Telain
Telain (Sindarin, plural of Talan[1]), known in Westron as flets, were platforms built in the trees by the Galadhrim Elves of Lothlórien.
History[edit | edit source]
Telain were built high up Mallorn trees, created in the space where the trunk of the tree divided into many branches; they lacked walls, or even rails, but portable screens were put to keep out the wind; they were only accessible via a lowered hithlain rope-ladder. They were mainly used as guard-posts and watch-towers around the edges of Lothlórien.[2]
In Caras Galadhon, however, telain were more common and served more of a ceremonial function: it was on a house built on a talan that the Fellowship met with Galadriel and Celeborn.[3]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Flet is an archaic English word referring to the floor of a house or a flat.
The Sindarin word talan or tâl ("flat space, platform"; pl. telain) is a descendant form of Common Eldarin talam-. The Quenya form is talma or talan, pl. talami.[4]
Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:
- Telain were retained in the film, although there were no moveable plaited screens or rope-ladders visible. In The Lord of the Rings the meeting with Galadriel and Celeborn took place inside a large hall built on a talan,[3] whereas in the film it took place on an open talan.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Mirror of Galadriel"
- ↑ 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. 52
