Of Thingol and Melian

From Tolkien Gateway
The Silmarillion chapters
  1. Ainulindalë
  2. Valaquenta
  3. Quenta Silmarillion
    1. Of the Beginning of Days
    2. Of Aulë and Yavanna
    3. Of the Coming of the Elves
    4. Of Thingol and Melian
    5. Of Eldamar
    6. Of Fëanor
    7. Of the Silmarils
    8. Of the Darkening of Valinor
    9. Of the Flight of the Noldor
    10. Of the Sindar
    11. Of the Sun and Moon
    12. Of Men
    13. Of the Return of the Noldor
    14. Of Beleriand and its Realms
    15. Of the Noldor in Beleriand
    16. Of Maeglin
    17. Of the Coming of Men
    18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand
    19. Of Beren and Lúthien
    20. Of the Fifth Battle
    21. Of Túrin Turambar
    22. Of the Ruin of Doriath
    23. Of the Fall of Gondolin
    24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil
  4. Akallabêth
  5. Of the Rings of Power

Of Thingol and Melian is the fourth chapter of the Quenta Silmarillion section within The Silmarillion, and is the shortest of all the book.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

Nan Elmoth - Elwe and Melian by Elena Kukanova

Melian, was a Maia who dwelt in Lórien. She was the most skilfull singer of Valinor, but she used to visit Middle-earth to fill the silence and teach the birds.

During the Great Journey, the Teleri lingered in East Beleriand while the Noldor were further to the west. Elwë, the leader of the Teleri while visiting his friend Finwë of the Noldor, was lost in the forest of Nan Elmoth and saw Melian dancing. When they saw each other, they remained immobile for the following ages in an ecstatic enchantment. His followers could not find him, so his leadership was taken by Olwë.

In the later years, Elwë was known in Sindarin as Elu Thingol. He and Melian became the King and Queen of the Sindar, founding the kingdom of Doriath, the only place in Middle-earth where there was glimpse of the Light of Valinor.

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