Silmariën
Silmariën | |
---|---|
Númenórean | |
Biographical Information | |
Language | Adûnaic, Sindarin and Quenya |
Birth | S.A. 521[1] |
Family | |
House | House of Elros |
Parentage | Tar-Elendil |
Siblings | Isilmë and Tar-Meneldur |
Spouse | Elatan |
Children | Valandil |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Female |
Gallery | Images of Silmariën |
Silmariën was the first child of Tar-Elendil, the fourth King of Númenor. Because of the law of agnatic primogeniture, she could not succeed her father and instead her brother took up the Sceptre as Tar-Meneldur.[2][3]
Silmariën wed Elatan of Andúnië, and in honor of their son Valandil, her father created the royal title of Lord of Andúnië. Thus her heirs became a royal line of Númenor[3], and centuries later they led the Faithful to Middle-earth to found the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. Aragorn, the hero of the War of the Ring, is her direct descendant through many generations.
For unknown reasons Tar-Elendil gave his eldest daughter the Ring of Barahir, as opposed to her brother, the heir to the Sceptre. Silmariën also was given a mithril fillet, though it is not recorded by whom. The fillet would become part of the Elendilmir, a sign of royalty in Númenor and later the crown of the Kingdom of Arnor.
Genealogy
Tar-Elendil | ____________|_________________ | | | | | | SILMARIËN = Elatan Isilmë Tar-Meneldur = Almarian | | | | Valandil Tar-Aldarion
Etymology
Silmariën's name is difficult to translate, but might mean "She of the Shining Light" in Quenya (an assimilation of silima = the miraculous material that the Silmarils were made of, and -iën = feminine suffix).
Other versions of the legendarium
Silmariën was definitely the eldest child of Tar-Elendil, and her birthdate is given in The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor as S.A. 521. In the Tale of Years, it is given as 548, a date that goes back to the first drafts of that text whose revision was overlooked by Tolkien.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)