How tall am I? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Sharkû*** · 11-17-2002, 05:13 AM

Unfinished Tales is most important for this topic.

Not only does it tell us about "Turgon [...], tallest of all the Children of the World, save Thingol", it also gives the highly interesting notes on Numenorean Linear Measures. The common length unit was a ranga, 'stride', which was about 3' 2"; two strides was considered man-high (the Numenoreans were tall).
Elendil is said to exceed man height by nearly half a ranga, thus the calculation of about 7'9" to 7'11".

"Húrin was by three years the elder, but he was shorter in stature than other men of his kin;" (Part One II) and "Huor his brother was tall, the tallest of all the Edain save his own son Tuor only" (ibid.) shows us that impressive height can be a sign of nobility and greatness, but lack of it is not at all a sign of less worth.

Also interesting is that "The Eldar of the Elder Days were also very tall. Galadriel, "the tallest of all the women of the Eldar of whom tales tell," was said to be man-high, but it is noted "according to the measure of the Dúnedain and the men of old," indicating a height of about six feet four inches.
The Rohirrim were generally shorter, for in their far-off ancestry they had been mingled with men of broader and heavier build. Éomer was said to have been tall, of like height with Aragorn; but he with other descendants of King Thengel were taller than the norm of Rohan, deriving this characteristic (together in some cases with darker hair) from Morwen, Thengel's wife, a lady of Gondor of high Númenórean descent." (Part Three I app.)

Unfortunately, all of this says very little about definite figures. However, I would think it to be strange and unlikely that, for example, Thingol and Turgon were that much taller than Tuor and Elendil.
I do not recall a figure for Aragorn, either, but man-height seems a good idea to aim at; he likely exceeded it, though.

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11-17-2002, 05:13 AM	#4
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	Unfinished Tales is most important for this topic. Not only does it tell us about "Turgon [...], tallest of all the Children of the World, save Thingol", it also gives the highly interesting notes on Numenorean Linear Measures. The common length unit was a ranga, 'stride', which was about 3' 2"; two strides was considered man-high (the Numenoreans were tall). Elendil is said to exceed man height by nearly half a ranga, thus the calculation of about 7'9" to 7'11". "Húrin was by three years the elder, but he was shorter in stature than other men of his kin;" (Part One II) and "Huor his brother was tall, the tallest of all the Edain save his own son Tuor only" (ibid.) shows us that impressive height can be a sign of nobility and greatness, but lack of it is not at all a sign of less worth. Also interesting is that "The Eldar of the Elder Days were also very tall. Galadriel, "the tallest of all the women of the Eldar of whom tales tell," was said to be man-high, but it is noted "according to the measure of the Dúnedain and the men of old," indicating a height of about six feet four inches. The Rohirrim were generally shorter, for in their far-off ancestry they had been mingled with men of broader and heavier build. Éomer was said to have been tall, of like height with Aragorn; but he with other descendants of King Thengel were taller than the norm of Rohan, deriving this characteristic (together in some cases with darker hair) from Morwen, Thengel's wife, a lady of Gondor of high Númenórean descent." (Part Three I app.) Unfortunately, all of this says very little about definite figures. However, I would think it to be strange and unlikely that, for example, Thingol and Turgon were that much taller than Tuor and Elendil. I do not recall a figure for Aragorn, either, but man-height seems a good idea to aim at; he likely exceeded it, though.