Andreth
| Andreth | |
|---|---|
| Adan | |
 | |
| "Andreth" by Elena Kukanova | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Saelind |
| Titles | Wise-woman of the Bëorians |
| Location | Ladros |
| Birth | F.A. 361 |
| Death | c. F.A. 455 (aged c. 94) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Bëor |
| Parentage | Boromir |
| Siblings | Bregor & Beril |
| Spouse | In love with Aegnor (never married) |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Hair color | Dark |
| Gallery | Images of Andreth |
Andreth was a wise-woman from the House of Bëor. She was called Saelind by the Elves, for she was wise in thought and learned in the lore of Men.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Andreth was the elder daughter and second child of Boromir and a sister to Bregor and Beril.[2]
In her youth, she dwelt in the house of her uncle, Belemir, where she had learned the lore of the House of Marach from his wife, the Wise-woman Adanel.
Andreth was deeply in love with the Noldorin Elf-lord Aegnor, the son of Finarfin and Eärwen and the brother of Finrod, Angrod, and Galadriel. During the Siege of Angband, the Elf-lord saw young Andreth in the reflection of Aeluin and they fell in love with each other. However, he could not reciprocate her love, since, according to the law of the Eldar, no marriages could happen during times of war. It is said that for her sake, he would not take any Elven bride. Both remained unwed and childless.
She grew in knowledge and understanding of lore, and as she grew older, she was respected as a wisewoman after Adanel.
She had a close friendship with Aegnor's eldest brother, King Finrod of Nargothrond, who often visited her during the Siege to converse with her wisdom on the matters of Elves and Men. One such conversation was written down and later known as Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth.[1]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Andreth is a Sindarin word meaning "long-suffering, 'Patience'".[3] Her other name, Saelind, means "Wise-heart".[1]:305
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
In the first drafts of the Athrabeth, Andreth acknowledges she belongs to those of the "Great Hope", while in the final text she remains skeptical about that belief.[4]
In a late linguistic text, a note on the language of the Haladin mentions a prophecy of Andreth of unclear context and content:
The language of the Folk of Haleth was not used, for they had perished and would not rise again. Nor would their tongue be heard again, unless the prophecy of Andreth the Wise-woman should prove true, that Túrin in the War of Wrath should return from the Dead, and before he left the Circles of the World for ever should challege the Great Dragon of Morgoth, Ancalagon the Black, and deal him the death-stroke.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Four. Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", (i) The House of Bëor, p. 231
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 182
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Four. Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth: [Draft material]", pp. 351-352
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", pp. 374-375, note 17
