Gilraen
| Gilraen | |
|---|---|
| Arnorian | |
 | |
| "Gilraen and sleeping Estel" by Anna Kulisz | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | the Fair |
| Location | Eriador, Rivendell |
| Language | Sindarin, Westron |
| Birth | T.A. 2907 |
| Death | T.A. 3007 (aged 100) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Isildur |
| Parentage | Dírhael and Ivorwen |
| Spouse | Arathorn II |
| Children | Aragorn |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Gallery | Images of Gilraen |
Gilraen the Fair (T.A. 2907-3007) was a Dúnadan of the North, the daughter of Dírhael and Ivorwen, and a descendant of the first chieftain, Aranarth.
History[edit]
She was born in the year 2907 of the Third Age.[1] She wanted to marry Arathorn II, the Chieftain of the Dúnedain but her father at first did not want her partly because she was at the time younger than customary for marriage, and he also foresaw that Arathorn would have a short life. However, Ivorwen persuaded him in the end, saying that Arathorn's short life was a further incentive to have a quick marriage, so that an heir could be born to be their people's leader. They were married in T.A. 2929.[2] Gilraen's son Aragorn was born in T.A. 2931, but her husband was killed two years later[1], as her father predicted.
She then brought her son to live in Imladris to protect him from harm (from Isildur's enemies) as was customary with the Heir of Isildur. She opposed Aragorn's love for Arwen, believing that Arwen's lineage was more noble than his and that Elves and mortals should not intermarry. About T.A. 2984 Gilraen returned to her people in Eriador where she died in 3007,[1] aged one-hundred years.
Her final words to Aragorn were the linnod Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim, meaning "I gave Hope (an obvious reference to her son's nickname) to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself."[2]
Etymology[edit]
Gilraen is a Sindarin name. It means "one adorned with a tressure set with small gems in its network" and is a combination of gil ("star") and raen ("netted", "enlaced").[3] More loosely translated it means "Netted Star".[4] It was a common name given to women of high rank among the Rangers of the North, because they used to wear such tressures.[3]
Genealogy[edit]
Portrayal in adaptations[edit]
_-_Gilraen%27s_grave.jpg)
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Aragorn and Elrond have a conversation at a memorial to Gilraen in Rivendell. Elrond suggests that she brought Aragorn to Imladris for safety from pursuit by the forces of evil. Elrond also thinks that Gilraen believed Aragorn would not escape his fate. Her memorial features a statue along with her name and an inscription of her final words written in Tengwar.
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- Elrond and Aragorn recite Gilraen's final words when Elrond brings the re-forged sword Andúril to Aragorn, with the words possibly taking on a different connotation from their meaning in the book.
External links[edit]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vinyar Tengwar, Number 42, July 2001, pp. 11-13
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Gilraen f.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 5 February 2022)
