Sylphs: Difference between revisions

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<center>{{quote|sylphine maidens of the Air<br>whose wings in [[Varda]]'s heavenly hall<br>in rythmic movement beat and fall|[[The Lay of Leithian]], 4077-9}}</center>
<center>{{quote|sylphine maidens of the Air<br>whose wings in [[Varda]]'s heavenly hall<br>in rythmic movement beat and fall|''[[The Lay of Leithian]]'', [[Lay of Leithian Canto XIII|Canto XIII]], vv. 4077-9}}</center>
'''Sylphs''' were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the tales of [[Arda]] and nomenclature by the [[Eldar]].<ref name=LT1-66>{{LT1|III}}, p. 66</ref><ref>{{LB|C13}}, pp. 301, 306 (§4077-9)</ref>
'''Sylphs''' were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the tales of [[Arda]] and nomenclature by the [[Eldar]].<ref name=LT1-66>{{LT1|III}}, p. 66</ref><ref>{{LB|C13}}, pp. 301, 306 (§4077-9)</ref>


==Characteristics and divisions==
==Characteristics and divisions==
The sylphs were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser [[Ainur|Ainu]] spirits: sylphs (spirits of the air), [[sprites|sprites]] (spirits of the earth), and [[mermaids|water spirits]].<ref name=LT1-66/>
The sylphs were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser [[Ainur|Ainu]] spirits: sylphs (spirits of the air), [[sprites|sprites]] (spirits of the earth), and [[mermaids|water spirits]].<ref name=LT1-66/>


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==Commentary==
==Commentary==
It has been suggested that the concept "air spirits" is used "metaphorically [...] for the winds that these spirits govern".<ref>{{PE|16}}, p. 59</ref>
It has been suggested that the concept "air spirits" is used "metaphorically [...] for the winds that these spirits govern".<ref>{{PE|16}}, p. 59</ref>


==The later legendarium==
==The later legendarium==
Sylphs are not mentioned in the later versions of the [[legendarium]]. Many of the classes of beings references in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' were superseded by the concept of the [[Maiar]], which were not introduced until the reworking of the [[Annals of Valinor]] into the [[Annals of Aman]].<ref name="MRP2b">{{MR|P2b}}</ref>
Sylphs are not mentioned in the later versions of the [[legendarium]]. Many of the classes of beings references in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' were superseded by the concept of the [[Maiar]], which were not introduced until the reworking of the [[Annals of Valinor]] into the [[Annals of Aman]].<ref name="MRP2b">{{MR|P2b}}</ref>


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
[[Patrick H. Wynne]] and [[Christopher Gilson]] have noted that Tolkien's use of sylphs (and related spirits) is likely influenced by [[Wikipedia:Paracelsus|Paracelsus]]'s chart of four elementals: ''sylphs'' (air), ''pygmies'' or ''gnomes'' (earth), ''nymphs'' (water), and ''salamanders'' (fire).<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 8</ref>
[[Patrick H. Wynne]] and [[Christopher Gilson]] have noted that Tolkien's use of sylphs (and related spirits) is likely influenced by [[Wikipedia:Paracelsus|Paracelsus]]'s chart of four elementals: ''sylphs'' (air), ''pygmies'' or ''gnomes'' (earth), ''nymphs'' (water), and ''salamanders'' (fire).<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 8</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
 
*[[Mermaids]]
*'''[[Mermaids]]'''
*[[Sprites]]
*'''[[Sprites]]'''
*[[Fairies]]
*[[Fairies]]


==External links==
==External links==
*{{WP|Sylph}}
*{{WP|Sylph}}



Revision as of 11:34, 21 August 2019

"sylphine maidens of the Air
whose wings in Varda's heavenly hall
in rythmic movement beat and fall
"
The Lay of Leithian, Canto XIII, vv. 4077-9

Sylphs were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the tales of Arda and nomenclature by the Eldar.[1][2]

Characteristics and divisions

The sylphs were part of what apparently was a three-fold division of the lesser Ainu spirits: sylphs (spirits of the air), sprites (spirits of the earth), and water spirits.[1]

Manwë had "two clans of air-spirits",[3] a basic division of two groups of sylphs which, with their Elvish names, are given as follow:

An individual Súru mentioned by name was Ilinsor, steersman of the Moon. Ilinsor "loved the snows and the starlight and aided Varda in many of her works".[6]

Commentary

It has been suggested that the concept "air spirits" is used "metaphorically [...] for the winds that these spirits govern".[7]

The later legendarium

Sylphs are not mentioned in the later versions of the legendarium. Many of the classes of beings references in The Book of Lost Tales were superseded by the concept of the Maiar, which were not introduced until the reworking of the Annals of Valinor into the Annals of Aman.[8]

Inspiration

Patrick H. Wynne and Christopher Gilson have noted that Tolkien's use of sylphs (and related spirits) is likely influenced by Paracelsus's chart of four elementals: sylphs (air), pygmies or gnomes (earth), nymphs (water), and salamanders (fire).[9]

See also

External links

References

Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow