oldest person in middle earth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morthoron · 01-14-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

It cannot be Tom Bombadil.

We only have his ramblings about being the eldest and remembering the first raindrops to support the theory, which is a shaky foundation at best. Also we don't even know what he is. . . if he is a deity does he still count as a person?

At least we know something about Cirdan.

I agree with you, Rune. It would be Cirdan, as defined by "person". We are not altogether sure what Bombadil "is".

Galadriel55 · 01-14-2011, 02:42 PM

Since we don't know who/what "is" Bombadil, we can't really place him anywhere on the timeline. I remember reading somewhere in The Sil that the Ents appeared around the same time as Elves were born, which would make Treebeard one of the oldest (if you count him as a person). Cirdan is definitely the oldest Elf. If we count ainur to be "people", they are older than all the rest, except for Eru.

Galadriel · 01-17-2011, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Since we don't know who/what "is" Bombadil, we can't really place him anywhere on the timeline. I remember reading somewhere in The Sil that the Ents appeared around the same time as Elves were born, which would make Treebeard one of the oldest (if you count him as a person). Cirdan is definitely the oldest Elf. If we count ainur to be "people", they are older than all the rest, except for Eru.

I thought I recall Bombadil implying that he was there before the Ents? If T.B. is a person, then aside from the Ainur and Eru, he'd be the oldest. But...are Ents really 'people'?

Rune Son of Bjarne · 01-17-2011, 08:31 AM

Maybe we should get a clear definition about which creatures we are talking about. . .

Anyways no matter what Tom Bombadil should be left out, I don't believe we have anything that determines his age. Maybe he is just a madman who is immune to magical rings.

01-14-2011, 02:42 PM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,510	Since we don't know who/what "is" Bombadil, we can't really place him anywhere on the timeline. I remember reading somewhere in The Sil that the Ents appeared around the same time as Elves were born, which would make Treebeard one of the oldest (if you count him as a person). Cirdan is definitely the oldest Elf. If we count ainur to be "people", they are older than all the rest, except for Eru. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera