Eldar

From Tolkien Gateway
Eldar
People
Lída Holubová - Cuivienen.jpg
"Cuivienen" by Lída Holubová
General Information
Other namesWest-elves
OriginsElves who undertook the Great Journey
LocationsValinor, Eldamar, Tol Eressëa, Beleriand, Eriador, Rhovanion
LanguagesQuenya, Telerin, Sindarin, Nandorin
MembersIngwë, Finwë, Elwë, Olwë, Lenwë, etc.
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
Average heightover 6'6 (1.98 m) - for men, over 6 feet (1.83 m) - for women[1]
Hair colordark brown, golden, silver

Eldar (singular Elda) was the name given to the Elves by the Vala Oromë when he first found them wandering in the starlight of Cuiviénen. At first, the name was applied to all Elves, but after the summons of the Valar, it came to be used only for the West-elves[2] who followed the summons and began the Great Journey.

The Three Kindreds of the Eldar were the Vanyar, the Noldor and the Teleri. All of the Vanyar and Noldor went to Aman, though many of the Noldor later returned to Middle-earth with Fëanor.

Many of the Teleri also journeyed to Valinor, but twice a host of this people turned away from the Journey in Middle-earth; these two kindreds are called Úmanyar, the Eldar not of Aman. The first of these were the Nandor, who turned aside east of the Misty Mountains, and travelled down the River Anduin. The second, the Sindar, tarried in Beleriand seeking their lord, Elwë Singollo.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

See Elda#Etymology

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Tolkien notes the accidental similarity between the word "Eldar" and "Elder"(as in "Elder Folk" or "Elder Days") and that it is unrelated to English and therefore should not be any attempt to imitate it.[3]

In popular usage[edit | edit source]

The name "Eldar" has been used for Elven-like races in later fiction. Eldar is a humanoid being, descendant of an ancient interstellar Empire in the Warhammer 40K universe. Eldar is also a race of Elves in the Midkemia cycle by Raymond E. Feist.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Two. Body, Mind and Spirit: VI. Descriptions of Characters", "Heights", p. 195
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of the Elves"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 755-6 & 780
Elves
(Quendi · People of the Stars · Firstborn · Elder Kindred)
Three Kindreds:
(Eldar · Eldalië · Edhil)
 Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) · Noldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) · Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar)
Calaquendi:
(High-elves · Amanyar)
 Vanyar · Noldor · Falmari
Úmanyar:  Sindar (Grey-elves · Eglath · Falathrim) · Nandor (Green-elves · Silvan Elves)
 Moriquendi:  Úmanyar · Avari (Cuind · Hwenti · Kindi · Kinn-lai · Penni · Windan)
See also:  Awakening of the Elves · Sundering of the Elves · Great Journey