Telain

From Tolkien Gateway
(Redirected from Flets)
Soni Alcorn-Hender - Lórien Flets

Telain (Sindarin, plural of Talan[1]), known in Westron as flets, were platforms built in the trees by the Galadhrim Elves of Lothlórien.

History[edit | edit source]

Telain were built high up Mallorn trees, created in the space where the trunk of the tree divided into many branches; they lacked walls, or even rails, but portable screens were put to keep out the wind; they were only accessible via a lowered hithlain rope-ladder. They were mainly used as guard-posts and watch-towers around the edges of Lothlórien.[2]

In Caras Galadhon, however, telain were more common and served more of a ceremonial function: it was on a house built on a talan that the Fellowship met with Galadriel and Celeborn.[3]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Flet is an archaic English word referring to the floor of a house or a flat.

The Sindarin word talan or tâl ("flat space, platform"; pl. telain) is a descendant form of Common Eldarin talam-. The Quenya form is talma or talan, pl. talami.[4]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Telain were retained in the film, although there were no moveable plaited screens or rope-ladders visible. In The Lord of the Rings the meeting with Galadriel and Celeborn took place inside a large hall built on a talan,[3] whereas in the film it took place on an open talan.

References