Idril

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Idril
Noldo
Anna Lee - Idril.jpg
"Idril" by Anna Lee
Biographical Information
Other namesItarillë (Q, fn),
Celebrindal (S, epessë)
TitlesPrincess of Gondolin
LocationVinyamar, Gondolin
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
Birthbetween Y.T. 1300 and 1500
Valinor
Sailed westF.A. 525
Mouths of Sirion
Family
HouseHouse of Fingolfin
ParentageElenwë and Turgon
SpouseTuor
ChildrenEärendil
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorGolden
SteedEärrámë (ship)
GalleryImages of Idril
"But fairer than all the wonders of Gondolin was Idril, Turgon's daughter, she that was called Celebrindal, the Silver-foot, whose hair was as the gold of Laurelin before the coming of Melkor."
Quenta Noldorinwa, "Of the Noldor in Beleriand"

Idril Celebrindal was the daughter of King Turgon of Gondolin, the wife of Tuor and the mother of Eärendil the Mariner.

Of the Noldor who returned to Middle-earth documented to have Vanyarin ancestry, Idril has the most, being five-eighths Vanyarin by ancestry. Her Vanyarin mother Elenwë died during the crossing at Helcaraxë, and so did not step foot in Middle-earth.

History

Idril Celebrindal was the only child of Turgon. She participated in the Flight of the Noldor, and had to cross the Helcaraxë with the host of Fingolfin. She and her mother Elenwë falled into the bitter waters, and Turgon risked his life to save them. But he only could save Idril, and her mother was covered in fallen ice.[1]

Together with Orodreth and Celebrimbor, she was one of the three Noldor in the third generation to come into exile. She lived in Vinyamar during the beginning of the First Age, and she moved with her people to the Hidden City of Gondolin between the years 64 and 116.[2]

Idril was loved in secret by her cousin Maeglin, the son of Eöl the Dark Elf and Aredhel, Turgon's sister, but she scorned his advances because of his dark character, and the fact they were too closely related.[3]

When Tuor, son of Huor arrived in Gondolin, Idril fell in love with him. Because Turgon had grown to love Tuor as a son (as he had his father before), and remembering the last words of Huor, he allowed Idril and Tuor to wed, thus bringing about the second union of Elves and Men, after Beren and Lúthien. Idril encouraged Tuor to build a secret passage, and thus enabled many to escape the Fall of Gondolin. In Gondolin she had a son, Eärendil.

After the fall of Gondolin, Idril and Tuor became leaders of the exiles at the Havens of Sirion, where they also received Elwing daughter of Dior son of Beren and Lúthien.

When Tuor grew old he departed in his ship named Eärrámë for the West, and Idril went with him. It is believed by the Elves and Dúnedain that Idril and Tuor arrived in Valinor, bypassing the Ban of the Valar, and it is said that Tuor became reckoned in the kindred of the Elves, so that they both live in Valinor.[4]

Etymology

The Sindarin name Idril is not glossed, but the form of her Quenya name Itarillë (or Itarildë), which means "Sparkling Brilliance".[5]

She was called Celebrindal, "Silver-foot", because she always went barefoot.[6]

In Gnomish, Idril meant "Beloved", but Elves often called her Idhril, or in Qenya Irildë, which meant "mortal maiden", because she married Tuor.[7] Her after name "Silver Feet" was Tal-Celeb in Gnomish, and Taltelepta in Qenya.[8]

Genealogy

Idril Celebrindal's device, depicting a menelluin, with 12 points
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Anairë
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingon
d. F.A. 472
 
Turgon
Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 510
 
Elenwë
d. Y.T. 1500
 
Aredhel
Y.T. 1362 - F.A. 400
 
Eöl
d. F.A. 400
 
Argon
d. F.A. 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
b. F.A. 472
 
IDRIL
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
Maeglin
F.A. 320 - 510
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. F.A. 503
 
Elwing
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References