All Questions
Tagged with tolkiens-legendarium the-silmarillion
391
questions
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Have the inhabitants of Middle-earth ever used siege engines?
When Fingolfin faced the Thangorodrim, apparently he didn't really know what to do, other than noticing that it would not fall from the voices of trumpets.
Did anyone (other than Morgoth, Sauron, ...
- 2,878
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did the Girdle of Melian work?
The Girdle of Melian is described like: "unseen wail of shadow and bewilderment".
But how it exactly impeded intruders?
Did it contain physical obstacles like tricky rivers, self-spawning precipices,...
- 2,878
8
votes
1
answer
496
views
Why didn't the Noldor use the palantíri?
Fëanor is thought to have made the palantíri, or at least similar far-seeing crystals. Why didn't his sons make use of them in the War of the Jewels? They would be able to espy the orc raids leaving ...
- 2,878
10
votes
2
answers
730
views
Are there any other Wraiths, Wights and Ghosts?
Are there any examples of Wraiths, Wights or Ghosts appearing elsewhere in Tolkien's work?
Specifically, is there any mention of other ghosts/spirits that are not either the 9 Nazgûl, the Barrow-...
- 3,611
11
votes
1
answer
876
views
Heraldry of the Twelve Houses of Gondolin
On Tolkien Gateway (supposedly considered a good source for canon) in the entry for the Twelve Houses of the Gondolindrim, the following image is shown to represent the coat of arms:
Granted that ...
- 77.5k
1
vote
0
answers
120
views
Middle-Earth Holidays/Festivals/Celebrations [duplicate]
In the west we celebrate many types of holiday. Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines Day, just to name a few. However, I would like to know if there are any similar types of occasions in middle-earth, ...
- 3,611
0
votes
0
answers
67
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Legitimation among the Noldor [duplicate]
My theory is, that the Kingship among the Noldor wasn't as ideologically well-founded as among Men, they didn't think that their Kings were appointed to this role by the Valar or Eru, nor attributed ...
- 2,878
14
votes
1
answer
2k
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What happened to the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin?
I think Túrin wore the helm last in the battle on Amon Rudh. Tolkien Gateway claims that he also wore it in the Battle of Tumhalad, but I find that rather weird since Túrin tried to hide his true ...
- 2,878
6
votes
2
answers
329
views
Did the Sindar use horses in the Ages of the Stars?
The Noldor used horses effectively during the Siege of Angbad. They also had famous steeds descending from Valinor. Nienor, Morwen and their escorts got horses from Thingol, as they went to ...
- 2,878
6
votes
3
answers
2k
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Poisoned weapons in Middle-earth
Poisoned weapons in Middle-earth are normally connected with the evil powers, since the orcs are regularly reported to shot poisoned arrows.
But I can remember some cases, when non-evil people are ...
- 2,878
6
votes
3
answers
440
views
First contact between Oromë and the Elves
Do we have any information (in The History of Middle-earth or other writings) about the initial encounter of Oromë and the Elves after the Awakening, besides the short-spoken description of The ...
- 2,878
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the nature of an Ainu's fair form?
When Númenor was sunk, Sauron was forced to flee the island by abandoning his physical body so that his spirit could return to Middle-earth. It was said that, henceforth, he could no longer assume a ...
- 34.2k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What we we know about the source of the light in the Two Trees of Valinor?
The sun and the moon were created from the light of the trees of light, Laurelin and Telperion, after they had been destroyed; some parts of them survived the destruction and could thus be used for ...
- 363
1
vote
1
answer
857
views
Dragons in the Fall of Gondolin and the War of Wrath
In the War of Wrath, when the Valar, Elves and Men fought against Morgoth and his assembled forces
There Melkor releases his last and greatest force, the fleet of winged dragons, that had never ...
- 2,828
8
votes
3
answers
662
views
Was Melian embodied like the Istari during her time in Doriath?
In The Silmarillion, we get the story of Melian and Thingol; Melian, being a Maia, does not have a body that she is bound to, but rather was able to take on the shape and likeness of creatures of the ...
- 16k
5
votes
1
answer
792
views
How could Ungoliant stand the light of the Trees?
As we know the light of Galadriel's Phial drove Shelob away. But that light was merely a fraction of fraction of the light of the Trees -- one of the Silmarils from far away in a small phial. Given ...
- 1,308
30
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What is the parentage of Gil-galad?
In The Silmarillion, we're told that Gil-galad is the son of Fingon, son of Fingolfin:
Great was the lamentation in Hithlum when the fall of Fingolfin became known, and Fingon in sorrow took the ...
- 164k
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What's more famed: Elven or Dwarven armaments?
Dwarven weapons and armour are famed for their exceptional quality. The skill of Dwarven smiths are unmatched, so they are in high demand across the land by all races (except maybe the Elves).
...
- 34.2k
36
votes
3
answers
6k
views
What was the first sentient race that awoke on Arda?
Some background: Tolkien's history of elves singing and ents walking and talking.
One of the foundations of Tolkien's mythology is the Elves being the Firstborn. The Dwarves are even put back to ...
- 11k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
If Aman was "taken away" at the fall of Númenor, where do the Elves (and others) sail to at the end of "Lord of the Rings?"
To quote from the Akallabêth (from The Silmarillion):
"But the land of Aman and Eressea of the Eldar were taken away and removed beyond the reach of Men for ever."
And indeed, when Men ...
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1
vote
1
answer
384
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Would the weakened Ainur and Maiar regain their strength after the ending of the world?
We know that the power of the Ainur dwindles as time moves on, some like Melkor have lost power by spreading it too thinly amongst their creations, and the Balrogs and Saruman had become impotent with ...
user46509
1
vote
2
answers
526
views
How many of the Ainur did not descend into Eä
We know that many Ainur entered Eä at the beginning of time, the most powerful forming the Valar and the lesser the Maiar, but how many remained behind with Eru? Does Tolkien ever discuss this in any ...
user46509
7
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How were Elves able to defeat Balrogs?
Ecthelion fights and kills one by drowning it and Glorfindel stabs one in the chest and makes it fall off a cliff killing it.
They were both killed in the process of defeating their Balrogs but ...
- 10.8k
4
votes
1
answer
2k
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Did the Valar actually care about Middle-earth?
They are the ones who molded it in their designs and all, but in many aspects they often seem like they weren't really concerned about the events of the Middle-Earth:
The Awakening of Men
They did ...
- 10.8k
7
votes
2
answers
975
views
How did Ungoliant get into Valinor?
After being refused by Feanor, Morgoth went to southern Valinor to seek out Ungoliant and the two of them destroyed the Two Trees, murdered Finwe and plundered Feanor's Vault and stole his Silmarils ...
- 10.8k
8
votes
3
answers
7k
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Did Eru Iluvatar favor Men?
All beings within the confines of Arda are destined to remain there until the end of time except for Men (and I assume Hobbits too). Men are the only species not bound to the world and are only "...
- 10.8k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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What happened to Utumno?
What happened to Morgoth's original fortress after he was imprisoned? Was it completely demolished by the Valar? Did Morgoth just abandon it for Angband? What happened to it when Morgoth returned to ...
- 10.8k
-2
votes
2
answers
2k
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Was Fëanor really such a bad Elf? [closed]
I personally think he was just troubled and was not in the right state of mind, after all he went through many events that made him bitter to his very end:
The death of his mother Miriel
His Father ...
- 10.8k
2
votes
1
answer
679
views
Why was Ossiriand spared from the sinking of Beleriand?
From Hithlum to Angband to Maglor's Gap to the Mouth of Sirion, Beleriand was sunk with the exception of Ossiriand (Lindon, as it is known as in the 2nd and 3rd Ages). Was it because there was no ...
- 10.8k
2
votes
2
answers
823
views
Is the Númenórean language Adûnaic supposed to be English?
Early Númenóreans spoke Quenya as per learning it from Elves of Beleriand, and then later on in the Second Age Númenóreans created their own language: Adûnaic which differs from Elvish.
Is Adûnaic ...
- 10.8k
11
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Does Morgoth have a fair form? [duplicate]
Sauron, Morgoth's first and foremost lieutenant, had a fair form which was lost only when Ilúvatar pulled Númenor down into the sea with Sauron's fair form trapped within it, such that Sauron's spirit ...
- 34.2k
6
votes
2
answers
3k
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Why didn't Sauron do anything about the Eagles?
It is fairly safe to assume that Sauron knew about the Great Eagles as his master, Morgoth, definitely did.
Noting this, and Morgoth's hate for and frustration with to the Eagles (refer to Why didn&#...
- 1,478
17
votes
3
answers
2k
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What's the difference between the names Eru & Ilúvatar?
If my Silmarillion memory serves, both are names of the ultimate creator. What's the difference? When should one used over the other?
- 34.2k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
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Are the corrupted Númenóreans trapped in Valinor technically alive?
Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, the last Vala-hating king of Númenor, led an army to conquer Valinor, but Ilúvatar trapped them in a cave-in where they will remain until the end of time — the Caves of the ...
- 34.2k
16
votes
1
answer
3k
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How old did Gandalf appear to be when he came to Middle Earth?
Gandalf (as with all the Istari) did not have a corporeal form before coming to Middle-earth and was essentially ageless. We also know that Gandalf did age, albeit very slowly, while on Middle Earth. ...
- 11.8k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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How did Morgoth create creatures?
Only Eru, had the power to create life, so how did Morgoth create:
Orcs
Dragons
Trolls
Wargs
Werewolves
Giants
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10
votes
1
answer
1k
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How many of the Ainur were unable to change their physical form?
The Ainur are spirits who do not need bodies, but they can assume them. From the Ainulindalë in the Silmarillion:
Their shape comes of their knowledge of the visible World, rather than of the World ...
- 4,793
2
votes
1
answer
509
views
What happened to the dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost
In the Silmarillion, at the end of the First Age and after the War of Wrath, the cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains "were utterly destroyed"
Did this include the populations of ...
- 20.1k
7
votes
0
answers
333
views
Could Arwen have married Aragon without giving up her immortality? [duplicate]
I just completed reading the lotr books for the 3rd time a couple of weeks back and this entire issue with Arwen and her immortality is bugging me way more than it should! I feel like I really need to ...
- 551
8
votes
1
answer
648
views
What happened to the elves who were slain before the end of the Great Journey?
When an elf dies, his "fëa" (soul) leaves the "hröa" (body) and is summoned to Mandos, in Aman. Frome there he may return to life after some time.
It's reasonable to think that before Vanyar and ...
- 8,044
-2
votes
1
answer
492
views
How did Morgoth manage to chain Maedhros to a peak of Thangorodrim?
After arriving with his father and majority of the Noldor and fighting the forces of Angband,Maedhros was taken captive and brought before Morgoth, then was stripped of clothing and hung from a high ...
- 10.8k
11
votes
1
answer
12k
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What are all the ways Elrond and Galadriel are related?
In answering this question, I discovered three relationships between Galadriel and Elrond:
Galadriel was first cousin of Elrond’s great-grandfather (Turgon, King of Gondolin). Thus, they are first ...
- 70.1k
5
votes
1
answer
2k
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What do we know about the Ainur who stayed in the Timeless Halls?
This is my understanding:
Before Ilúvatar created Eä, he created the Ainur, who were with him in his Timeless Halls.
At Eä’s creation, some of the Ainur chose to enter the world and be bound to it.
...
- 4,793
7
votes
4
answers
14k
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How could Tulkas defeat Morgoth if he was the most powerful Valar?
Morgoth warred against the Valar in the early years of Arda including destroying the Two Lamps which lit the world, and marring the lands in which the Valar had set to prepare for the coming of the ...
- 10.8k
2
votes
2
answers
1k
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How did Morgoth find Men?
Had Morgoth heard about the coming of men and went looking for them on purpose or was he just wandering and happened upon them? Also how did Morgoth know the tongue of Men?
- 10.8k
2
votes
2
answers
2k
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How could Fëanor have hoped to defeat Morgoth?
How could Fëanor have hoped to defeat Morgoth?
Even though Fingolfin managed to hurt Morgoth, he basically had no chance. Also he was just fighting Morgoth in a duel, while Fëanor would have had to ...
- 335
6
votes
2
answers
1k
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Where is the Void?
Where is the Void located in the Ardean(?) universe?
After thinking about it for a while, I see three different possibilities:
Iluvatar's space [Arda (Void)]: The Void belongs to Arda, which are ...
- 2,684
7
votes
2
answers
1k
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Was the Secret Fire within reach of Morgoth or his influence?
In The Silmarillion, it was stated that Ilúvatar set the Secret Fire within the heart of Middle-earth. It is also the consensus that when Morgoth marred Arda, he essentially made Middle-earth his &...
- 34.2k
3
votes
1
answer
933
views
How does Sauron get away after the War of Wrath
In the Silmarillion is says that Sauron speaks to Eonwë after the war of wrath, so I assume Sauron is in captivity? Does it mention in any of the histories how he manages to escape?
Given everything ...
- 253
22
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Why wasn't Gandalf/Olórin head of the White Council
I'm just reading through The Silmarillion (again) and I'm curious why Olórin (later Gandalf) wasn't appointed head of the White Council when he arrived in Middle-Earth. In The Silmarillion he's ...
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