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Polls that make you put on nightfall in middle earth to listen to for the thousandth time
#but it has been a hot minute#just an album of all time every song is a banger the emotions are immaculate the depth of the lore from the silm like#that is the sound of the silm to me#I mean summoning is also the sound of the silm to me but like that’s more atmospheric this is character emotions
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Nelyafinwe & Kanafinwe
Kinslayers
#i dont think he likes being called nelyafinwe and i started with having written russandol but it sounds better with nelya besides kana#this is probably in himring or at a winter in amon ereb#mag is just lifting his foot slightly hes not standing on timos foot although it wouldnt surprise me if he did#the halo things are how im from now on drawing my valinor elvers since i already done it on a few of them#now off to look at some of the silverweek drawings#tolkien#silmarillion#jrr tolkien#maedhros#maitimo#nelyafinwe#maglor#makalaure#kanafinwe#silm art#digital art#my art#my fav kinslayers#mae and mag#sons of feanor
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Fingon, at Maedhros: your shoulder sounds like a Peanuts adult.
#silmarillion#silm crack#fingon#maedhros#russingon#mae: gee fingon i wonder why it might sound like that! anyway can you help me get down from here -
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i sound old but we should have more respect for the text of the silmarillion :) like don’t just take out the idea of nerdanel’s sexy biceps. it’s been written by a man who really liked texts :)) not saying you must also like texts. it’s fine (and im saying this sincerely) if you only like fingon’s 14 karat bobby pins!! but you should be able to recognise and willing to admit and ready to mention that the text itself is good fucking literature. no more “it’s unfinished” “chris tolkien didn’t even like it” “haha elf phone book” “i’ve read it on tolkien gateway that somewhere in the HoME there’s a gayer version of this sentence” stop joking about how it’s bad. like we do know that it has literary value far far far far far far far beyond providing lexical information about our elves of choice right? :(
#this is me after ive calmed down lol#‘silm doesn’t sound like GoT therefore it’s just a glorified elf lexicon’ this is what happens when the fandom bit of hating on chris tolki#n gets out of hand#im not even touching the catholicism of fandom thing like. im straight up afraid#sorry maybe this post would be more useful if i didn’t write it in a passive-agressive tone
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Melian Queen of Doriath
Unsurpassed in wisdom beauty and magical singing
Melian was a maiar who used to tend the gardens of Lorien and akin to Yavanna.
She had great fondness of the deep shadows that the great Trees made and she loved to see Vardas Stars.
It is said that when she sang that all the Valar would stop to listen and Nightingales where taught singing from her.
I wanted to draw the original Eldritch Lady in Middle Earth. I mean as Eldritch as I can without making her "evil" looking.
This is just the line art and while I really want to color this one because it would look so good in color and I have a whole color scheme for her- I can't.
Yet
I need to wait until my markers arrive because I don't want to color her with water colors. So she is added to the pile of uncolored pics sry ❤️
Btw in Tolkiens universe she was the prototype of Luthien!
And here again a little treat for you guys
#tolkien#silmarillion#traditional art#silm art#melian#doriath#valar#the most details in this pic will show when she is colored#i want the smoothness that markes gives#but my old markers are all dried up#i mean its been 10 years since I tried to use them sooo yeah no surprise here#the only working once I have are the gray ones from COPIC#but I wont get more COPIC one they are hella expensive#and i want to add that this line art plus sketch and design took me an hour#that sound long for non artists people#but it is ridiculous fast#and very rude I spent yesterday so long on my Finrod pic and managed to finish his hair#nothing else just his hair#it is very pretty hair
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Ainur x doors = ❌
Okay, I know that the Angband gang and water typically don't mix because of Ulmo, but I really wanted to draw Eonwe as a drenched birb Osse was with them for a time, so, personally, for the sake of humor, I don't think it's that much of a stretch to consider there may be isolated corrupted pools of water under the fortress where Melkor once tried his hand at creating sea monsters :D
#melkor#morgoth#mairon#sauron#eonwe#olorin#gandalf#silmarillion#tolkien#my art#if memory serves i don't think olorin ever went to middle earth this early#BUT#i needed an ainur and the text makes it sound like eonwe was the highest ranking of the host that came to beleriand#also it just implies a long-standing trend of olorin being outwitted by doors that has me giggling XD#also also: melkor's evil babies love him. i will not take criticism.#the silmarillion's new groove#silm#hira draws tolkien
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There is no version of events in which Maedhros and Maglor find Elrond and Elros in a cave.
There is one in which they left them there.
... sorry about the clickbait intro, but this is important!
Perhaps you've heard of a 'version/draft' of the finding of Elrond and Elros after the sack of Sirion in a cave ? Perhaps you've read that Maglor and Maedhros found them? Maybe even heard that the murder brothers named them?
So here's where that version comes from (I assume, anyway). It's in Letter 211 to Rhona Beare (Oct 14, 1958), who asked Tolkien to "explain the meaning of El- in Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir" (i.e., whether it's 'star' or 'elf').
(I'm cutting parts of the passage that aren't relevant but I'll put the whole thing under the cut for those who, like me, don't trust "[...]". Emphases are mine.)
Elrond and Elros, children of Eärendil (sea-lover) and Elwing (Elf-foam), were so called, because they were carried off by the sons of Fëanor, in the last act of the feud between the high-elven houses of the Noldorin princes concerning the Silmarils. [...] The infants were not slain, but left like 'babes in the wood', in a cave with a fall of water over the entrance. There they were found: Elrond within the cave, and Elros dabbling in the water.
Now I'm gonna break this down and turn the passive verbs into active ones for clarity.
If we assume this story is being told in sequence (which, I think unless there's good reason not to, we should, because that's the default storytelling convention), the events in order are:
The sons of Feanor (agent) carry off Elrond and Elros (object acted upon)
[Unspecified agent] does not slay E & E
[Unspecified agent] leaves E & E in a cave
[Unspecified agent] finds E & E in the cave
#2 and #3 are (logically and probably grammatically) the same unspecified agent. #4 is logically someone else (it doesn't make sense for the same agent to leave E & E in a cave and also find them there).
The only named agents in any of this are the sons of Fëanor - same guys who attacked and sacked Sirion. Given there are two implied agents here, which one are the SoFs more likely to be? Listen, I'm not out to torch anyone's fave and stir up controversy (also I love Maglor), but very probably the sons of Feanor are the agents who 'don't slay' and 'leave' the infants in the cave.
So who found them there? I don't know, up to the imagination!
Also, nothing in the story about them being named by anyone - that's only implied by the fact that this is an origin story for their name meanings.
Full passage below the cut, as promised.
Elrond, Elros. *rondō was a prim[itive] Elvish word for 'cavern'. Cf. Nargothrond (fortified cavern by the R. Narog), Aglarond, etc. *rossē meant 'dew, spray (of fall or fountain)'. Elrond and Elros, children of Eärendil (sea-lover) and Elwing (Elf-foam), were so called, because they were carried off by the sons of Fëanor, in the last act of the feud between the high-elven houses of the Noldorin princes concerning the Silmarils; the Silmaril rescued from Morgoth by Beren and Lúthien, and given to King Thingol Lúthien's father, had descended to Elwing dtr. of Dior, son of Lúthien. The infants were not slain, but left like 'babes in the wood', in a cave with a fall of water over the entrance. There they were found: Elrond within the cave, and Elros dabbling in the water.
#elrond#elros#maedhros#maglor#tolkien meta#silm meta#oh and no shade on anyone who had understood this the other way!#I did too until I looked at it with a microscope#I didn't get into the whole conversation around this just being a version etc etc#and published silm is the primary canon and so on#that goes without saying to me#I'm sorry if this sounds pedantic
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Ok, I checked with the Book, and Silmarillion clearly states that Finarfin ruled over Noldor who stayed in Aman, and that these Noldor went to Middle Earth with Vanyar during War of Wrath. So this is absolutely an AU but imagine:
Vanyar took over Noldor lands, assimilating the leftover Noldor into their numbers.
It wouldn't even be that much of a stretch. Silm said that only every 1 in 10 elves stayed in Tirion and I doubt numbers got that much bigger when Finarfin and his people came back. Tirion definitely became a ghost town after The Flight. They had to rearrange everything! And there was a lot of grief among the Noldor: over Finwe, over family members who decided to go to ME, over the Trees (still no Sun and Moon), over the happy times that are over.
Who would want to be a ruler in this situation? Not Finarfin, that's for sure. But he's Finwe's son, so he has the bloodline. He has a bloodline, so he has a duty, and if he has a duty, there's nothing to be done. He's stuck with the job.
Then Indis/Ingwion/Ingwe himself offer to come to Tirion and help him with his kingly duties. Finarfin feels grateful, feels guilty over what Noldor did at Alqualonde (coming from a guy who Actually did nothing wrong), his wife left (him?) his side to go help her father and her people, his children Definitely left him. He accepts the help.
And Vanyar are helping! With administration and practical concerns, like where everyone should live now when a single Noldo living in their old house can have 3 streets to themselves each. But more importantly, they are messengers between Noldor and Teleri, who Finarfin Has to make amends to even if he doesn't know how. Teleri don't want to see any Noldo in their lands, so Vanyar messengers it is (Valar are unresponsive, thinking up the Sun and Moon).
Finarfin is doing a good job, but depending on what is practically another country to solve your problems is always tricky, and he isn't ambitious. Noldor are NOT doing well and are grateful for help, even if Before it would have hurt their collective pride (but then again, pride in what? Inventing murder? The morals are low). Ingwe is suggesting a deeper collaboration between their people and an general overlook over Noldor.
Why not? Finarfin is of Finwe's line, but he's also of Ingwe's. And wasn't Ingwe always the High King of all the elves in Aman? And he's feeding them cause his brothers' forces took most of their provisions and it's still dark and it will take a while before they relearn how to harvest under the stars. So while Noldor figure that out, why not give over some administrative power to Vanyar? Noldor judgement is probably still clouded by Morgoth's lies.
Things of course change when The Sun and Moon finally happen but the change happens, again, in Vanyar favour - they trusted the Valar who salvaged and restored The Light! They get things Right! Noldor want to get things Right too! (Vanyar clothing and customs become fashion with the same intensity as when Indis wed Finwe. Noldor are ashamed of themselves still. Teleri fashion is really not an option).
So by the time War of Wrath happens, Finarfin is not a High King, but a vassal to High King. And everyone is really cool with that.
Noldor of Middle Earth find that insane in a polite, half condensending and half betrayed way (like they can talk). Then Finarfin is the brother who, you know, actually DEFEATS Morgoth, so everyone has to reconsider their opinions on the matter.
Noldor who come back to Aman, by sailing or by reembodiment, experience a bigger culture shock than expected. Because even in the Blessed Realm, things change.
#silm#silmarillion#Finarfin#AU#I think all children of Finwe are very dutiful and That's what gets them insane#Feanor: marries below his station but invents things like tengwar and lamps to improve Noldor technology#Fingolfin marries a Correct Noldor lady and helps with actual ruling Lalwen can help with the court#Findis resides in Valmar so she has Vanyar scoop maybe even the Valar scoop#and Finarfin deals with Teleri#he married a Teleri princess! the best of matches!#truly sounds like a perfect configuration and a well-oiled political machine#Sons of Feanor had to get it from somewhere#but as with SoF when one part malfunctions it all goes to hell#but seriously we always show Aman more or less unchanging for simplicity's sake#and also cause that's not what silm is about it's about the Crazy Elves not the Sane Ones#but holy sh*t the political climate has the potential to be as insane as it got in ME#congratulations now Elves have to deal with History
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So, the Gift of Men
Or: how I interpret it. It has two parts, but probably veery connected. (kinda long)
Fate not defined by Music
This... is either part of the Gift or not actually was there from the start. Which would be hilarious if it wasn't tragic, because it again falls into "Morgoth does stuff that seems genius to him, stuff explodes in his face later".
Humans don't have a natural tendency. Neither to good, or to a particular career path. They do have skills, sure, so for example some make better warriors, but they don't have it on the level of fate. Unless someone puts a fate on a human (Turin, Tuor) but even then, humans are very slippery (Turin did make a lot of bad choices and I don't think the curse would work without this). Humans are not bound by fate.
To clarify: Neither are Elves bound by it absolutely, as they have free-will, but they are (at least: without human intervention) bound in the Oedipus sense. No matter what free choices they make, some things end up happening. It's up to discussion how it works with the Ainur, but i would put them on the Elves-shelf.
Also, if someone was to change the Music... the ability to act independently of it would be necessary for this I guess? How can you even change something back in time?
I would say you can't change the meaning of a piece of music that already exists, but the soundtrack to the infamous series does exactly this (kudos for mr Bear). Recontextualize, at least.
Oh, this soundtrack. If you hate the series, its soundtrack is a perfect illustration of "things more wonderful, which he himself [Amazon] hath not imagined". If you love it, the soundtrack a wonderful. part of it.
Not tied so closely to Arda
So, humans die and are imperfect and get sick and whatnot. but is that a problem with humans or with Arda?
OK now that I think about it more, it's still the same as part 1. Humans can go out because we have no fate (of that kind at least) to bind us in. Unless something does bind, like a ring or an oath (does it mean... does it mean an oath could also unbind an elf? does it mean that darkness everlasting = a stupid name for whatever-happens-to-humans? I asked it before I think.).
Humans will go out because... some reason? Judging by the Numenorians, it may be something in the style of "we make a lot of choices, even if small, that untangle us from Arda, because they don't harmonize with how Arda is)
But with what happens to Arda, this has an aspect of "not being tied to a sinking ship". Kind of?
Lost my train of thought again.
TLDR: It's a beautiful, unpredictable thing even if it's "no beta we die".
Bonus: seeking
To quote another author (also great!) "To be human is to want which we cannot have". Humans are always a) causing problems they can't solve (and sometimes even the Valar can't), and b) wanting things they can't have (elves do this too, and
No, that's a thing the Eldar also do a lot. That's a thing Melkor invented before Elves even happened. Both of those. Still, as humans are Melkor-coded, it is still a very human thing. It doesn't sound like a gift. Then, maybe, the gift would be some kind of solution to this. Creative problems need creative solutions.
Still, humans get crazy ideas.
#tolkien legendarium#silm#silmarillion#tolkien#the silm#tolkien metaphysics#the gift of men#the silmarillion#Amazon soundtrack as a metaphore#Amazon sountrack as an allegory? :D#not sure what's the difference#Amazon soundtrack as something definitely because I love what mr Bear did there#fangirling over human nature#again#won't say “Men” because I can't get out of my head reading it as gender#“humans” sounds more natural to me here#rambling in tags
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people online who are themselves fans creatively adapting and innovating with their source material are getting so comfortable making posts like "fandom generally is sooo crazy when they make their blorbos kiss" "fanon is shitty (and whatever i hate counts as it)" and i'm getting 🛌🛌🛌 about it. what fandom. who in it. which fanons? i like meta discussions about the text/characterization/etc, but what's the point of looking down your nose at fans and fandom generally? i saw you at the devil's sacrament!
#you guys mean your fandom or a specific subset of it....#also like#we are all here to engage with canon one way or another#but in my particular corner right now insisting on canon#is also the MO of all the racists insisting we can't imagine characters as non-white etc etc#and so on and so on#also this is not a vague at any of my beloved mutuals etc it's more frustrations bubbling up from twitter and from the very casual way#these attitudes appear at the beginning or end of perfectly good posts i agree with#i don't want to sound limiting to the like 'fans always do x :/' genre of critique but i think it could stand to be more specific#and use some i statements maybe. i often see this in my corner. i wish i saw more interest in x it's frustrating.#my posts#*i do hope ppl know it wasn't even a silm-specific post that made me want to make this one. just general attitudes of casual condescension
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I'll always maintain that (Crown Prince!) Fëanáro gave his sons names befitting Princes and future Kings of the Ñoldor, as (King!) Finwë himself did for his sons. They're basically dynastic names and given how his sons are Princes and it's the schema he and his half-brothers were named for as well, it's difficult for me to see anything wrong with that. These people are royalty afterall, which means they're figures of public and to a certain extent political life by matter of birth.
It always seemed to me that father-names are the official names used for the political sphere (honestly something like titles almost), at least among the Finwëans (not least because their fathers tend to be the members of the royal family while their mothers marry in). Something I feel supported by the announcement of it in an official ceremony (Essecarmë), and which makes the contrast between the Fëanorians general tendency to prefer their mother-name and their half-brothers/cousins general preference for father-names very interesting (Obviously you can argue that it's simple personal preference or speculate about parental relationships (such as is canonically the case in at the least Fëanáro's case, though it's also still partly a political statement in its own right), but the point of this post is to go a little more political).
The Fëanorians are heirs to Finwë as the Elder House, but alone out of their wider family they're not primarily or even tangentially associated with one of the royal residencies. Rather, they spend their time travelling Aman to its outermost edges, and when not busy with exploration, are guests in Aulë or Oromë's Halls. They do not seem to have been involved in "politics" at all, prior to the Unrest, much less established in Tirion. In light of the abovementioned hypothesis regarding father-names political associations, the primary use of their mother-names serves to contribute to this air of an already rather casual conduct and presentation (see also Maitimo's comparatively 'casual' epessë (compared to eg. Artanis' or Gil-Galad's) in use specifically among close family, or the Ambarussa's nicknames (Given how they're not described as epessë) of 'First- and Second-Russa', which is not even mentioning the Fëanorians shortened father-names which could be considered potential 'nicknames' as well and even if not certainly imply a certain disregard for formality).
I'd argue that their unique status as not only descendants from someone confirmed to be neither royalty nor nobility nor associated with Tirion in any particular way in Nerdanel (which is not to claim that all Ñoldor of Tirion were career-politicians as a matter of course), but also the general fact of a less official and courtly daily environment and social contacts, e.g. seen in both Fëanáro's and Maitimo's notably close relationship to Nerdanels father Mahtan, both via kinship but moreso shared close relations with Aulë (with whom the Sons of Fëanáro additionally likely would have had closer contact growing up than Finwë, given aforementioned shared close association with Aulë and his halls yet Fëanáro explicitly not associated with Tirion as residency and noted to be living apart from the Finwë and Indis family unit even prior to founding his own family-branch) would have played an additional role in the development of their more informal manner (not that I see them as incapable of courtly manners, mind you (+ given Fëanáro's 'let them sa-si' comment were weaned on linguistic discourse at the very least, so no slouches in the academic department as well (Carnistir becoming economist prime in Beleriand as just one of the more concrete examples)) , they just canonically are very frank and to the point. Something I can see working favourable in the establishment of their many cross-cultural alliances in Beleriand).
I also think Nerdanel's lack of royal status might have played a role in keeping the mother-names she gave comparatively simple for the most part, making reference to their appearance and disposition (or, in Makalaurë's and the Ambarussa's case, prophetic insight, but even in the latter only because Fëanáro insisted on giving them separate names rather than just 'Ambarussa') in a less pompous or high-brow manner (compared to the mother-names given by noble-born Indis or of equally royal lineage Eärwen to their eldest in particular, Obviously this is more of a general tendecy, as we e.g. also get a prophetic name in Aikanáro, but I stand by Nerdanel keeping it notably simple by comparison).
The Ñolofinwëans in contrast are associated primarily with Tirion via Ñolofinwë, who, unlike Arafinwë, isn't mentioned to have had close contacts and frequent visits to Alqualondë, or primarily travel like Fëanáro and sons. Lack of additional crafts also leaves his later political plotting as only point of reference we get on his potential activities prior, making him a likely career-politician (which coheres with his better PR-management choices in the eventual feud and his kingly ambitions). Ñolofinwë married Anairë, who is most likely a Ñoldor of Tirion, given the lack of additional information on her (that mostly tends to get reserved for noteworthy deviations from "the norm", see also descriptions of hair-colour, where only deviations from the standart dark brown get explicit descriptions, or even regarding Finwëan wives, e.g. Indis, aside from the circumstances of her marriage, most noted for being a Vanyar and Eärwen a Falmari, Nerdanel for falling outside the beauty norms expected of the wife of a prince). Given that we do not get her children's mother-names, it's impossible to tell whether she added similarly ambitious/declaratory touches into them as Indis seemingly did for her sons.
The only child of Ñolofinwë singled out of the bunch during life in pre-Unchaining of Melkor Valinor is their daughter Írissë, for often going hunting in the forests with the sons of Fëanáro (to the point the narration sees fit to clarify that no romance was involved). While undoubtedly a free and adventurous spirit, the likely fact that she lived life in Aman primarily in Tirion would also add a neat layer to her readiness to accompany Turukáno (and eventually return) to Gondolin, the Tirion replica par exellence. While less overtly ambitious than her brothers or father I still propose that she was more comfortable in or at the very least used to the more formal environment of politics and appearances than often credited to her. Leaving its history of development aside, the fact that her father-name has a sindarized form (Íreth) which does not correspond to her Sindarin name actual in use (Aredhel) the argument can be made that her father-name wouldn't have been her preferred Quenya name, but rather her afaik unknown mother-name.
Given that we get no additional information on their whereabouts, it therefore also seems likely her brothers would have primarily been active in Tirion, and indeed later emerge as some of their fathers chief political supporters, Findecáno as primary Ñolofinwëan leader in the first half of the exile, and in Turukano's case commanding an eventual large following in his own right (thus fitting the pattern of favouring their more politically loaded names due to primary involvement in said social sphere).
The Arafinwëans are interesting, due to echoing Ñolo- and Arafinwë, descending from two royal lines, in their case both Nõldor (Arafinwë) and Falmari (Eärwen), yet firmly self-identifying as Ñoldor. Which I'd argue their deliberate use of father-name over mother-name signifies or at the least in effect serves to enhance, in addition to general royal gravitas. Given Melkor's warning to Ñolo- and Arafinwë that:
"Beware! Small love has the proud son of Míriel ever had for the children of Indis. Now he has become great, and he has his father in his hand. It will not be long before he drives you forth from Túna!"
, it also seems like, despite his distance from the family feud and marriage into the Falmari of Alqualondë, in whose company he often shared ("[...]he often sought peace among the Teleri, whose language he learned"), Arafinwë and his family still primarily resided in Tirion rather than Alqualondë. We later also see that at least Findaráto and Artanis out of their siblings harbour grand political ambitions such as ruling their own realms in Middle-Earth (mentioned as their motive for participating in the exile), while of Artanis we furthermore get told of a steep and ambitious participation in Ñoldorin academia (As for Arafinwë, given how Eärwen gave his own mother-name (Ingoldo) to their son Findaráto, it feels safe to say it wasn't the one her husband was primarily using. But in his case I'd even argue that his mother-name was the more explicit political statement, so there was no escaping the drama. As eventually happens, with ruling over the remnants of the Ñoldor-in-Aman. Though, funnily enough, it's Arafinwë rather than Findaráto for whom one can argue for a prophetic rather than strictly political nature of said name, even if I myself do not consider it as such).
Basically, I think that keeping in mind the more official nature of the Finwëan father-names adds fun potential additional layers to the world-building and characters in question.
#Silm#Finwëans assemble#“Hehehe silly Finwëans giving too unimaginative names” ENOUGH! That's the POINT they're ROYALS! A DYNASTY!#People are smart enough to realize the pattern but use it basically just to showcase how petty or egotistical Fëanáro or#Ñolofinwë are..#No Fëanáro and Nolofinwë and Arafinwë didn't just suck at giving names#The royal implications and brand recognition are both deliberate and reasonable to their stations#If everyone's doing it maybe it's not just a funny quirk but purposeful and the norm#Sorry if the Quenya names make me sound insufferable but it's not different in principle than the Melkor v Morgoth usage#that tends to be pretty consistent and wide-spread in fandom from what I've seen#and I felt like exploiting mobile for the easy acess to all the special characters of their Quenya names#Fëanorians
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Comparative Studies, or Twice on the Verge of Falling
The Rimôn fresco of Elwing is considered to be one of the greatest artworks of the Late Classical Era. Found in the courtyard of the old Helcaril Villa (itself a marvellous example of architectural trends during the reign of Tar-Elendil), it occupies a relatively modestly-sized, but excellently exposed niche across from the entrance. Aside from the considerable fame the artist had later gathered, it remains remarkable both for its vividness of emotional expression, contrasting to the usual art style of the era, and for the number and fame of its copies.
The best known of these is the one gracing the lesser courtyard of the villa Surë-or-Falmar. Indeed, the glory of the two is so closely interwined that it seems impossible to ascertain which had contributed to the fame of the other more. And yet the effect of the copy wildly differs from that of the original artwork.
The Rimôn Fresco depicts the figure of the young Elwing standing on the cliff with her back to the churning waters below. She is poised halfway toward the drop, as if on the verge of throwing herself in, one hand clasping the Silmaril at her neck. Wind whips at her torn dress and loose hair. A rarity among artworks confronting the subject, it depicts neither the enemy she is facing, nor the the transformation into bird itself. The figure stands alone - and seems strikingly young. Beholders oft remark that it is hard to believe she is meant to depict a wife and a mother.
The wild and violent atmosphere of the fresco, even though, as with most Classical works, it depicts no blood, and despite the aforementioned lack of actual fighting shown, made its artistic quality fall under scrutiny in its day. From diaries, journals and letters of the period we can, however, see that it proved intriguing enough that people would come visit the Helcaril Villa only to see it in person - and that it won over many of those who were originally critical. Thus it is difficult to ascertain whether the changed nature of the Surë-or-Falmar villa Fresco was intentional on the part of the copyist, or the sign of an inexperienced hand.
The name of the copy's painter has unfortunately escaped history. The style is typical to the reign of Tar-Meneldur, though an exemplary of its genre rather than a dull attempt at imitating fashion. The colour combinations are soft, slightly more so than in the Rimôn Fresco, the lines clean, and the light hazy. The figure depicted is in the exact same position as that in the original artwork.
Viewers of both frescoes predominantly agree, however, that despite the technical skill the painter has exhibited, the Surë-or-Falmar Fresco lacks something of Rimôn's Elwing. The posture is just a little less dynamic; the cliff's edge (perhaps unconsciously or accidentally) removed slightly father from Elwing's feet, making her situation seem something less desparate. The wind's effects hardly seem those of a real gale, and more an aesthetic choice. One of the most interesting judgements has been pronounced by Herunimon of Eldalondë in a letter to his cousin, Rilendur, son of Verahil, dated 24th Nárië, 901: "The S.o.F. figure seems less the Lady Elwing fenced in by foes and making a tragic choice, but more the heroine of one of those new romances, unsure whether to flee the scene after a man has confessed his love to her, or to accept his proposal - or, I hardly know, perhaps such heroines lead more exciting lives than I would guess (...) - but anyhow, the fresco seems more like a coloured plate in a rich novel, than a mural depcting a tale of the Elder Days. All in all, there is not one element which does not fit. But taken together, the effect is incongruous." (Collected Letters, volume II, as accessed from the Royal Library in Romenna)
(from the Romenna Journal of Artistic and Literary Studies)
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Editor's note: Remembering the considerable public outcry after the publication of Songs of the Elder Days: Lyrics, History and Analysis, the University of Romenna along with its subsidiary organisations seek to make it understood that the views of authors, as regards the addition or not of Lord and Lady before the names of Lord Eärendil and Lady Elwing, do not necessarily represent its own. Were the University to be flippant, it might also seek to ask why proper respect being accorded to the Lord and Lady seems to be held in greater importance than that it be accorded to the Valar, but the University understands that this would bring on public outcry against it from people on both sides of the moro-political divide, so it shall keep its silence.
#A.k.a. adventures in drawing - when your sketch has more life in it than the clean copy.#I imagine this to belong to the later#but not yet Akallabêth-adjacent era of Númenor.#The era of exploration and friendly interchange is slowly giving way to imperialism#the divides are beginning to become semi-entrenched in society#and the fear of mortality is there --#but it has not begun to consume every waking thought of the people suffering it#it is not illegal to hold to the old ways#and elves are still admired by many.#Surë-or-Falmar should translate to “Wind-over-Waves”#though I cannot be sure I did it correctly.#Rimôn is a name invented by me#supposed to sound at least a bit Adunaic; the other names are meant to be Quenya.#my post#Númenor#Elwing#tolkien#Silmarillion#silm#in universe texts#peoples of arda#in universe documents#in-universe meta#in-universe academia#fictional academia
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whenever i see the word russingon i just think of maehdros and maglor squished into the shape of a polygon
#russingon#silm#maedhros#maglor#silm confessions ….#like idk it sounds like polygon?#like how a multi-sided shape can just be called (insert number of sides) - gon#like#a maedhros-gon#you ever think of that#just them squished into the form of an octagon or something#a russin-gon#im so funny but im so serious#please help me
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@soothingmoonlight
I'm glad you liked it so much it inspired such a rant, haha! I'm honestly rather flattered. I think you are quite right, I do find Finwe to be quite infuriating too! Not only did he do all of the stuff you mentioned, he also failed to navigate the situation properly afterwards. Argument can be made, that he is quite responsible for the strife of the Noldor and Feanor's and Fingolfin's rivalry himself. But yeah, Miriel absolutely deserved better and I sure hope she gets a chance to be reimbodieed now that Finwe is dead
#chatty Kat#I also lowkey want her to bond with Indis over their shitty husband cause I think that sounds interesting#But that's just me#silm fandom has not yet seen me at my “i'm insane and I answer tags in separate post” phase hehe#well I do hope it doesn't bother you
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Look I am very indifferent to ships that aren’t my “OTP”(a term I don’t ascribe to bc like, whatever. And I don’t think I have a NOTP because again, don’t care. Ship and let ship). It might be the ADHD but I hyperfixate hard on Gigolas and Glorestor and don’t give a shit about anything else, except like in passing. Like yes yes Beren and Luthien is beautiful, here for Barduil, etc etc, I’ll be in the Gigolas tags if you need me.
That said, I want to be clear that Sam and Frodo are gay and in love IN CANON and it’s exactly what Tolkien and God Herself intended. Good day.
#my oropher fanfiction doesnt count because it roundabout fuels my love for legolas#anyway fuck homophobes#it might be heretical of me but i dont rly care about hobbits im here for the elves and dwarves mostly#that makes me sound like a diehard silm fan which is something that i did not expect to happen to me#but here we are
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I was thinking about how, in fanfictions and in the fandom in general, Elrond is often depicted as a pure Noldorin lord, if not a die hard Fëanorian. And while I do enjoy Fëanorian!Elrond, the more I think about it the more I am convinced Elrond is not the fëanorian one of the twins. Elros is. Elros who adopted seven eight pointed stars as the heraldic device of his whole dynasty, a symbol still used 6000 years after his death. Elros who had Quenya be the official language of Númenor. Elros who decided to leave Arda for an unknown fate after his death; not Everlasting Darkness but not the rebirth in the bliss of Valinor either. He choose to go to a place Elves aren’t supposed to go, just like Fëanor and his sons went back to Beleriand. Elros, the mortal man, who decided to forge his own path in the world.
And I am not saying Elrond didn’t, because Eru knows how much strength, patience and stubbornness Elrond must have to become who he is in LotR. But when I first re-read LotR after reading the Silm, he did not strike me as Fëanorian at all (except for the no oath swearing rule that seems to apply in Rvendell). In fact, Elrond, and all three of his children, are defined by being half-Elven. Elrond is so much at the same time they had to creat a whole new category for him. He is described as kind as summer in The Hobbit, but also old and wise, and his friendly banter with Bilbo in FotR show he is also merry and full of humour. Elrond is both Elf and Man despite his immortality, and this is made quite clear in the text.
But. If I had to link him to an Elven clan, I’d say Elrond is more Sinda than Noldor, and even that is up to debate. Rivendell, this enchanting valley hidden from evil thanks to his power, is like a kinder version of Doriath. Yet, the name of Last Homely House and Elrond’s boundless hospitality make me think of Sirion: Rivendell is a place where lost souls can find s home, where multiple cultures live along each other in friendship and peace.
In FotR, Elrond introduces himself as the son of Eärendil and Elwing, claiming both his lineages instead of giving only his father’s name as is tradition amongst the Elves. It may be a political move, or it may be a genuine wish to claim his duality, his otherness, or even both at the same time. But from what is shown of Elrond in LotR, he seems to lean heavily in the symbols and heritage from the Sindar side of his family, rather than the Noldor one. I already gave the comparison with Doriath, but it seems history repeats itself as Arwen, said to be Lúthien reborn, chooses a mortal life. Yet Elrond doesn’t make the same mistake as Thingol by locking his daughter in a tower and sending her suitor to a deathly quest. Yes, he asks Aragorn to first reclaim the throne of Gondor before marrying Arwen, but this isn’t a whim on his part or an impossible challenge. Aragorn becoming king means that Middle-Earth is free from the shadow if Sauron and Arwen will live in peace and happiness. Which sounds like a reasonable wish for a parent to me.
Anyways, I went on a tangent, what strikes me with Elrond is his multiple identity. Elrond certainly has habits or traits coming from his upbringing amongst the Fëanorians, and he loved Maglor despite everything. The fact he is a skilled Minstrel shows he did learn and cultivate skills taught by a Fëanorion, that he is not rejecting them. There is a passage at the end of RotK, in the Grey Havens chapter, where Elrond is described carrying a silver harp. Is this a last relic from Maglor? Possible.
But while Elros choose the path of mortality and showed clear Noldorin influences in the kingdom he built, Elrond is happy in his undefined zone he lives in. He is an Elf, he is a Man, he is Sinda and Noldo and heir to half a dozen lost cultures and two crowns. He is the warrior and the healer, the only one of his kind in Middle-Earth. And that is why I will never tire of this character and I love so much fanworks depicting him as nuanced and multiple yet always recognisable as Elrond.
#tolkien#the silmarillion#the lord of the rings#peredhil#half elves#elros#elrond and elros#elrond#elrond peredhel#one blorbo to blorb them all#half baked ramblings by a sleep deprived tolkien fan#tolkien meta
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