Drow? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Burzdol · 01-20-2004, 06:16 PM

Drow are supposively(as in other books) dark elves. The had dark skin, white hair, and violet or reddish eyes. Tolkien says nothing about this barbaric raqce, or did I miss something? I've obsessed with the drow since I started to read R.A. Salvatore's books with Drizzt Do'Urden in them. Thanks for any info.

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 01-20-2004, 07:22 PM

From what I know, drow started with Dungeons and Dragons in the late 1970's and did not exist before then. That may not be entirely correct, but they definitely did not exist in Tolkien's Middle-earth. There were Dark Elves, the Moriquendi, who were the Elves that never made the journey to Aman and never saw the light of The Two Trees - thus 'dark' elves.

Angry Brandybuck · 01-21-2004, 04:15 AM

I think the Drow have their roots, as do the Elves and the Dwarrows (the REAL pluraul of dwarf), far back in Nordic Legends. Saying that they were 'invented' in some way by the makers of D&D is a bit shortsighted.

I think it is probable that Tolkein left them out of his 'Mythology' because that would take away from the idea that Elves were not really aligned in wny way, good or evil. They are always aloof from situations.

The Uruks, in a way, take the place of the Drow, being descended from 'twisted' elves.

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 01-21-2004, 01:25 PM

Though I fail to see the shortsightedness of my opinion above (considering I was looking back rather than forward), I did take the time to google a while, and I found only TSR-inspired drow. The idea of drow may very well have originated in antiquity, but as far as modern examples go, they all spring from Dungeons and Dragons and not from Tolkien. If they do come from old Nordic sagas, I would love to read them, but since we've agreed that drow do not pertain to Middle-earth, there's really no reason to continue this topic.

01-20-2004, 06:16 PM	#1
Burzdol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Fair City of Rivendell Posts: 276	Drow? Drow are supposively(as in other books) dark elves. The had dark skin, white hair, and violet or reddish eyes. Tolkien says nothing about this barbaric raqce, or did I miss something? I've obsessed with the drow since I started to read R.A. Salvatore's books with Drizzt Do'Urden in them. Thanks for any info. __________________ "Kill them all for all I care. You just keep that bow away from me!"

01-20-2004, 07:22 PM	#2
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,058	From what I know, drow started with Dungeons and Dragons in the late 1970's and did not exist before then. That may not be entirely correct, but they definitely did not exist in Tolkien's Middle-earth. There were Dark Elves, the Moriquendi, who were the Elves that never made the journey to Aman and never saw the light of The Two Trees - thus 'dark' elves. __________________ The Barrow-Wight

01-21-2004, 04:15 AM	#3
Angry Brandybuck Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wotton-on-the-Edge Posts: 86	I think the Drow have their roots, as do the Elves and the Dwarrows (the REAL pluraul of dwarf), far back in Nordic Legends. Saying that they were 'invented' in some way by the makers of D&D is a bit shortsighted. I think it is probable that Tolkein left them out of his 'Mythology' because that would take away from the idea that Elves were not really aligned in wny way, good or evil. They are always aloof from situations. The Uruks, in a way, take the place of the Drow, being descended from 'twisted' elves. __________________ The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath, The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on.

01-21-2004, 01:25 PM	#4
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,058	Though I fail to see the shortsightedness of my opinion above (considering I was looking back rather than forward), I did take the time to google a while, and I found only TSR-inspired drow. The idea of drow may very well have originated in antiquity, but as far as modern examples go, they all spring from Dungeons and Dragons and not from Tolkien. If they do come from old Nordic sagas, I would love to read them, but since we've agreed that drow do not pertain to Middle-earth, there's really no reason to continue this topic. __________________ The Barrow-Wight