Ithrynluin
12-11-2003, 02:05 AM
Círdan
...my second favourite Elf.
Information on him is unfortunately scarce, so one post should suffice. The reason for this is that he has always kept himself and his people away from major catastrophes as much as he could, aloof from any strife and conflict unless danger was imminent or someone needed him to lend a helping hand.
His name is Sindarin for 'Shipwright' and it is indicative of his 'function' throughout the first three ages of Middle Earth:
Before ever they came to Beleriand the Teleri had developed a craft of boat-making; first as rafts, and soon as light boats with paddles made in imitation of the water-birds upon the lakes near their first homes, and later on the Great Journey in crossing rivers, or especially during their long tarrying on the shores of the 'Sea of Rhun', where their ships became larger and stronger. But in all this work Cirdan had ever been the foremost and most inventive and skilful.
Ha! There's one craft in which Fëanor was definitely surpassed. Take that, Lhun! ;)
His original Telerin name, Nowe, is never used.
Facial hair is uncommon among the Quendi, yet Círdan sports a beard, and a long, luscious one at that. Why this is so is uncertain, but it certainly increases the feeling that he is an extremely wise person. Some have said this is a sign of him being one of the first Elves to awake at Cuivíenen, but this is probably not so since it is said that he is akin to Elwë Thingol (and for him to be a firstborn would require him to have no relatives other than his own descendants)
When the Elves finally reached the shores of the Great Sea on their great journey, and the Vanyar and Noldor had been ferried across it already, Círdan and his folk lingered on the coasts still. He was reluctant to depart without Thingol, who was dear to him, and he was among those who searched the longest for him.
Thus he forfeited the fulfilment of his greatest desire: to see the Blessed Realm and find again there Olwe and his own nearest kin. Alas, he did not reach the shores until nearly all the Teleri of Olwe's following had departed.
It can thus be said that Thingol played a role in Círdan's remaining in Middle Earth. I wonder how things would have changed if Círdan had departed...certainly not for the better!
The desire to see his kin and the land of the Valar was strong within him:
Then, it is said, he stood forlorn looking out to sea, and it was night, but far away he could see a glimmer of light upon Eressea ere it vanished into the West. Then he cried aloud: 'I will follow that light, alone if none will come with me, for the ship that I have been building is now almost ready.' But even as he said this he received in his heart a message, which he knew to come from the Valar, though in his mind it was remembered as a voice speaking in his own tongue. And the voice warned him not to attempt this peril; for his strength and skill would not be able to build any ship able to dare the winds and waves of the Great Sea for many long years yet. 'Abide now that time, for when it comes then will your work be of utmost worth, and it will be remembered in song for many ages after.' 'I obey,' Cirdan answered, and then it seemed to him that he saw (in a vision maybe) a shape like a white boat, shining above him, that sailed west through the air, and as it dwindled in the distance it looked like a star of so great a brilliance that it cast a shadow of Cirdan upon the strand where he stood.
As we now perceive, this was a foretelling of the ship which after apprenticeship to Cirdan, and ever with his advice and help, Earendil built, and in which at last he reached the shores of Valinor.
It cannot be emphasized enough how crucial Círdan and his expertise in ship building proved to be...
From that night onwards Cirdan received a foresight touching all matters of importance, beyond the measure of all other Elves upon Middle-earth.
Wow...how unique. He has always been something of a martyr in my eyes, and this was a fair way to compensate for his suffering in Middle-Earth for three long ages.
Later on, when Thingol establishes Menegroth, Círdan acknowledges Thingol as high-king. It seems almost as if he had no ambition, and certainly very little pride (in the negative sense of the word). His humility is what makes me admire him so.
Círdan and his folk 'evolved' separately and devoloped unique traits, and I daresay they were similar to the people of Olwë in Alqualondë:
But Cirdan and his people remained in many ways distinct from the rest of the Sindar. They retained the old name Teleri (in later Sindarin Eorm Telir, or Telerrim) and remained in many ways a separate folk, speaking even in later days a more archaic language. The Noldor called them the Falmari, 'wave-folk', and the other Sindar Falathrim 'people of the foaming shore'.
Círdan and his folk are also sometimes referred to as 'the Eglain' and it is said that they 'became a people somewhat apart from the inland Elves, and at the time of the coming of the Exiles their language was in many ways different'.
After the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Círdan flees to the Isle of Balar together with Gil-galad, and dwells there up until the breaking of Beleriand.
Little is told of him in the next two ages...
Círdan was present at the battle of the Last Alliance, and together with Elrond counselled Isildur to cast the Ring into Orodruin. We all know how that went... :-\
In the Third Age, he helps the Dunedain to repel the enemy from Fornost and the North Downs. He also sent a ship to Fornost to aid Arvedui, but unfortunately the ship foundered in the fell winter and Arvedui died.
He was an important figure in ousting the Witch-King from Angmar:
Then Círdan summoned all who would come to him, from Lindon or Arnor, and when all was ready the host crossed the Lune and marched north to challenge the Witch-king of Angmar.
Even the mariners of Círdan were helpless, and in the night the ice crushed the hull, and the ship foundered. So perished Arvedui Last-king, and with him the palantíri were buried in the sea.
Upon the coming of the Istari, Círdan divined in Mithrandir the greatest spirit, and the wisest, and surrendered to him Narya, as he felt that it was idle in his keeping and could be put to better use (as was the case indeed). In doing so, Círdan in a way humbled himself and acknowledged Gandalf as his superior and offered his services to him. None save Elrond and Galadriel knew to whom the Red Ring had been committed, although Saruman (who was skilled to uncover all secrets) learned of this and begrudged it.
We seldom hear him utter any words, but when he does they are full of wisdom, patience, and sympathy. A good example of this are his words to Mithrandir upon his arrival from Aman:
‘Take now this Ring,’ he said; 'for thy labours and thy cares will be heavy, but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness. For this is the Ring of Fire, and herewith, maybe, thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valour of old in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores, guarding the Havens until the last ship sails. Then I shall await thee.’
Círdan was a prominent member of the White Council. However, he was not present at the Council of Elrond, where we see a messenger of his - Galdor of the Havens.
He is said in the Annals of theThird Age (c.1000) to have seen further and deeper into the future than anyone else in Middle-earth. This does not include the Istari (who came from Valinor), but must include even Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn.
Quite a resumé, eh?
He remained in Middle Earth well into the Fourth Age, awaiting all Elves who were unwilling to depart, such as Celeborn, and perhaps even Elladan and Elrohir. It is likely that he himself departed with the very last ship.
*******
Sources:
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
The History of Middle Earth XI: The War of the Jewels; Quendi and Eldar
The History of Middle Earth XII: The Peoples of Middle Earth; Late Writings
...my second favourite Elf.
Information on him is unfortunately scarce, so one post should suffice. The reason for this is that he has always kept himself and his people away from major catastrophes as much as he could, aloof from any strife and conflict unless danger was imminent or someone needed him to lend a helping hand.
His name is Sindarin for 'Shipwright' and it is indicative of his 'function' throughout the first three ages of Middle Earth:
Before ever they came to Beleriand the Teleri had developed a craft of boat-making; first as rafts, and soon as light boats with paddles made in imitation of the water-birds upon the lakes near their first homes, and later on the Great Journey in crossing rivers, or especially during their long tarrying on the shores of the 'Sea of Rhun', where their ships became larger and stronger. But in all this work Cirdan had ever been the foremost and most inventive and skilful.
Ha! There's one craft in which Fëanor was definitely surpassed. Take that, Lhun! ;)
His original Telerin name, Nowe, is never used.
Facial hair is uncommon among the Quendi, yet Círdan sports a beard, and a long, luscious one at that. Why this is so is uncertain, but it certainly increases the feeling that he is an extremely wise person. Some have said this is a sign of him being one of the first Elves to awake at Cuivíenen, but this is probably not so since it is said that he is akin to Elwë Thingol (and for him to be a firstborn would require him to have no relatives other than his own descendants)
When the Elves finally reached the shores of the Great Sea on their great journey, and the Vanyar and Noldor had been ferried across it already, Círdan and his folk lingered on the coasts still. He was reluctant to depart without Thingol, who was dear to him, and he was among those who searched the longest for him.
Thus he forfeited the fulfilment of his greatest desire: to see the Blessed Realm and find again there Olwe and his own nearest kin. Alas, he did not reach the shores until nearly all the Teleri of Olwe's following had departed.
It can thus be said that Thingol played a role in Círdan's remaining in Middle Earth. I wonder how things would have changed if Círdan had departed...certainly not for the better!
The desire to see his kin and the land of the Valar was strong within him:
Then, it is said, he stood forlorn looking out to sea, and it was night, but far away he could see a glimmer of light upon Eressea ere it vanished into the West. Then he cried aloud: 'I will follow that light, alone if none will come with me, for the ship that I have been building is now almost ready.' But even as he said this he received in his heart a message, which he knew to come from the Valar, though in his mind it was remembered as a voice speaking in his own tongue. And the voice warned him not to attempt this peril; for his strength and skill would not be able to build any ship able to dare the winds and waves of the Great Sea for many long years yet. 'Abide now that time, for when it comes then will your work be of utmost worth, and it will be remembered in song for many ages after.' 'I obey,' Cirdan answered, and then it seemed to him that he saw (in a vision maybe) a shape like a white boat, shining above him, that sailed west through the air, and as it dwindled in the distance it looked like a star of so great a brilliance that it cast a shadow of Cirdan upon the strand where he stood.
As we now perceive, this was a foretelling of the ship which after apprenticeship to Cirdan, and ever with his advice and help, Earendil built, and in which at last he reached the shores of Valinor.
It cannot be emphasized enough how crucial Círdan and his expertise in ship building proved to be...
From that night onwards Cirdan received a foresight touching all matters of importance, beyond the measure of all other Elves upon Middle-earth.
Wow...how unique. He has always been something of a martyr in my eyes, and this was a fair way to compensate for his suffering in Middle-Earth for three long ages.
Later on, when Thingol establishes Menegroth, Círdan acknowledges Thingol as high-king. It seems almost as if he had no ambition, and certainly very little pride (in the negative sense of the word). His humility is what makes me admire him so.
Círdan and his folk 'evolved' separately and devoloped unique traits, and I daresay they were similar to the people of Olwë in Alqualondë:
But Cirdan and his people remained in many ways distinct from the rest of the Sindar. They retained the old name Teleri (in later Sindarin Eorm Telir, or Telerrim) and remained in many ways a separate folk, speaking even in later days a more archaic language. The Noldor called them the Falmari, 'wave-folk', and the other Sindar Falathrim 'people of the foaming shore'.
Círdan and his folk are also sometimes referred to as 'the Eglain' and it is said that they 'became a people somewhat apart from the inland Elves, and at the time of the coming of the Exiles their language was in many ways different'.
After the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Círdan flees to the Isle of Balar together with Gil-galad, and dwells there up until the breaking of Beleriand.
Little is told of him in the next two ages...
Círdan was present at the battle of the Last Alliance, and together with Elrond counselled Isildur to cast the Ring into Orodruin. We all know how that went... :-\
In the Third Age, he helps the Dunedain to repel the enemy from Fornost and the North Downs. He also sent a ship to Fornost to aid Arvedui, but unfortunately the ship foundered in the fell winter and Arvedui died.
He was an important figure in ousting the Witch-King from Angmar:
Then Círdan summoned all who would come to him, from Lindon or Arnor, and when all was ready the host crossed the Lune and marched north to challenge the Witch-king of Angmar.
Even the mariners of Círdan were helpless, and in the night the ice crushed the hull, and the ship foundered. So perished Arvedui Last-king, and with him the palantíri were buried in the sea.
Upon the coming of the Istari, Círdan divined in Mithrandir the greatest spirit, and the wisest, and surrendered to him Narya, as he felt that it was idle in his keeping and could be put to better use (as was the case indeed). In doing so, Círdan in a way humbled himself and acknowledged Gandalf as his superior and offered his services to him. None save Elrond and Galadriel knew to whom the Red Ring had been committed, although Saruman (who was skilled to uncover all secrets) learned of this and begrudged it.
We seldom hear him utter any words, but when he does they are full of wisdom, patience, and sympathy. A good example of this are his words to Mithrandir upon his arrival from Aman:
‘Take now this Ring,’ he said; 'for thy labours and thy cares will be heavy, but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness. For this is the Ring of Fire, and herewith, maybe, thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valour of old in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores, guarding the Havens until the last ship sails. Then I shall await thee.’
Círdan was a prominent member of the White Council. However, he was not present at the Council of Elrond, where we see a messenger of his - Galdor of the Havens.
He is said in the Annals of theThird Age (c.1000) to have seen further and deeper into the future than anyone else in Middle-earth. This does not include the Istari (who came from Valinor), but must include even Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn.
Quite a resumé, eh?
He remained in Middle Earth well into the Fourth Age, awaiting all Elves who were unwilling to depart, such as Celeborn, and perhaps even Elladan and Elrohir. It is likely that he himself departed with the very last ship.
*******
Sources:
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
The History of Middle Earth XI: The War of the Jewels; Quendi and Eldar
The History of Middle Earth XII: The Peoples of Middle Earth; Late Writings