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The '''Moriquendi''' (the '''Elves of Darkness''', singular ''Moriquende'') are, in essence, the [[Elves]] that did not join the [[Great Journey]] over the sea and behold the light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor]]. They lingered on the shores of Middle-earth or never passed the Blue Mountains and remained in the [[East]]. Those Moriquendi who originally started on the journey but for some reason did not finish it are known as the '''''[[Úmanyar]]''''' ("Those not of [[Aman]]").
{{quote|Those Elves the [[Calaquendi]] call the Úmanyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the Úmanyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon.|''[[The Silmarillion]]''<ref>{{S|3}}</ref>}}


It is a term for [[Avari]], [[Sindar]], and [[Nandor]], but in practice is only applied to the Avari. An exception to the hierarchy of Elvish peoples is King [[Thingol]], who, though he did not complete the journey, had earlier been to Valinor. Thingol was therefore considered Úmanya but not Moriquende.
The '''Moriquendi''' (singular ''Moriquende'') were the '''Elves of Darkness''', who did not behold the Light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor]].  
{{quote|Those Elves the [[Calaquendi]] call the Úmanyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the Úmanyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"}}


The population of the Dark Elves in Middle-earth was in the proportion of 82 to 62, outnumbering the population of the [[Amanyar]]<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}</ref>
The term usually referred to the [[Avari]], the [[Elves]] that did not join the [[Great Journey]] over the sea and remained in the [[East]] or passed the [[Blue Mountains]] and lingered on the shores of Middle-earth. However the term included also the [[Úmanyar]] ("Those not of [[Aman]]"), the [[Eldar]] who originally started on the journey but for some reason did not finish it. Those were typically [[Sindar]] and [[Nandor]].
 
An exception to this categorization was King [[Thingol]], who had been in [[Valinor]] as an ambassador of the Elves, and saw the Light. Though he did not complete the journey, and therefore considered one of the ''Úmanyar'', he was not a Dark Elf.
 
The population of the Dark Elves in Middle-earth was in the proportion of 82 to 62, outnumbering the population of the [[Amanyar]].<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}</ref><ref group=note>In other words, the Dark Elves consisted of the 57% of the Elven population</ref>


The term "'''Dark Elf'''" seems to hold an additional special (not explained) meaning, as it is given as a special title of [[Eöl]] of [[Nan Elmoth]]. It is also used as an insult by the [[Sons of Fëanor]] to King Thingol (which is incorrect, since Thingol alone of the Sindar was reckoned under the Calaquendi).
The term "'''Dark Elf'''" seems to hold an additional special (not explained) meaning, as it is given as a special title of [[Eöl]] of [[Nan Elmoth]]. It is also used as an insult by the [[Sons of Fëanor]] to King Thingol (which is incorrect, since Thingol alone of the Sindar was reckoned under the Calaquendi).


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==


In Norse mythology, there are the [[Light-elves|Light Elves]] (''[[Wikipedia:Light elves|Ljósálfar]]'') and the Dark Elves (''Dökkálfar'' or ''[[Wikipedia:Svartálfar|Svartálfar]]''), a tradition which was well known to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].<ref>{{HM|SG}}, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 359</ref>
In Norse mythology, there are the [[Light-elves|Light Elves]] (''[[Wikipedia:Light elves|Ljósálfar]]'') and the Dark Elves (''Dökkálfar'' or ''[[Wikipedia:Svartálfar|Svartálfar]]''), a tradition which was well known to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].<ref>{{HM|SG}}, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 359</ref>
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{{elves}}
{{elves}}

Revision as of 11:31, 28 March 2015

"Those Elves the Calaquendi call the Úmanyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the Úmanyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon."
The Silmarillion[1]

The Moriquendi (singular Moriquende) were the Elves of Darkness, who did not behold the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor.

The term usually referred to the Avari, the Elves that did not join the Great Journey over the sea and remained in the East or passed the Blue Mountains and lingered on the shores of Middle-earth. However the term included also the Úmanyar ("Those not of Aman"), the Eldar who originally started on the journey but for some reason did not finish it. Those were typically Sindar and Nandor.

An exception to this categorization was King Thingol, who had been in Valinor as an ambassador of the Elves, and saw the Light. Though he did not complete the journey, and therefore considered one of the Úmanyar, he was not a Dark Elf.

The population of the Dark Elves in Middle-earth was in the proportion of 82 to 62, outnumbering the population of the Amanyar.[2][note 1]

The term "Dark Elf" seems to hold an additional special (not explained) meaning, as it is given as a special title of Eöl of Nan Elmoth. It is also used as an insult by the Sons of Fëanor to King Thingol (which is incorrect, since Thingol alone of the Sindar was reckoned under the Calaquendi).

Inspiration

In Norse mythology, there are the Light Elves (Ljósálfar) and the Dark Elves (Dökkálfar or Svartálfar), a tradition which was well known to J.R.R. Tolkien.[3]

Notes

  1. In other words, the Dark Elves consisted of the 57% of the Elven population

References

Elves
(Quendi · People of the Stars · Firstborn · Elder Kindred)
Three Kindreds:
(Eldar · Eldalië · Edhil)
 Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) · Noldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) · Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar)
Calaquendi:
(High-elves · Amanyar)
 Vanyar · Noldor · Falmari
Úmanyar:  Sindar (Grey-elves · Eglath · Falathrim) · Nandor (Green-elves · Silvan Elves)
 Moriquendi:  Úmanyar · Avari (Cuind · Hwenti · Kindi · Kinn-lai · Penni · Windan)
See also:  Awakening of the Elves · Sundering of the Elves · Great Journey