Silvan Elves

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Silvan Elves
Race
Rob Alexander - Elven Cloak.jpg
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
DistinctionsSecretive, lovers of the forests and animals
GalleryImages of Silvan Elves

Silvan Elves (S Tawarwaith), or Wood-elves, was a name used to refer to the reclusive, forest-dwelling Elves of Middle-earth. In the late Third Age, the Silvan Elves mostly belonged either to the Galadhrim or to the Elves of Mirkwood.[1]

History

The Silvan Elves were descendants of the Nandor (and thus in origin Teleri), who had lingered in the Anduin Vales during the Great Journey of the Eldar in the Elder Days. While some of the Nandor continued to Eriador and later entered Ossiriand, some remained in the Vales of Anduin, and from these latter originated the Wood-elves.[1]

In the early Second Age, after the War of Wrath, many of the Sindar and some Noldor (who had dwelt in Beleriand west of the Blue Mountains) sought new dwellings in more eastern lands and were welcomed by the Wood-elves. It is said that some (for example Oropher and Thranduil) established forest-realms, and ruled over the Silvan Elves.[2]

It also told that the some of the western Avari, dwelling in Eriador and the Anduin Vales, were friendly to the Eldar, and came to merge with the Wood-elves. These were Nelyarin Avari (Penni), from the third Clan (and therefore remotely akin to the Nandor and Sindar).[3][note 1]

In the early Third Age, the Silvan Elves of Lórien experienced an influx of Noldor (and Sindar) who had survived the fall of Eregion.[1]

Etymology

The English adjective silvan means "of, characteristic of, or consisting of woods or forests" or "living or located in woods or forests".[4]

Names

An Elvish name for the Silvan Elves was Tawarwaith. It has been suggested that Tawarwaith is a Sindarin name, consisting of tawar + gwaith.[5][6]

Notes

  1. It is not known if this merge occurred during the Elder Days, or during the Second or Third Ages.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix A: The Silvan Elves and their Speech"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: C. The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", pp. 381, 410
  4. "silvan" at Dictionary.reference.com (Collins English Dictionary; accessed 17 July 2011)
  5. Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth at Tolkiendil.com (accessed 17 July 2011)
  6. Didier Willis, Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary at Jrrvf.com (accessed 17 July 2011)