 49f.
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", p. 48
