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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]], though Ilúvatar adopted them and gave them independent being.
The '''Children of [[Ilúvatar]]''' 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''¹ ("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 [[Mirröanwi]], or Incarnates.


Men are also named ''[[Atani]]'' ("Second People"), ''[[Hildor]]'' ("the Followers" or "the Aftercomers"), ''[[Apanónar]]'' ("Those born after" or "Afterborn"), ''[[Fírimar]]'' ("Mortals"), ''[[Engwar]]'' ("the Sickly"), the ''[[Heavy-handed]]'', the ''[[Inscrutable]]'', the ''[[Night-fearers]]'', the ''[[Self-cursed]]'', the ''[[Strangers]]'', the ''[[Usurpers]]'', and the ''[[Children of the Sun]]''. 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]] ([[Quenya|Q:]]"Water of Awakening") and Men in [[Hildórien]] ([[Quenya|Q:]]"Land of the Followers").
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]].
 
[[Category:Races]]

Revision as of 07:58, 28 August 2007

The Children of Ilúvatar 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 Mirröanwi, or 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.

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