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'''The Children of [[Ilúvatar]]''' refers to [[Elves]] and [[Men]]. [[Dwarves]] are not included in this, as though they were given sapience by Ilúvatar, they were in fact created by [[Aulë]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Felagund Among Bëor’s Men.jpg|thumb|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Felagund Among Bëor’s Men'']]
The '''Children of [[Ilúvatar]]''' also '''Híni Ilúvataro''' or '''Eruhíni'''<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref><ref>{{S|Elements}}</ref> are the two races of [[Elves]] and [[Men]]. Their existence, along with the [[Eä|Universe]] in which they were to live, was conceived in the [[Music of the Ainur]], but the [[Ainur]] had no part in their making. Ilúvatar alone brought them into being, and they had ''[[fëar]]'' (spirits) of the same type as the Ainur, though far less powerful.


Elves are also named the ''[[Quendi]]'' ("those who speak", in [[Quenya]]) and the ''Minnónar''&sup1; ("Firstborn"). They are further divided into many groupings.
Unlike the Ainur, however, the Children were intended to exist as a union of flesh and spirit; their bodies, or ''[[hröar]]'', are as integral to their being as their ''[[fëar]]''. As such, they are also called [[Incarnate|Incarnates]].


Men are also named the ''Apanónar'' ("Those born after" or "Afterborn"), ''Fírimar'' ("Mortals"), ''Engwar'' ("the Sickly"), and the ''Followers''. These somewhat derogatory names were of course given to them by the Elves, who were the primary historians.
While their status as embodied souls created by Ilùvatar makes them extraordinarily alike, each Kindred of the Children was also bestowed with different gifts from their maker. The Elves received great beauty, near [[immortality]], skill with arts and crafts, and keen memories. Men, on the other hand, were given freedom to act outside the boundaries set by the [[Music of the Ainur]], eventual [[Dominion of Men|supremacy]] over [[Middle-earth]], and [[Gift of Men|mortality]].


The reason for this naming is simple. Elves were the first of the Children of Ilúvatar to appear in [[Middle-earth]], whereas Men were not to follow until the beginning of the First Age, with the creation of the Sun and Moon, many thousands of years later.
Elves were the first of the Children of Ilúvatar to appear in [[Middle-earth]]; Men were not to follow until the rising of the [[Sun]] and the beginning of the [[First Age]], many thousands of years later.
 
Both Kindreds awoke in the far east of Middle-earth: the Elves at [[Cuiviénen]] and Men in [[Hildórien]].
 
The [[Dwarves]], while also incarnates, are not typically called Children of Ilúvatar, for though they were given sapience and independent being by [[Ilúvatar|Eru]], they were in fact created by [[Aulë]]. When Eru gave blessing to Aulë's work, he distinguished the Dwarves from Elves and Men by calling them "the children of my adoption" while referring to Elves and Men as "the children of my choice."
==Parallels between Men and Elves==
The history of Men and their races throughout the Ages, bore some similarities to that of the Elves, especially during the [[First Age]].
 
Both Elves and Men originated somewhere in the East ([[Cuiviénen]] and [[Hildórien]]) and then both marched for the [[Westlands|West]] ([[Eldar]] and [[Edain]]) leaving some of them behind ([[Avari]] and [[Men of Darkness]]).
 
They were divided mainly into three groups ([[Vanyar]]/[[Noldor]]/[[Teleri]] and [[House of Beor]]/[[House of Hador]]/[[House of Haleth]]) when they reached [[Beleriand]].
 
Eventually some of them ([[Calaquendi]] and [[Númenóreans]]) passed the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]] and reached a western place ([[Valinor]] and [[Númenor]]). They advanced and prospered near the [[Light of Valinor]] while their kin were left behind in [[Middle-earth]].
 
There, some were corrupted by the [[Sauron|Enemy]] which caused a Fall ([[Noldolante]] and [[Atalante]]). A part of them returned to Middle-earth and founded realms ([[Exile of the Noldor]] and [[Realms in Exile]]) becoming Kings among their "lesser" kin.
 
==Etymology==
'''''Eruhíni''''' (sing. ''Eruhin'') is the [[Quenya]] term. It contains the name [[Ilúvatar|Eru]], [[the One]] (a name for [[Ilúvatar]]) and ''[[hín]]'', 'child'.<ref name=WJ>{{WJ|AD1}}, p. 403</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:Races]]
 
[[de:Children of Eru]]
[[fi:Ilúvatarin Lapset]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/enfants_d_iluvatar]]

Revision as of 18:24, 20 November 2014

Ted Nasmith - Felagund Among Bëor’s Men

The Children of Ilúvatar also Híni Ilúvataro or Eruhíni[1][2] are the two races of Elves and Men. Their existence, along with the Universe in which they were to live, was conceived in the Music of the Ainur, but the Ainur had no part in their making. Ilúvatar alone brought them into being, and they had fëar (spirits) of the same type as the Ainur, though far less powerful.

Unlike the Ainur, however, the Children were intended to exist as a union of flesh and spirit; their bodies, or hröar, are as integral to their being as their fëar. As such, they are also called Incarnates.

While their status as embodied souls created by Ilùvatar makes them extraordinarily alike, each Kindred of the Children was also bestowed with different gifts from their maker. The Elves received great beauty, near immortality, skill with arts and crafts, and keen memories. Men, on the other hand, were given freedom to act outside the boundaries set by the Music of the Ainur, eventual supremacy over Middle-earth, and mortality.

Elves were the first of the Children of Ilúvatar to appear in Middle-earth; Men were not to follow until the rising of the Sun and the beginning of the First Age, many thousands of years later.

Both Kindreds awoke in the far east of Middle-earth: the Elves at Cuiviénen and Men in Hildórien.

The Dwarves, while also incarnates, are not typically called Children of Ilúvatar, for though they were given sapience and independent being by Eru, they were in fact created by Aulë. When Eru gave blessing to Aulë's work, he distinguished the Dwarves from Elves and Men by calling them "the children of my adoption" while referring to Elves and Men as "the children of my choice."

Parallels between Men and Elves

The history of Men and their races throughout the Ages, bore some similarities to that of the Elves, especially during the First Age.

Both Elves and Men originated somewhere in the East (Cuiviénen and Hildórien) and then both marched for the West (Eldar and Edain) leaving some of them behind (Avari and Men of Darkness).

They were divided mainly into three groups (Vanyar/Noldor/Teleri and House of Beor/House of Hador/House of Haleth) when they reached Beleriand.

Eventually some of them (Calaquendi and Númenóreans) passed the Great Sea and reached a western place (Valinor and Númenor). They advanced and prospered near the Light of Valinor while their kin were left behind in Middle-earth.

There, some were corrupted by the Enemy which caused a Fall (Noldolante and Atalante). A part of them returned to Middle-earth and founded realms (Exile of the Noldor and Realms in Exile) becoming Kings among their "lesser" kin.

Etymology

Eruhíni (sing. Eruhin) is the Quenya term. It contains the name Eru, the One (a name for Ilúvatar) and hín, 'child'.[3]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'", p. 403