About elves and immortality - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elenhin · 08-08-2001, 03:49 AM

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Re: About elves and immortality

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> She said that there are no more ships that can take her, does that mean all the elves on ME were gone by that time?<hr></blockquote>
I don't think so. Lorien and Rivendell were apparently deserted, but I'd say that some Silvan and Avarin kingdoms and tribes still existed, like Thranduil's realm of Northern Mirkwood.

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> and another question, at what point in their lives the elves sail to Valinor? how they decide when is the time to go?<hr></blockquote>
In the LotR, it is said that the Elves "grow weary" of the world, in Morgoth's Ring (volume 10 of History of Middle-Earth) this weariness is explained.

While Elves do not really die, their bodies will still age and eventually "fade". I understood this "fading" to mean that their bodies, which are of the corrupted matter of Arda, are incompatible with their spirits (coming from Iluvatar). Eventually this incompability and the corruption of the body would lead to the body "dissolving" or "fading out", leaving the spirit "free" of its body. This would mean that the Elf would still be alive, but that he/she could no longer interact with the physical world.

This "fading effect" can be avoided, or at least slowed down, in Valinor. When the Elves "grow weary", that is, start to feel the "fading" they leave for Valinor to avoid it. Note that the Three Rings of the Elves were also able to slow down the fading. That is why the High-Elves suddenly left Middle-Earth after the Rings lost their powers.

Now I'm not sure if my interpretation of the fading is absolutely correct... but it was something along these lines.

--
Elenhin

"My god, it's full of stars!"</p>

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08-08-2001, 03:49 AM	#5
Elenhin Wight Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Vantaa, Finland Posts: 205	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pile o' Bones Posts: 24</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: About elves and immortality <blockquote>*Quote:<hr> She said that there are no more ships that can take her, does that mean all the elves on ME were gone by that time?<hr></blockquote> I don't think so. Lorien and Rivendell were apparently deserted, but I'd say that some Silvan and Avarin kingdoms and tribes still existed, like Thranduil's realm of Northern Mirkwood. <blockquote>Quote:*<hr> and another question, at what point in their lives the elves sail to Valinor? how they decide when is the time to go?<hr></blockquote> In the LotR, it is said that the Elves "grow weary" of the world, in Morgoth's Ring (volume 10 of History of Middle-Earth) this weariness is explained. While Elves do not really die, their bodies will still age and eventually "fade". I understood this "fading" to mean that their bodies, which are of the corrupted matter of Arda, are incompatible with their spirits (coming from Iluvatar). Eventually this incompability and the corruption of the body would lead to the body "dissolving" or "fading out", leaving the spirit "free" of its body. This would mean that the Elf would still be alive, but that he/she could no longer interact with the physical world. This "fading effect" can be avoided, or at least slowed down, in Valinor. When the Elves "grow weary", that is, start to feel the "fading" they leave for Valinor to avoid it. Note that the Three Rings of the Elves were also able to slow down the fading. That is why the High-Elves suddenly left Middle-Earth after the Rings lost their powers. Now I'm not sure if my interpretation of the fading is absolutely correct... but it was something along these lines. -- Elenhin "My god, it's full of stars!"</p>