Míriel
| Míriel | |
|---|---|
| Noldo | |
| File:Lady Elleth - Carrying Fire.jpg | |
| "Carrying Fire" by Lady Elleth | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Þerindë (Q, "Broideress") |
| Titles | Queen of the Noldor |
| Location | Tirion |
| Language | Quenya |
| Death | Y.T. 1170 Gardens of Lórien (Returned to life after Y.T. 1495) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Finwë (by marriage) |
| Spouse | Finwë |
| Children | Fëanor |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Hair color | Silver[1] |
| Eye color | Dark[1] |
| Gallery | Images of Míriel |
- "Míriel was the name of his mother, who was called Serindë, because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework; for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor."
- ― The Silmarillion, Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor
Míriel Þerindë (Q, pron. [ˈmiːri.el θeˈrinde]), also spelled Serindë (pron. seˈrinde]), was the first wife of Finwë, King of the Noldor. Her son was Curufinwë, whom she called Fëanáro, which means "Spirit of Fire". Míriel's hair was described as being silver in appearance, an unusual colour for one of the Noldor.
History
Míriel lived in the blessed realm of Aman, in the hill city of Tirion on Túna, together with her husband Finwë King of the Noldor. Her hands were skilled in the shaping of fine things, and she was unsurpassed in weaving and needlework.
There was much love between Míriel and Finwë, and even more for her son, but after giving birth to Fëanor in Y.T. 1169[2], her body and her spirit were consumed and she wished to be released from life everlasting, saying that there was no strength left in her to bear another child, and after Fëanor grew to manhood[3], she departed to the gardens of Lórien, to rest and regain her strength and vigour. But during her rest, her fëa departed from her body, and entered the Halls of Mandos leaving her body laying lifeless and still in Y.T. 1170[2]. Maidens of Estë took care of her body while her spirit remained in the Halls Of Mandos, so that it would not wither. In essence, she had died of free will. This was seen as a shocking event by the Valar and the Eldar which had never before occurred. Manwë allowed Finwë to take another wife given these exceptional circumstances.[4]
After the death of Finwë, Míriel was granted permission to return to life, where she entered the service of Vairë, her task being to record all the deeds of the House of Finwë.[5]
Etymology
The name Míriel means "Jewel-daughter" in Quenya, from mír ("jewel") and -iel ("daughter"). Her epessë Þerindë, or Serindë in the Quenya of Tirion, means "the Broideress", referring to her great skill in embroidery for 'her chief talent was a marvelous dexterity of hand'[3] which she applied to her skill of embroidery, 'achieving in what even the Eldar thought haste' embroidery that 'was finer and more intricate than any that had before been seen'[3]. It was her Mother Name[3]. It is to be noted that she preferred and requested her kin use the older pronunciation of Þerindë be used, and that her son upheld the use of Þ over s out of respect and in her memory[3].
Genealogy
| Sarmo b. Y.T. | MÍRIEL d. Y.T. 1170 | Finwë d. Y.T. 1495 | Indis b. Y.T. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nerdanel b. Y.T. | Fëanor Y.T. 1169 - 1497 | Findis b. Y.T. | Fingolfin Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456 | Lalwen b. Y.T. | Finarfin b. Y.T. 1230 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maedros d. F.A. 587 | Maglor b. Y.T. | Celegorm d. F.A. 507 | Curufin d. F.A. 507 | Caranthir d. F.A. 507 | Amros d. F.A. 538 | Amarthan d. Y.T. 1497 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Celebrimbor d. S.A. 1697 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 6. Of the Silmarils and the Darkening of Valinor", p. 185
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: The Earliest Version of the Story of Finwë and Míriel", p. 205
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: The Earliest Version of the Story of Finwë and Míriel", p. 207
