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Posted: Mar 19th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
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Early life
Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itselfsince for them, life begins at conception. Their minds develop quicker than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem older than they actually are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown.
Elves' bodies develop slower than those of Men from the start. By the age of twenty, they might still appear physically seven years old, whereas Men at the same age are physically mature.
Sexuality, marriage and parenthood
Elves marry freely and for love early in life. Monogamy is practised and adultery is unthinkable; they only marry once (Finwė, first High King of the Noldor, was an exception; he remarried after his first wife died).
Spouses can choose each other long before they are married and be betrothed. The betrothal is subject to parental approval unless the parties are of age and intend to marry soon, at which point the betrothal is announced at a meeting of the two houses, during which the couple exchange rings. The betrothal lasts at least a year, and is revocable by the return of the rings (but is rarely broken). After their formal betrothal, the couple appoints a time for the wedding when at least a year has passed.
Marriage is celebrated at a feast of the two houses. The spouses return their betrothal rings and receive others worn on their index fingers. The bride's mother gives the groom a jewel to be worn, but the marriage is only achieved with its consummation. Technically, only the words exchanged by the bride and groom (including the speaking of the name of Eru) and the consummation are required for marriage.
The Elves view the sexual act as extremely special and intimate, for it leads to the conception and birth of children. Extra-marital and premarital sex are unthinkableindeed, the Elves would regard them as contradictions in terms. Because adultery is also unheard of and fidelity between spouses is absolute, spouses can sometimes live separately for extended periods of time. However, a sundering during pregnancy or during the early years of parenthood (caused by war, for example) is so grievous to the couple that they prefer to have children in peaceful times.
Elves have few children, as a rule; (Fėanor and Nerdanel were an exception, since they had seven sons), and there are relatively sizable intervals between each child. They are soon preoccupied with other pleasures; their libido wanes and they focus their interests elsewhere, such as the arts. Nonetheless, they take great delight in the union of love, and they cherish the days of bearing and raising children as the happiest times of their lives.
There seems to only be one known example of extreme marital strife among the Eldar: the case of Eöl and Aredhel, in which the latter actually left the former without his knowing, with the result of Eöl ultimately killing her. This was far from a normal Elven marriage, however.
Daily life
The Elves, and particularly the Noldor, preoccupy themselves with various things, such as smithwork, sculpture, music, and other arts. Males and females can do almost everything equally; however, the females often specialize in the arts of healing while the men go to war. This is because the Elves believe that taking life interferes with the ability to preserve life. However, Elves do not have rigid gender roles; females can defend themselves at need as well as males, and many males are skilled healers as well, such as Elrond.
The Elves had various Customs they practiced.
Naming conventions
The following traditions were done among the Noldor; other Eldar had slightly different conventions. The Noldor were typically given one name (an essė) at birth, a name that had little to do with who they were or their personality. This name was given by the father, therefore called the Father-name, and reflected either the name of the father or mother. As the Noldo grew older, he or she chose a second name, called a cilmessė, or "chosen name". This name reflected the Noldo's unique linguistic tastes. It was not used by those who did not know the Noldo well and would be considered rude to do so. In those cases, the Father-name (which remained the official one throughout the Noldo's life) would be used.
Names given by the mother (amilessi tercenyė, "mother names of insight") were rarely given, but were considered extremely important, as they divulged details about an Elf's personality or fate.
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True wisdom is not measured by the years one has walked the earth,but by the knowledge gained and the things seen during that time
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Posted: Mar 19th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
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The epessė or the "after-name" was the fourth type. The after-name was given later in life (not necessarily by the Elf's kin), as a title of admiration and honour. In some circumstances, the epessė was chosen by the Elf himself or herself.
Some examples include:
Maedhros, the oldest son of Fėanor, was called Russandol (copper-top) by his brothers: he earned this epessė because of his ruddy hair. Maedhros itself was an epessė as well: his father-name had been Nelyafinwė (Finwė the third: Fėanor's own father-name had been (Curu) finwė), and his mother-name was Maitimo (well-shaped one).
Galadriel is the Sindarin translation of Alatįriel, the latter being the Telerin epessė originally given to her by Celeborn. Galadriel means "Maiden Crowned by a Radiant Garland". The name itself is an epessė: her father-name is Artanis (noble woman) and her mother-name is Nerwen (man-maiden).
In other writings, part of The History of Middle-earth, Tolkien details Elvish naming conventions. The Quenya word for "name" was essė. An Elf of Valinor was typically given one name (ataressė) at birth by the father. It usually reflected either the name of the father or mother, indicating the person's descent, to which later some distinguishing prefix could be added. As the Elf grew older, they received a second name (amilessė), given by the mother. This name was extremely important and reflected personality, skills, or fate, sometimes being 'prophetic'.
The epessė or the "after-name" is the third type. It was given later in life, not necessarily by kin, as a title of admiration and honour. In some circumstances, yet another name was chosen by the Elf themselves, called kilmessė meaning "self-name".
The "true names" remained the first two, though an Elf could be referred to by any of these. Mother-names were usually not used by those who did not know the Elf well. In later history and song any of the four could become the one generally used and recognized.
After their Exile to Middle-earth and adoption of Sindarin as the daily speech, most of the Noldor also chose for themselves a name that fitted the style of that language, translating or altering one of their Quenya names.
A patronymic surname is also used the father's name with the suffix "-ion" added. Thus, Gildor Inglorion is "Gildor, son of Inglor".
Several examples include:
Galadriel is the Sindarin translation of Alatįriel, the Telerin Quenya epessė originally given to her by Celeborn, which means "Maiden Crowned by a Radiant Garland". Her father-name is Artanis (noble woman) and her mother-name is Nerwen (man-maiden).
Maedhros, the oldest son of Fėanor, was called Russandol (copper-top) by his brothers: He had earned this epessė because of his ruddy hair. His father-name had been Nelyafinwė (Finwė the third: Fėanor's own father-name had been (Curu) Finwė), and his mother-name Maitimo (well-shaped one). Maedhros is a rendering into Sindarin of parts of his mother-name and epessė.
Finrod is usually referred to as Felagund (hewer of caves), a name the Dwarves had given to him (originally Felakgundu) because of his dwellings at Nargothrond. Finrod adopted the name, and made it a title of honour.
Cķrdan (Shipwright) is the epessė of a Telerin Elf who remained in Beleriand, and later Lindon, until the end of the Third Age. His original name was only rarely remembered in traditions as Nōwē, and he was referred to always as Cķrdan, a title which had been given to him as Lord of the Falas.
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True wisdom is not measured by the years one has walked the earth,but by the knowledge gained and the things seen during that time
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General Elven Information/Customs: Meant for those with Tolkien or Tolkienesque Elve - (Read 178 Times)
