Eärendil: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-more|Eärendil|[[Eärendil (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Eärendil|[[Eärendil (disambiguation)]]}}
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{{half-elf infobox
{{half-elf infobox
| image=[[Image:Earendil.jpg|248px]]
| image=[[File:Jenny Dolfen - Earendil the Mariner.jpg|250px]]
| name=Eärendil
| name=Eärendil
| othernames=''[[Azrubêl]]'' ([[Adûnaic|A]]), ''[[Ardamir Eärendil|Ardamírë]]'' ([[Quenya|Q]] [[Amilessë|mn]]),  The Mariner, The Blessed, Bright
| pronun=
| othernames=''[[Azrubêl]]'' ([[Adûnaic|A]]), ''[[Ardamir Eärendil|Ardamírë]]'' ([[Quenya|Q]] [[Amilessë|mn]]),  The Mariner, The Blessed, Bright, Halfelven
| titles=
| titles=
| position=
| position=
| realm=[[Gondolin]], [[Havens of Sirion]]
| location=[[Gondolin]], [[Havens of Sirion]]
| affiliation=
| affiliation=
| language=
| language=
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| deathlocation=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=[[House of Hador]], [[House of Fingolfin]]
| house=[[House of Hador]], [[House of Fingolfin]]
| heritage=[[Men|Man]] father, [[Elf]] mother
| heritage=[[Men|Man]] father, [[Elves|Elf]] mother
| parentage=[[Tuor]] and [[Idril]]
| parentage=[[Tuor]] and [[Idril]]
| siblings=
| siblings=
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| clothing=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| weapons=
| steed=
| steed=[[Vingilótë]] (ship)
}}{{Pronounce|Earendil.mp3|Ardamir}}
}}
<center>{{quote|Eärendil was a mariner<br>that tarried in [[Arvernien]]<br>he built a [[Vingilótë|boat]] of timber felled<br>in [[Nimbrethil]] to journey in...|''[[Eärendil by Bilbo|Eärendil]]'' by [[Bilbo Baggins]]}}</center>
<center>{{quote|Eärendil was a mariner<br>that tarried in [[Arvernien]]<br>he built a [[Vingilótë|boat]] of timber felled<br>in [[Nimbrethil]] to journey in...|''[[Eärendil by Bilbo|Eärendil]]'' by [[Bilbo Baggins]]}}</center>
'''Eärendil the Mariner''' ([[Quenya|Q]] "sea-friend", pron. {{IPA|[ˌe.aˈrendil]}}) was one of the [[Peredhil]] and the most important figures in the legends of the [[Elder Days]]. Descended from all the [[Three Houses]] of the [[Edain]], he was the first known person to reach [[Aman]] in the [[First Age]].
'''Eärendil the Mariner''' ([[Quenya|Q]] "sea-friend", pron. {{IPA|[ˌe.aˈrendil]}}) was one of the [[Peredhil]] ([[Sindarin|S]] "Half-elven"), and an important figure in the legends of the [[Elder Days]]. Descended from all the [[Edain#The Three Houses|Three Houses]] of the [[Edain]], he was the first known person to reach [[Aman]] in the [[First Age]]. He was crucial in the [[War of Wrath]] and the patriarch of the line of the [[Kings of Númenor]] through his youngest son.  


He was crucial in the [[War of Wrath]] and the patriarch of the line of the [[Kings of Númenor]].
== History ==
The son of [[Tuor]] and [[Idril]], daughter of King [[Turgon]], Eärendil was raised as a child in [[Gondolin]]. Eärendil was seven years old when [[Fall of Gondolin|Gondolin fell]], and narrowly escaped death at the hands of his kinsman [[Maeglin]] during the battle. He was borne out on the shoulders of Idril's house-carle [[Hendor]], and lived afterwards in [[Arvernien]] by the [[Havens of Sirion]]. Eärendil later became the leader of the people who lived there, and married [[Elwing]], daughter of [[Dior]] the son of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]]. They had two sons, [[Elrond]] and [[Elros]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Eärendil the Mariner.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Eärendil the Mariner'']]


Among all the [[Half-elven]] whose Elvish ancestry is documented, Eärendil is the most [[Vanyar]]in of them, being five-sixteenths Vanyarin through his five-eighths Vanyarin mother [[Idril]]. Eärendil's hair color is not documented, so artists have drawn his hair variably as golden or dark.  Of his sons, [[Elros]]'s hair color is also not documented, but [[Elrond]] had dark hair.  [[Elwing]] their mother also had dark hair. Though Elros and Elrond were twins, it is never said whether they were identical twins, leaving the issue of Elros's hair color as uncertain as his father Eärendil's.
With the aid of [[Círdan]] the Shipwright, Eärendil built a ship, ''[[Vingilótë]]'' (or ''Vingilot''), and sailed around the seas west of Middle-earth, leaving his wife behind in Arvernien. At this time Elwing had in her possession the [[Silmaril]] that Beren had wrested from [[Morgoth]]. News of this came to the sons of [[Fëanor]] that were still living, and they attacked the people living in Arvernien, and slew most of them. But Elwing, rather than be captured, threw herself with the Silmaril into the sea. The Silmaril was not lost, however:
{{quote|For [[Ulmo]] bore up Elwing out of the waves, and he gave her the likeness of a great white bird, and upon her breast there shone as a star the Silmaril, as she flew over the water to seek Eärendil her beloved. On a time of night Eärendil at the helm of his ship saw her come towards him, as a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon, as a star over the sea moving in strange courses, a pale flame on wings of storm. And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingilot, in a swoon, nigh unto death for the urgency of her speed, and Eärendil took her to his bosom; but in the morning with marveling eyes he beheld his wife in her own form beside him with her hair upon his face, and she slept.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"|}}


== History ==
Hearing of the tragedy that had befallen in Arvernien, Eärendil then sought after [[Valinor]], and he and Elwing found their way there at last. Eärendil thus became the first of all mortals to set foot in Valinor. Eärendil then went before the [[Valar]], and asked them for aid for Men and Elves in Middle-earth, to fight against Morgoth; and the Valar accepted his plea.
The son of [[Tuor]] and [[Idril]], daughter of King [[Turgon of Gondolin|Turgon]], Eärendil was raised as a child in [[Gondolin]]. When Eärendil was seven years old, he escaped the [[Fall of Gondolin]] on the shoulders of Idril's house-carle [[Hendor]], living afterwards in [[Arvernien]] by the [[Havens of Sirion]]. Eärendil later became the leader of the people who lived there, and married [[Elwing]], daughter of [[Dior Eluchíl|Dior]] the son of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien Tinúviel|Lúthien]]. They had two sons, [[Elrond]] and [[Elros]].
[[File:Jef Murray - Earendil.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Earendil'']]
[[Image:Ted_Nasmith_-_Earendil_the_Mariner.jpg|left|thumb|200px|''Eärendil the Mariner'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Because Eärendil had undertaken this errand on behalf of Men and Elves, and not for his own sake, [[Manwë]] forbore to deal out the punishment of death that was due; and because both Eärendil and Elwing were descended from a union of Elves and Men, Manwë granted to them and their sons the gift to choose to which race they would be joined (a gift that was further passed to the children of Elrond, who became known as the [[Half-elven]]). Elwing chose to be one of the Elves. Eärendil would have rather been one of the Men; however, for the sake of his wife, he chose to be one of the Elves.


With the aid of [[Círdan]] the Shipwright, Eärendil built a ship, ''[[Vingilótë]]'' (or ''Vingilot''), and sailed around the seas west of Middle-earth, leaving his wife behind in Arvernien. At this time Elwing had in her possession the Silmaril that Beren had wrested from [[Morgoth]]. News of this came to the sons of [[Fëanor]] that were still living, and they attacked the people living in Arvernien, and slew most of them. But Elwing, rather than be captured, threw herself with the Silmaril into the sea. The Silmaril was not lost, however:
{{quote|But when all was spoken, Manwë gave judgement, and he said: 'In this matter the power of doom is given to me. The peril that he ventured for love of the Two Kindreds shall not fall upon Eärendil, nor shall it fall upon Elwing his wife, who entered into peril for love of him; but they shall not walk again ever among Elves or Men in the Outer Lands. And this is my decree concerning them: to Eärendil and to Elwing, and to their sons, shall be given leave each to choose freely to which kindred their fates shall be joined, and under which kindred they shall be judged.'.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"|}}
{{quote|For [[Ulmo]] bore up Elwing out of the waves, and he gave her the likeness of a great white bird, and upon her breast there shone as a star the Silmaril, as she flew over the water to seek Eärendil her beloved. On a time of night Eärendil at the helm of his ship saw her come towards him, as a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon, as a star over the sea moving in strange courses, a pale flame on wings of storm. And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingilot, in a swoon, nigh unto death for the urgency of her speed, and Eärendil took her to his bosom; but in the morning with marveling eyes he beheld his wife in her own form beside him with her hair upon his face, and she slept.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of the Voyage of Eärendil"|}}


Hearing of the tragedy that had befallen in Arvernien, Eärendil then sought after [[Valinor]], and he and Elwing found their way there at last. Eärendil thus became the first of all mortals to set foot in Valinor. Eärendil then went before the [[Valar]], and asked them for aid for Men and Elves in Middle-earth, to fight against Morgoth; and the Valar accepted his plea.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Eärendil and the Battle of Eagles and Dragons.jpg|thumb|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Eärendil and the Battle of Eagles and Dragons'']]
{{quote|Because Eärendil had undertaken this errand on behalf of Men and Elves, and not for his own sake, [[Manwë]] forbore to deal out the punishment of death that was due; and because both Eärendil and Elwing were descended from a union of Elves and Men, Manwë granted to them and their sons the gift to choose to which race they would be joined (a gift that was further passed to the children of Elrond, who became known as the [[Half-elven]]). Elwing chose to be one of the Elves. Eärendil would have rather been one of the Men; however, for the sake of his wife, he chose to be one of the Elves."<br><br>"Now when first Vingilot was set to sail in the seas of heaven, it rose unlooked for, glittering and bright; and the people of Middle-earth beheld it from afar and wondered, and they took it for a sign, and called it Gil-Estel, the Star of High Hope.|''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}
The Valar, having listened to Eärendil's plea, went with a mighty host to Middle-earth, and overthrew Morgoth, and bound him. Eärendil took part in the battle, his ship Vingilótë was blessed by the Valar, and filled with a shining white flame and sent to the skies. He sailed at its helm with the Silmaril bound upon his brow. Alongside [[Thorondor]] and the [[Eagles]], Eärendil the Mariner slew the great dragon [[Ancalagon]] and cast it down onto [[Thangorodrim]], the event which, along with the sheer devastation caused by the [[War of Wrath]], led to the Ruin of [[Beleriand]].


The Valar, having listened to Eärendil's plea, went with a mighty host to Middle-earth, and overthrew Morgoth, and bound him. Eärendil took part in the battle, riding on Vingilot beside [[Thorondor]] and the Eagles. It was his blow that slew the great dragon [[Ancalagon]] and cast it down onto [[Thangorodrim]], the event which, along with the sheer devastation caused by the [[War of Wrath]], led to the Ruin of [[Beleriand]].
Eärendil lived on in Valinor and the gleaming of the Silmaril upon his brow could still be seen in the skies of the distant West as the bright Evening Star.<ref name="S24">{{S|24}}</ref> Those who remained in Middle-earth called it '''Gil-Estel''' ([[Sindarin|S]] "Star of High Hope").


== Genealogy ==
== Genealogy ==
 
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<br>
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | MIR |~|y|~| FIN |~|~|~|~|y|~|~|~| IND | | | | | | | | | | |FIN=[[Finwë]]|IND=[[Indis]]|MIR=[[Míriel Serindë|Míriel]]}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| MAR | | HAL | | BEO | | NOL |V| VAN | | | |MAR=[[Marach]]<br/><small>''[[House of Hador]]''</small>|HAL=[[Haldad]]<br/><small>''[[House of Haleth]]''</small>|BEO=[[Bëor]]<br/><small>''[[House of Bëor]]''</small>|NOL=[[Finwë]]<br/><small>''[[Noldor]]''</small>|VAN=[[Indis]]<br/><small>''[[Vanyar]]''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | |!| | | |,|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| |L|~|V|~|J| | | |:| | | | | |:| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | FEA | | FDS | |!| | | IRM | | FIR | |FIN='''FINGOLFIN'''|FIR=[[Finarfin]]|FEA=[[Fëanor]]|FDS=[[Findis]]|IRM=[[Irimë]]}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | HUO |~|y|~| RIA | | | | TUR |y| ELE | |HUO=[[Huor]]<br/><small>''{{FA|444}} - [[First Age 472|472]]''</small>|RIA=[[Rían]]<br/><small>''{{FA|450}} - [[First Age 472|472]]''</small>|TUR=[[Turgon]]<br/><small>''born during [[Years of the Trees|YOTT]]''</small>|ELE=[[Elenwë]]<br/><small>''born during [[Years of the Trees|YOTT]]''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|'| | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | FNG |~|y|~| ANA | | | | | | | | | | |FNG=[[Fingolfin]]|ANA=[[Anairë]]}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | | | | TUO |~|~|~|y|~|~|~|~| IDR | | | |TUO=[[Tuor]]<br/><small>''born {{FA|472}}''</small>|IDR=[[Idril|Idril Celebrindal]]<br/><small>''born during [[Years of the Trees|YOTT]]''</small>}}
{{familytree| | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | FIN | | ELE |y| TUR | | ARE |y| EOL | | ARG |FIN=[[Fingon]]|ARE=[[Aredhel]]|TUR=[[Turgon]]|ELE=[[Elenwë]]|EOL=[[Eöl]]|ARG=[[Argon]]}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | | | | | | | | | EAR |y| ELW | | | | | |ELW=[[Elwing]]<br/><small>''born {{FA|503}}''</small>|EAR='''EÄRENDIL'''<br/><small>''born {{FA|503}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | TUO |y| IDR | | | | | | MAE | | | | | | |MAE=[[Maeglin]]|IDR=[[Idril]]|TUO=[[Tuor]]}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | | | | | | | | | ROS | | RON | | | | | |ROS=[[Elros]]<br/><small>''{{FA|532}} - {{SA|442}}''</small>|RON=[[Elrond]]<br/><small>''born {{FA|532}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | |:| | | |!| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | EAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |EAR='''EÄRENDIL'''}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | | | | | | | | | KON | | |!| | | | | | |KON=<small>''[[Kings of Númenor]]''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | |:| | | |!| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree|boxstyle=white-space:;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | | | | | | | | | ARA |~| ARW | | | | | |ARA=[[Aragorn]]<br/><small>''{{TA|2931}} - {{FoA|120}}''<small>|ARW=[[Arwen]]<br/><small>''{{TA|241}} - {{FoA|121}}''</small>}}
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<br>
<br>


== Names and Etymology ==
== Names and Etymology ==
 
{{Pronounce|Earendil.mp3|Ardamir}}
Eärendil was known by many epithets: Eärendil Halfelven<ref>{{S|23}}</ref>, Eärendil [[the Blessed]]<ref>{{S|17}}</ref><ref>{{S|IV}}</ref>, Bright Eärendil<ref>{{S|24}}</ref><ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>, and Eärendil the Mariner<ref>{{S|24}}</ref><ref>{{S|V}}</ref>.  
Eärendil was known by many epithets: Eärendil Halfelven<ref>{{S|23}}</ref>, Eärendil [[the Blessed]]<ref>{{S|17}}</ref><ref>{{S|IV}}</ref>, Bright Eärendil<ref name="S24"/><ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>, and Eärendil the Mariner<ref name="S24"/><ref>{{S|V}}</ref>.  


''Eärendil'' was his given [[father-name]]. His [[mother-name]] was ''[[Ardamir Eärendil|Ardamírë]]''. ''Eärendil'' is a [[Quenya]] name, meaning "Devoted to the Sea", literaly "Sea lover" (''[[eär]]'' + ''[[-ndil]]'').<ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref><ref>{{PM|XI}}: ''The names of Finwë's descendants''</ref>
''Eärendil'' was his given [[father-name]]. His [[mother-name]] was ''[[Ardamir Eärendil|Ardamírë]]''. ''Eärendil'' is a [[Quenya]] name, meaning "Devoted to the Sea", literaly "Sea lover" (''[[eär]]'' + ''[[-ndil]]'').<ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref><ref>{{PM|XI}}: ''The names of Finwë's descendants''</ref>


Although these Quenya names were not given [[Sindarin]] forms in the [[legendarium]], experimental forms affected by Sindarin, such as ''Aerendil'' and ''Aerennel'', were used by Tolkien in certain manuscripts.<ref>{{PM|XI}}: Note 52</ref>
Although these Quenya names were not given [[Sindarin]] forms in the [[legendarium]], experimental [[Sindarization|Sindarized]] forms, such as ''Aerendil'' and ''Aerennel'', were used by Tolkien in certain manuscripts.<ref>{{PM|XI}}: Note 52</ref>


Eärendil was translated as [[Azrubêl]] in [[Adûnaic]].
Eärendil was translated as [[Azrubêl]] in [[Adûnaic]].
Line 81: Line 87:
While ''Eärendil'' is a [[Quenya]] name inside the [[legendarium]], Tolkien created the name based on [[Old English]] literature. Tolkien himself stated that the name was derived from the [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] ''éarendel''.<ref>{{L|297}}</ref> He says that he was struck by the "great beauty" of the name as early as 1913, which he perceived as "entirely coherent with the normal style of A-S, but euphonic to a peculiar degree in that pleasing but not 'delectable' language."
While ''Eärendil'' is a [[Quenya]] name inside the [[legendarium]], Tolkien created the name based on [[Old English]] literature. Tolkien himself stated that the name was derived from the [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] ''éarendel''.<ref>{{L|297}}</ref> He says that he was struck by the "great beauty" of the name as early as 1913, which he perceived as "entirely coherent with the normal style of A-S, but euphonic to a peculiar degree in that pleasing but not 'delectable' language."


There is a poem by Tolkien dated to 1914 entitled ''The Voyage of Eärendel the Evening Star''.<ref>{{LT2|V}} (pp. 267–9)</ref> Tolkien was also aware of the name's Germanic cognates (Old Norse ''Aurvandill'', Lombardic ''Auriwandalo''), and the question why the Anglo-Saxon one rather than the Lombardic or Proto-Germanic form should be taken up in the mythology is alluded to in ''[[The Notion Club Papers]]''.<ref>{{SD|Notion}}</ref> The Old Norse together with the Anglo-Saxon evidence point to an astronomical myth, the name referring to a star, or a group of stars, and the Anglo-Saxon in particular points to the Morning Star as the herald of the rising Sun (in ''Crist'' christianized to refer to John the Baptist).
There is a poem by Tolkien dated to 1914 entitled ''The Voyage of Eärendel the Evening Star''.<ref>{{LT2|V}}, pp. 267–9</ref> Tolkien was also aware of the name's Germanic cognates (Old Norse ''Aurvandill'', Lombardic ''Auriwandalo''), and the question why the Anglo-Saxon one rather than the Lombardic or Proto-Germanic form should be taken up in the mythology is alluded to in ''[[The Notion Club Papers]]''.<ref>{{SD|Notion}}</ref> The Old Norse together with the Anglo-Saxon evidence point to an astronomical myth, the name referring to a star, or a group of stars, and the Anglo-Saxon in particular points to the Morning Star as the herald of the rising Sun (in ''Crist'' christianized to refer to John the Baptist).


Tolkien was particularly inspired by the lines in ''Crist'':
Tolkien was particularly inspired by the lines in ''[[Wikipedia:Christ I|Christ]]'':


<blockquote>''éala éarendel engla beorhtast / ofer middangeard monnum sended''<br>
<blockquote>''éala éarendel engla beorhtast / ofer middangeard monnum sended''<br>
Line 90: Line 96:
which can be taken as the inspiration not only for the role of Eärendil in Tolkien's work, but also for the term [[Middle-earth]] (translating ''Middangeard'') for the inhabitable lands.
which can be taken as the inspiration not only for the role of Eärendil in Tolkien's work, but also for the term [[Middle-earth]] (translating ''Middangeard'') for the inhabitable lands.


The first line is paralleled by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]'s exclamation in [[Cirith Ungol]], ''"Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!"'' which is in [[Quenya]] and translates as "Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!" Frodo's exclamation was in reference to the "[[Phial of Galadriel|Star-glass]]" he carried, which contained the light of Eärendil's star, the [[Silmaril]].
The first line is paralleled by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]'s exclamation in [[Cirith Ungol]], ''"[[Aiya]] Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!"'' which is in [[Quenya]] and translates as "Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!" Frodo's exclamation was in reference to the "[[Phial of Galadriel|Star-glass]]" he carried, which contained the light of Eärendil's star, the [[Silmaril]].


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Eärendil|Images of Eärendil]]
* [[:Category:Images of Eärendil|Images of Eärendil]]
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Gondolindrim]]
[[Category:Half-elven]]
[[Category:Half-elven]]
[[Category:House of Bëor]]
[[Category:House of Bëor]]

Revision as of 09:10, 1 November 2014

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name Eärendil refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Eärendil (disambiguation).
Eärendil
Half-elf
Jenny Dolfen - Earendil the Mariner.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesAzrubêl (A), Ardamírë (Q mn), The Mariner, The Blessed, Bright, Halfelven
LocationGondolin, Havens of Sirion
Birthc. F.A. 503
Gondolin
Family
HouseHouse of Hador, House of Fingolfin
HeritageMan father, Elf mother
ParentageTuor and Idril
SpouseElwing
ChildrenElros and Elrond
Physical Description
GenderMale
SteedVingilótë (ship)
GalleryImages of Eärendil
"Eärendil was a mariner
that tarried in Arvernien
he built a boat of timber felled
in Nimbrethil to journey in...
"
Eärendil by Bilbo Baggins

Eärendil the Mariner (Q "sea-friend", pron. [ˌe.aˈrendil]) was one of the Peredhil (S "Half-elven"), and an important figure in the legends of the Elder Days. Descended from all the Three Houses of the Edain, he was the first known person to reach Aman in the First Age. He was crucial in the War of Wrath and the patriarch of the line of the Kings of Númenor through his youngest son.

History

The son of Tuor and Idril, daughter of King Turgon, Eärendil was raised as a child in Gondolin. Eärendil was seven years old when Gondolin fell, and narrowly escaped death at the hands of his kinsman Maeglin during the battle. He was borne out on the shoulders of Idril's house-carle Hendor, and lived afterwards in Arvernien by the Havens of Sirion. Eärendil later became the leader of the people who lived there, and married Elwing, daughter of Dior the son of Beren and Lúthien. They had two sons, Elrond and Elros.

Ted Nasmith - Eärendil the Mariner

With the aid of Círdan the Shipwright, Eärendil built a ship, Vingilótë (or Vingilot), and sailed around the seas west of Middle-earth, leaving his wife behind in Arvernien. At this time Elwing had in her possession the Silmaril that Beren had wrested from Morgoth. News of this came to the sons of Fëanor that were still living, and they attacked the people living in Arvernien, and slew most of them. But Elwing, rather than be captured, threw herself with the Silmaril into the sea. The Silmaril was not lost, however:

"For Ulmo bore up Elwing out of the waves, and he gave her the likeness of a great white bird, and upon her breast there shone as a star the Silmaril, as she flew over the water to seek Eärendil her beloved. On a time of night Eärendil at the helm of his ship saw her come towards him, as a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon, as a star over the sea moving in strange courses, a pale flame on wings of storm. And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingilot, in a swoon, nigh unto death for the urgency of her speed, and Eärendil took her to his bosom; but in the morning with marveling eyes he beheld his wife in her own form beside him with her hair upon his face, and she slept."
The Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"

Hearing of the tragedy that had befallen in Arvernien, Eärendil then sought after Valinor, and he and Elwing found their way there at last. Eärendil thus became the first of all mortals to set foot in Valinor. Eärendil then went before the Valar, and asked them for aid for Men and Elves in Middle-earth, to fight against Morgoth; and the Valar accepted his plea.

Jef Murray - Earendil

Because Eärendil had undertaken this errand on behalf of Men and Elves, and not for his own sake, Manwë forbore to deal out the punishment of death that was due; and because both Eärendil and Elwing were descended from a union of Elves and Men, Manwë granted to them and their sons the gift to choose to which race they would be joined (a gift that was further passed to the children of Elrond, who became known as the Half-elven). Elwing chose to be one of the Elves. Eärendil would have rather been one of the Men; however, for the sake of his wife, he chose to be one of the Elves.

"But when all was spoken, Manwë gave judgement, and he said: 'In this matter the power of doom is given to me. The peril that he ventured for love of the Two Kindreds shall not fall upon Eärendil, nor shall it fall upon Elwing his wife, who entered into peril for love of him; but they shall not walk again ever among Elves or Men in the Outer Lands. And this is my decree concerning them: to Eärendil and to Elwing, and to their sons, shall be given leave each to choose freely to which kindred their fates shall be joined, and under which kindred they shall be judged.'."
The Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
Ted Nasmith - Eärendil and the Battle of Eagles and Dragons

The Valar, having listened to Eärendil's plea, went with a mighty host to Middle-earth, and overthrew Morgoth, and bound him. Eärendil took part in the battle, his ship Vingilótë was blessed by the Valar, and filled with a shining white flame and sent to the skies. He sailed at its helm with the Silmaril bound upon his brow. Alongside Thorondor and the Eagles, Eärendil the Mariner slew the great dragon Ancalagon and cast it down onto Thangorodrim, the event which, along with the sheer devastation caused by the War of Wrath, led to the Ruin of Beleriand.

Eärendil lived on in Valinor and the gleaming of the Silmaril upon his brow could still be seen in the skies of the distant West as the bright Evening Star.[1] Those who remained in Middle-earth called it Gil-Estel (S "Star of High Hope").

Genealogy

Marach
House of Hador
 
Haldad
House of Haleth
 
Bëor
House of Bëor
 
Finwë
Noldor
 
Indis
Vanyar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Huor
F.A. 444 - 472
 
 
 
Rían
F.A. 450 - 472
 
 
 
Turgon
born during YOTT
 
Elenwë
born during YOTT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
born F.A. 472
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Idril Celebrindal
born during YOTT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EÄRENDIL
born F.A. 503
 
Elwing
born F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
 
Elrond
born F.A. 532
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Númenor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aragorn
T.A. 2931 - Fo.A. 120
 
Arwen
T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121
 
 
 
 
 
 


Names and Etymology

Eärendil was known by many epithets: Eärendil Halfelven[2], Eärendil the Blessed[3][4], Bright Eärendil[1][5], and Eärendil the Mariner[1][6].

Eärendil was his given father-name. His mother-name was Ardamírë. Eärendil is a Quenya name, meaning "Devoted to the Sea", literaly "Sea lover" (eär + -ndil).[7][8]

Although these Quenya names were not given Sindarin forms in the legendarium, experimental Sindarized forms, such as Aerendil and Aerennel, were used by Tolkien in certain manuscripts.[9]

Eärendil was translated as Azrubêl in Adûnaic.

Inspiration

One of the two Heraldic Devices Tolkien designed for the House of Eärendil

While Eärendil is a Quenya name inside the legendarium, Tolkien created the name based on Old English literature. Tolkien himself stated that the name was derived from the Anglo-Saxon éarendel.[10] He says that he was struck by the "great beauty" of the name as early as 1913, which he perceived as "entirely coherent with the normal style of A-S, but euphonic to a peculiar degree in that pleasing but not 'delectable' language."

There is a poem by Tolkien dated to 1914 entitled The Voyage of Eärendel the Evening Star.[11] Tolkien was also aware of the name's Germanic cognates (Old Norse Aurvandill, Lombardic Auriwandalo), and the question why the Anglo-Saxon one rather than the Lombardic or Proto-Germanic form should be taken up in the mythology is alluded to in The Notion Club Papers.[12] The Old Norse together with the Anglo-Saxon evidence point to an astronomical myth, the name referring to a star, or a group of stars, and the Anglo-Saxon in particular points to the Morning Star as the herald of the rising Sun (in Crist christianized to refer to John the Baptist).

Tolkien was particularly inspired by the lines in Christ:

éala éarendel engla beorhtast / ofer middangeard monnum sended
"Hail Earendel, brightest of angels / sent over Middle-earth to men."

which can be taken as the inspiration not only for the role of Eärendil in Tolkien's work, but also for the term Middle-earth (translating Middangeard) for the inhabitable lands.

The first line is paralleled by Frodo's exclamation in Cirith Ungol, "Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!" which is in Quenya and translates as "Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!" Frodo's exclamation was in reference to the "Star-glass" he carried, which contained the light of Eärendil's star, the Silmaril.

See Also

References