Life of Elves

[Narya]

Do you know how long the childhood of elves is? I read somewhere that an Elf has got 50 years of childhood. But does this mean that they grow in 50 years from a newborn child to adults and that their bodies don´t get any older after that? I was wondering about the exact point of time they stop growing.
I know that you cannot compare the life and development of elves to the life of humans, but do you know anything else?

[ March 29, 2002: Message edited by: Narya ]

[Elenglin]

Good Question.
I think, that the elf-body grow's up just like human's do, but the elf-minb does take the 50 yrs to gather all the knowledge and the skills that elves have.
That's an explanation to why elves are so much more wiser and powerful than humans: the elf-childhood is longer, so the lurn more.

(Eh? Sounds crappy, I had so great theory in my mind. It's just hard to turn in to words of another language than my mothertongue is.)

[Narya]

Yeah, I had that in mind, too Elenglin. I couldn´t believe the Elven minds need 50 years to develop.

[Niere-Teleliniel]

i wish i could enlighten you all, but elven growth and development is a SECRET best left undiscovered lest a curse fall upon you all! smilies/evil.gif (translated: i have nooooooo clue)

[Starbreeze]

Hmm, I wondered about this, but I still don't know the answer. smilies/frown.gif

[The-Elf-Herself]

Hmmm, I'm not sure but think I heard somewhere that it takes them fifty years to reach full "adulthood", and then after that they may age very, verrrrrrrry slooowly. Y'know, like if they ever get tired of the world(don't quote me on this; as I said this is partially hearsay).

[Aralaithiel]

Yep, 50 is the correct number. May seem like a long time, but when you're immortal... smilies/biggrin.gif

[Nufaciel]

Let me give you a hint: all this information can be found inside "Morgoth's Ring" Volume X (I think) of the History of Middle-earth series. It's in the section about the customs of the Eldar (or something like that).

[Narya]

Thanks to you all.
Nufaciel, I´m just reading the Silmarillion smilies/rolleyes.gif , but I´ll start hoME soon...

[Gayahithwen]

Nufaciel --> I'm not sure HoME has come out in Sweden yet, but I am looking for it..

[Aroaraniel]

I'm still not on the S yet...I'm pretty sure it'll take me awhile, though...hehehe it takes awhile to process through the ole noggin... smilies/wink.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Eärendil]

Gayahithwen - Two of the HOME books have been translated into Swedish, The Books of Lost Tales 1 & 2, I have them btw.. No others have been translated, but I hope they will be soon!

[Groin Redbeard]

It is said: "Never go to the Elves for council for they shall give yes and a no for an answer."