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[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Spirits]]

Revision as of 00:42, 5 March 2011

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File:Lindion.jpg
Lindion, a mountain fay in MECCG

Sprites, or fays, were creatures only mentioned fleetingly in the earliest versions of the tales of Arda and linguistic writings of the Eldar.[1][2]

Characteristics

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
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The sprites and fays 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]

"About them fared a great host who are the sprites of trees and woods, of dale and forest and mountain-side, or those that sing amid the grass at morning and chant among the standing corn at eve."[1]

"...their number is very great: yet must they not be confused with the Eldar, for they were born befoxe the world and are older than its oldest, and are not of it, but laugh at it much, for had they not somewhat to do with its making, so that it is for the most part a play for them"[1]

Names and divisions

While "sprites" and "fays" seem to have been the most common names for these creatures, other names were also used: brownies, pixies, and leprawns.[1]

A basic division of four groups of sprites and fays, with their Elvish names, are given as follow:

  1. Nermir: "fays of the meads";[1][3] Gnomish nermil: "a fay that haunts meadows and riverbanks"[2]
  2. Tavari: "sprites of trees and woods",[1] or "fays of the woods";[3] Gnomish tavor: "a wood fay"[2] (Qenya tavar, tavarni "dale-sprites", root TAVA)[4][5]
  3. Nandini: "fays of the valleys";[1][3] Gnomish nandir: fay of the country" (Qenya nandin)[2]
  4. Orossi: "fays of the mountains"[1][3]

Some other mentions of fays seem rather to be referring to individuals:

  • Sacha "the fire-fay" (Qenya Sāya)[2]
  • Tethil: "a flower fay who dwelt in a poppy"[2]
  • Tinfing or Tinfang the fluter (surnamed Gwarbilin, Birdward) a fay[2]

The later legendarium

As the sprites and fays are not mentioned in later versions of the legendarium, it might be that Tolkien envisioned these creatures as the "servants and helpers" of the Maiar (mentioned in later versions of Elven chronicles)[6] — lesser spirits that would have remained in Middle-earth (and would thus perhaps be equivalent to the Faeries). As Tolkien never cared to elaborate much on these "lesser Maiar" in the texts used by his son Christopher when preparing the published The Silmarillion, one could speculate on how much Tolkien would have retained or rejected of this earlier conception.

Portrayal in adaptations

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

The Warrior Ally card "Lindion the Oronín", portraying a unique character, is given the following description: "The fays of the mountains pipe melodies that harmonize with wind and weather, pleasing to the ears of all creatures aloft on wings", apparently inspired by the Orossi (see above). Lindion is playable at the site Stone-circle in the region Old Pûkel Gap.

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