Idril

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Idril
Noldo
Anna Lee - Idril.jpg
"Idril" by Anna Lee
Biographical Information
PronunciationS, [i'dril kelebri'ndal]
Other namesItarillë (Q, fn),
Celebrindal (S, epessë)
TitlesPrincess of Gondolin, Lady of Havens of Sirion, the Far-Sighted
LocationEldamar
Vinyamar
Gondolin
Havens of Sirion
LanguageQuenya
Sindarin
Possibly Vanyarin
BirthY.T. 1479[1]
Eldamar
Sailed westF.A. 525 (aged c. 726[note 1])
Mouths of Sirion, Beleriand
Notable forBuilding of the secret way
Family
HouseHouse of Fingolfin
ParentageTurgon & Elenwë
SpouseTuor
ChildrenEärendil
Physical Description
GenderFemale
HeightTall as a warrior's stature
Hair colorGolden as Laurelin before the coming of Melkor
ClothingElessar, Barefoot and Bareheaded
SteedEärrámë (ship)
GalleryImages of Idril
"But fairer than all the wonders of Gondolin was Idril, Turgon's daughter, she that was called Celebrindal, the Silver-foot, whose hair was as the gold of Laurelin before the coming of Melkor."
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Noldor in Beleriand"

Idril Celebrindal was the daughter of King Turgon of Gondolin, the wife of Tuor and the mother of Eärendil the Mariner.

Of the Noldor who returned to Middle-earth documented to have Vanyarin ancestry, Idril has the most, being five-eighths Vanyarin by ancestry. Her Vanyarin mother Elenwë died during the crossing at Helcaraxë, and so did not step foot in Middle-earth.

History[edit | edit source]

Idril Celebrindal was the only child of Turgon. She participated in the Flight of the Noldor, and had to cross the Helcaraxë with the host of Fingolfin. She and her mother Elenwë fell into the bitter waters, and Turgon risked his life to save them. But he only could save Idril, and her mother was covered in fallen ice.[2]

Grinding Ice by Marya Filatova

Together with Orodreth and Celebrimbor, she was one of the three Noldor in the third generation to come into exile. She lived in Vinyamar in the first years after the Flight, but later she moved with her people to the Hidden City of Gondolin between F.A. 64 and 116.[3] In the city, the smithcraft Enerdhil made the famous gem Elessar, and he gave it to Idril, who wore it upon her breast.[4]

Maeglin, the son of Aredhel, Turgon's sister, became interested on Idril even before coming to the city, and when he saw her for the first time "she seemed to him as the sun from which all the King's hall drew its light." She was the only one who could pierce into his mind, and knowing his thought of her she loved him the less, as they were too closely related.[5]

When Tuor son of Huor was received in Gondolin, Idril sat on the left of her father. And while living there, the heart of Idril was turned to Tuor, and his to her. Because Turgon had grown to love Tuor as a son (as he had his father before), and remembering the last words of Huor, he allowed Idril and Tuor to wed, thus bringing about the second union of Elves and Men, after Beren and Lúthien.[6] From them Eärendil Half-elven was born, and she gave him the mother-name Ardamírë, that foretold his destiny.[7]

Years later, Morgoth had increased his efforts to find the city, "but Idril Celebrindal was wise and farseeing, and her heart misgave her, and foreboding crept upon her spirit as a cloud." Therefore, Idril let prepare a secret way, and she contrived that this work was not known to Maeglin. Thus, when the Fall of Gondolin began, she and Tuor were able to lead many survivors out of the city and save their lives.[6]

After the fall of Gondolin, Idril and Tuor became leaders of the exiles at the Havens of Sirion, where they also received Elwing, daughter of Dior, son of Beren and Lúthien.

When Tuor grew old, he departed in his ship Eärrámë for the West, and Idril went with him. Before leaving, she gave the Elessar to her son, saying: "The Elessar I leave with thee, for there are grievous hurts to Middle-earth which thou maybe shalt heal."[4] It is believed by the Elves and Dúnedain that Idril and Tuor arrived in Valinor, and it is said that Tuor became reckoned in the kindred of the Elves, so that they both live in Valinor.[6]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The Sindarin name Idril is not glossed, but the form of her Quenya name Itarillë (or Itarildë) means "Sparkling Brilliance".[8]

She was called Celebrindal ("Silver-foot"), because she always went barefoot,[9] from celeb ("silver") + tâl ("foot").[10]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Idril Celebrindal's heraldic device, depicting a menelluin, with 12 points
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Anairë
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingon
Y.T. 1260 - F.A. 472
 
Turgon
Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 510
 
Elenwë
d. Y.T. 1500
 
Aredhel
Y.T. 1362 - F.A. 400
 
Eöl
d. F.A. 400
 
Argon
d. F.A. 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
b. F.A. 472
 
IDRIL
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
Maeglin
F.A. 320 - 510
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. F.A. 503
 
Elwing
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In The Book of Lost Tales, Idril meant "Beloved" in Gnomish, but Elves often called her Idhril, or in Qenya Irildë, which meant "mortal maiden", because she married Tuor.[11] Her after name "Silver Feet" was Tal-Celeb in Gnomish, and Taltelepta in Qenya.[12]

Idril's fate was woven with Tuor's since she first saw him from a high window the day he came to the city. Tuor also loved her in secret for many years until his heart was full, and Turgon did not oppose to their union. This was the first marriage between a Man and an Elf, and it was made in Gar Ainion to the great joy of the Gondothlim, except Meglin.[13]:164

Idril had great skill to see the hearts of Elves and Men, and a special power to foresee the future. Thus, one year after the birth of Eärendel, she told Tuor of a dream she had: Meglin threw their son into a furnace and he wanted to thrust them in too. Therefore, she asked Tuor to begin the building of a secret way.[13]:167-8 Seven years later, Idril became taciturn, and prophesied to Tuor that he would have to make a choice, and that the time was near. Her husband could not understand her, but obeyed her counsels.[13]:170-1

Action-girl Idril by Marya Filatova

When the Fall of Gondolin began, she arrayed herself in mail, and gave Eärendel a tiny mail coat she had ordered in secret.[13]:174 But her house was attacked by the folk of the Mole, and Meglin tried to throw Eärendel from the walls while dragging her by the hair to make her see it. But Eärendel resisted and "she fought, alone as she was, like a tigress for all her beauty and slenderness". Then came Tuor and his folk of the Wing, saving them. Her husband left her there with Voronwë and other men, and went to battle.[13]:177-8

During the siege of the city, Idril was in the door of her house and sent most of her guard down the secret tunnel with Eärendel. But she refused to leave without her lord. Meanwhile, she gathered women and wanderers, showing them the secret tunnel; and her men helped her fighting marauders, but they might not dissuade her from bearing a sword. However, a band of enemies took over the house, and Idril became distraught by grief and fatigue, and running away from the house she arrived to Gar Ainion. There Tuor found her like in the day of their wedding, but she could not recognize him: she was out of her mind, watching the fall of her father. Then Tuor took her and went down the secret tunnel. When the Exiles of Gondolin reached Tumladin, she spoke against those who wanted to march to the Way of Escape, explaining it was no longer protected, "for what magic stands if Gondolin be fallen?"[13]:186-9 After the survivors were saved by the Eagles, Idril and her people wore an eagle as emblem.[13]:193

Tolkien did not finish The Book of Lost Tales, so the end of Idril and Tuor is very different in each outline of their story. Like in the published Silmarillion, in all versions Tuor sails west after falling into age. In the most repeated version, Tuor sails without Idril, who grieves him with Eärendel; later she vanishes (sailing at night).[14]:253-4 In another version, Idril swam after her husband.[14]:260 In a separate note, Tolkien considered her death,[14]:263 but this contradicts the last one he chose, in which "Tuor and Idril some say sail now in Swanwing and may be seen going swift down the wind at down and dusk".[14]:255

Notes

  1. Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Trees is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: X. Difficulties in Chronology", p. 72
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", pp. 343-344
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals", §§88, 113
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "The Elessar", p. 249
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Maeglin"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", p. 348
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entry ril
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Noldor in Beleriand"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", entries celeb, tâl
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II", entry "Idril"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin": "Notes and Commentary", p. 216
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "V. The Tale of Eärendel"