Elves
 

Can anybody tell me- do elves 'grow up' slower than mortals? how long does it take for an elf to become mature?

also, do all the elves of Mirkwood go to Valinor the wars of the ring, does thranduil?

Yes, they do age slower. I believe I read somewhere that it takes 50 years for an elf to mature. But I could be wrong- it could take longer.

Yes, they do take longer to age, but if I remember correctly, it takes longer than fifty years. And for them to look old, it takes ages upon ages. And isn't the the rate of their growing old in part tied to them growing weary.

according to Morgoth's Ring the Elves became mature at the age of 51 [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

...And in addition to that, they become even more beautiful and wiser [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

It makes sense that a race that is immortal will take a darn sight longer than most to reach maturity.

But one thing that has always puzzled me is why don't they have more children. From the family trees that I have seen, they seem to have about the same size families on average as we do. But, given the time they were around, you would expect them to have considerably more (with the inevitable population explosion). Is this explained anywhere, or is it something that we just assume as Elven nature?

Wasn't their some thing about how the elves don't increase in number, but that all of their children are the dead elves coming back? Not sure though.

Elves had only a few children because they must give up a piece of their Fea (spirit) for the creation of the child.

There are several previous discussions about this subject that mayhelp answer your questions.


the science of middle Earth

Did Gil-Galad Have children

Elven reproduction

[ January 20, 2003: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

Thanks for the links Raefindel. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Thanks Raifindel! The links were helpful [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

The conception that all elves are reembodied in children was abandoned by Tolkien.

then why do many elves who are dying state that it will be long ere they are released from Mandos?

[ January 23, 2003: Message edited by: Eru ]

Because in his later conception Tolkien had the elves being re-embodied in new bodies like their own, instead of being born into children.

i.e. Glorfindel

Please, does ANYONE know if all the elves went to Valinor, did Thranduil?

I think the main consensus is htat most of the Silvan Elves and all the Avari remained in M-E and faided whilst the Sindar and Noldor for the most part would've passed west. Thranduil may have followed his son into the west. He also would've found his dad there, if he was re-incarnated.

Thranduil could have travelled to Aman, he is still an elf and the Summons of the Valar called for all of the elves to come to the west. Even the Avari could have gone later, though I think they still didn't go because they were reluctant to go at first.

[ January 27, 2003: Message edited by: Jurion ]

oh, another question I have is: was it possible for elves to go from Valinor to ME after the Noldor left? cos if Glorfindel was reincarnated in Mandos, how did he get back to Rivendell?

I think it was possible in the second age,since valinor hadn't yet been taken off the face of the earth,and it is probable that Glorfindel came in the S.A. Some even say the Gildor Inglorion was from Valinor, because of his name INGLORION , scion of Inglor,a early name for Finrod,and since Finrod had no sons, (apart from Gil-Galad, for a brief time,but he seems to be everyones son) in M-E,we can assuemhe is a grandson or son of Finrod and his 'lover'in Valinor who was named, I think Amarie. In the Third Age the Istari were sent, though that was problably because they were sent by the Valar.

[ January 28, 2003: Message edited by: Inderjit Sanghera ]

[ January 28, 2003: Message edited by: Inderjit Sanghera ]