Sylphs: Difference between revisions

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<center>{{quote|sylphine maidens of the Air<br>whose wings in [[Varda]]'s heavenly hall<br>in rythmic movement beat and fall|[[The Lay of Leithian]], 4077-9}}</center>
__NOTOC__
'''Sylphs''' were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the tales of [[Arda]] and nomenclature by the [[Eldar]].<ref name=LT1-66>{{LT1|III}}, p. 66</ref><ref>{{LB|C13}}, pp. 301, 306 (§4077-9)</ref>
{{race infobox
 
| name=Sylphs
==Characteristics and divisions==
| image=[[File:Jenny Dolfen - Sylph dancing up in the evening sky.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Sylph dancing in the evening sky" by [[Jenny Dolfen]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''air-spirits''
| origin=
| location=
| affiliation=[[Manwë]]
| rivalry=
| language=
| people=''Mánir'', ''Súruli''
| members=[[Ilinsor]]
| lifespan=Immortal
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}
<center>{{quote|sylphine maidens of the Air<br>whose wings in [[Varda]]'s heavenly hall<br>in rythmic movement beat and fall|''[[The Lay of Leithian]]'', [[Lay of Leithian Canto XIII|Canto XIII]], vv. 4077-9}}</center>
'''Sylphs''' were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the [[legendarium]] and nomenclature by the [[Eldar]].<ref name=LT1-66>{{LT1|III}}, p. 66</ref><ref>{{LB|C13}}, pp. 301, 306 (§4077-9)</ref>


== Characteristics and divisions ==
The sylphs were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser [[Ainur|Ainu]] spirits: sylphs (spirits of the air), [[sprites|sprites]] (spirits of the earth), and [[mermaids|water spirits]].<ref name=LT1-66/>
The sylphs were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser [[Ainur|Ainu]] spirits: sylphs (spirits of the air), [[sprites|sprites]] (spirits of the earth), and [[mermaids|water spirits]].<ref name=LT1-66/>


Manwë had "''two clans of air-spirits''",<ref name=PE11/> a basic division of two groups of sylphs which, with their [[Elvish]] names, are given as follow:
[[Manwë]] had "''two clans of air-spirits''",<ref name=PE11/> a basic division of two groups of sylphs which, with their [[Elvish]] names, are given as follow:


*[[Qenya]] '''''Mánir''''' (or ''Mānir''<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 31</ref>): "spirits of the air";<ref name=LT1Index>{{LT1|Index}}</ref> [[Gnomish]] ''môna'' or ''môni''<ref name=PE11>{{PE|11}}, pp. 57, 68</ref>
*[[Qenya]] '''''Mánir''''' (or ''Mānir''<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 31</ref>): "spirits of the air";<ref name=LT1Index>{{LT1|Index}}</ref> [[Gnomish]] ''môna'' or ''môni''<ref name=PE11>{{PE|11}}, pp. 57, 68</ref>
*[[Qenya]] '''''Súruli'''''/''Sūruli'', also ''Suluthrim'') (sing. ''Sūru''): "spirits of the winds"; [[Gnomish]] ''Sulus'' (pl. ''Sulussin'')<ref name=PE11/><ref name=LT1Index/>
*[[Qenya]] '''''Súruli'''''/''Sūruli'', also ''Suluthrim'') (sing. ''Sūru''): "spirits of the winds"; [[Gnomish]] ''Sulus'' (pl. ''Sulussin'')<ref name=PE11/><ref name=LT1Index/>


An individual Súruli mentioned by name was '''Ilinsor''', steersman of the [[Moon]]. Ilinsor "''loved the snows and the starlight and aided [[Varda]] in many of her works''".<ref>{{LT1|VIII}}, pp. 192-5</ref>
An individual Súru mentioned by name was '''[[Ilinsor]]''', steersman of the [[Moon]]. Ilinsor "''loved the snows and the starlight and aided [[Varda]] in many of her works''".<ref>{{LT1|VIII}}, pp. 192-5</ref>
 
==Commentary==


== Commentary ==
It has been suggested that the concept "air spirits" is used "metaphorically [...] for the winds that these spirits govern".<ref>{{PE|16}}, p. 59</ref>
It has been suggested that the concept "air spirits" is used "metaphorically [...] for the winds that these spirits govern".<ref>{{PE|16}}, p. 59</ref>


==The later legendarium==
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
 
Sylphs are not mentioned in the later versions of the [[legendarium]]. Many of the classes of beings references in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' were superseded by the concept of the [[Maiar]], which were not introduced until the reworking of the [[Annals of Valinor]] into the [[Annals of Aman]].<ref name="MRP2b">{{MR|P2b}}</ref>
As the sylphs are not mentioned in later versions of the [[legendarium]], it might be that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] envisioned these creatures as the "''servants and helpers''" of the [[Maiar]] (mentioned in later versions of [[Elves|Elven]] chronicles)<ref>{{S|IIc}}</ref> — lesser spirits that would have remained in [[Middle-earth]] (and would thus perhaps be equivalent to the [[Faeries]]). As Tolkien never cared to elaborate much on these "lesser Maiar" in the texts used by his son [[Christopher Tolkien|Christopher]] when preparing the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', one could speculate on how much Tolkien would have retained or rejected of this earlier conception.
 
==Inspiration==


== Inspiration ==
[[Patrick H. Wynne]] and [[Christopher Gilson]] have noted that Tolkien's use of sylphs (and related spirits) is likely influenced by [[Wikipedia:Paracelsus|Paracelsus]]'s chart of four elementals: ''sylphs'' (air), ''pygmies'' or ''gnomes'' (earth), ''nymphs'' (water), and ''salamanders'' (fire).<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 8</ref>
[[Patrick H. Wynne]] and [[Christopher Gilson]] have noted that Tolkien's use of sylphs (and related spirits) is likely influenced by [[Wikipedia:Paracelsus|Paracelsus]]'s chart of four elementals: ''sylphs'' (air), ''pygmies'' or ''gnomes'' (earth), ''nymphs'' (water), and ''salamanders'' (fire).<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 8</ref>


==See also==
== See also ==
 
*[[Mermaids]]
*'''[[Mermaids]]'''
*[[Sprites]]
*'''[[Sprites]]'''
*[[Fairies]]
*[[Fairies]]


==External links==
== External links ==
 
*{{WP|Sylph}}
*{{WP|Sylph}}


{{references}}
{{references}}
{{legend}}
[[Category:Fays]]
[[Category:Spirits]]

Latest revision as of 12:19, 22 September 2022

Sylphs
Race
Jenny Dolfen - Sylph dancing up in the evening sky.jpg
"Sylph dancing in the evening sky" by Jenny Dolfen
General Information
Other namesair-spirits
AffiliationManwë
PeopleMánir, Súruli
MembersIlinsor
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
"sylphine maidens of the Air
whose wings in Varda's heavenly hall
in rythmic movement beat and fall"
― The Lay of Leithian, Canto XIII, vv. 4077-9

Sylphs were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the legendarium and nomenclature by the Eldar.[1][2]

Characteristics and divisions[edit | edit source]

The sylphs were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser Ainu spirits: sylphs (spirits of the air), sprites (spirits of the earth), and water spirits.[1]

Manwë had "two clans of air-spirits",[3] a basic division of two groups of sylphs which, with their Elvish names, are given as follow:

An individual Súru mentioned by name was Ilinsor, steersman of the Moon. Ilinsor "loved the snows and the starlight and aided Varda in many of her works".[6]

Commentary[edit | edit source]

It has been suggested that the concept "air spirits" is used "metaphorically [...] for the winds that these spirits govern".[7]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Sylphs are not mentioned in the later versions of the legendarium. Many of the classes of beings references in The Book of Lost Tales were superseded by the concept of the Maiar, which were not introduced until the reworking of the Annals of Valinor into the Annals of Aman.[8]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Patrick H. Wynne and Christopher Gilson have noted that Tolkien's use of sylphs (and related spirits) is likely influenced by Paracelsus's chart of four elementals: sylphs (air), pygmies or gnomes (earth), nymphs (water), and salamanders (fire).[9]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor", p. 66
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto XIII (Beren and Lúthien in Angband)", pp. 301, 306 (§4077-9)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), pp. 57, 68
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 31
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Index
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "VIII. The Tale of the Sun and Moon", pp. 192-5
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Elvish Poetry and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets", in Parma Eldalamberon XVI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, Carl F. Hostetter and Bill Welden), p. 59
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Notes [on Section 1]"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 8
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