The Lady of Dol Amroth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Manelwen · 01-10-2004, 03:11 PM

I don't know too much about Lothiriel, Lady of Dol Amroth, Eomer's wife. Is she elvish?

Man of the Old Hope · 01-10-2004, 04:51 PM

Lothíriel, wife of Éomer of Rohan, was the daughter of Imrahil, Prince of Belfalas.

She was not Elvish per se, though the House of Dol Amroth was held to have elven-blood in its line.

In what Christopher Tolkien describes as an early manuscript of the Tale of Years, Tolkien wrote an account of the origin of the Line of Dol Amroth:

"Mithrellas, one of the companions of Nimrodel, is lost in the woods of Belfalas, and is harboured by Imrazôr the Númenórean, who takes her to wife (according to the legends and traditions of Dol Amroth); though after a few years she vanishes, whether to wander in the woods or seek the havens. The son of the union of Mithrellas and Imrazôr received the elven-name of Galador; from him the lords of Dol Amroth traced their descent" (The Peoples of Middle Earth, p. 222.

It may well be that the "legends and traditions" of Dol Amroth were true. Among some of the Elves, at least, it appears that the tradition was assumed to have historical basis:

"At length they came to the Prince Imrahil, and Legolas looked at him and bowed low; for he saw that here indeed was one who had elven-blood in his veins. 'Hail, lord!' he said. 'It is long since the people of Nimrodel left the woodlands of Lórien, and yet still one may see that not all sailed from Amroth's haven west over water.'

'So it is said in the lore of my land,' said the Prince, 'yet never has one of the fair folk been seen there for years beyond count'..." (The Return of the King, pp. 181-2).

I've always admired the character of Prince Imrahil, scion of one of the noblest houses of Gondor in whom ran strong the blood of Mithrellas and of the high Númenóreans.

Corwyn Celesil · 01-10-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

I've always admired the character of Prince Imrahil, scion of one of the noblest houses of Gondor in whom ran strong the blood of Mithrellas and of the high Númenóreans.

So have I, and I have always been a little disappointed at not being able to find out more about him and about Dol Amroth. Can you tellm e anything else of him?

Gorwingel · 01-11-2004, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Lothíriel, wife of Éomer of Rohan, was the daughter of Imrahil, Prince of Belfalas.

Oh, gosh, I never realized that Eomer got married. Good for him! I guess I have not been reading my books carefully enough [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

But that is interesting. From hearing that name I would have guessed that she would be elven.

So the people of Prince Imrahil are like Aragorn [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Lobelia · 01-11-2004, 02:38 AM

What I have long wondered was ... what *did* happen to Prince Imrahil's ancestress after she so conveniently wandered off? :-)

And it *was* convenient to the storyline. Imagine poor Imrahil with his Elvish ancestress still hanging around Dol Amroth voicing her opinion(g).

Finwe · 01-11-2004, 07:42 AM

Haha. Now that would indeed be inconvenient.

I think the most plausible explanation is that Mithrellas sailed West over the Sea. I don't think she would have left for any other reason.

Lost One · 01-11-2004, 11:21 AM

I think Tolkien was here nodding at the many folkloric stories of the 'fairy-wife': other-worldly ancestresses who one day vanish from their husband and children. The Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty (ancestors of the British royal family) have the fairy Melusine in their ancestry as one such example.

Er-Murazor · 01-12-2004, 06:57 AM

There was some strange explanation in the ICE roleplaying modules about the fate of Mithrellas (that she was heartbroken when her child decided to take the gift of Men and she just runned away or something like that).

Finwe · 01-12-2004, 08:32 AM

Lost One, right on! Tolkien used many of the obscurer medieval legends in his mythos, and I daresay that the fairy-ancestress theme appears more than once. Don't forget, one of the ancestors of the Tooks was said to have taken a fairy wife, in The Hobbit, which would explain the love for adventure, in that adventuresome family.

I don't think that we can use any Role-Playing Games as definitive sources, because they have a history of making things up. Mithrellas' children couldn't possibly have received the "Choice of the Half-elven" because only Earendil's children were given that choice, because of their parents' great deed (sailing to Valinor). All other children of half-elven unions would be mortal, according to Iluvatar.

Er-Murazor · 01-12-2004, 09:11 AM

Obviusly RPG have an history of making things up. However, the marriage of Mithrellas is one of the most confusing points in all the universe of Middle Earth.
Trying to conclude without proofs that the choice of the half elven only ruled for the sons of Earendil seems pretty weak in my opinion.

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 01-12-2004, 11:34 AM

In mine too. Here are links to some proofs:

Legolas' FAQ entry

A somewhat redundant reiteration by yours truly

01-10-2004, 03:11 PM	#1
Manelwen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Alqualondë Posts: 78	The Lady of Dol Amroth I don't know too much about Lothiriel, Lady of Dol Amroth, Eomer's wife. Is she elvish? __________________ Victory favors neither the righteous nor the wicked. It favors the prepared.

01-10-2004, 04:51 PM	#2
Man of the Old Hope Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Beleriand Posts: 21	Lothíriel, wife of Éomer of Rohan, was the daughter of Imrahil, Prince of Belfalas. She was not Elvish per se, though the House of Dol Amroth was held to have elven-blood in its line. In what Christopher Tolkien describes as an early manuscript of the Tale of Years, Tolkien wrote an account of the origin of the Line of Dol Amroth: "Mithrellas, one of the companions of Nimrodel, is lost in the woods of Belfalas, and is harboured by Imrazôr the Númenórean, who takes her to wife (according to the legends and traditions of Dol Amroth); though after a few years she vanishes, whether to wander in the woods or seek the havens. The son of the union of Mithrellas and Imrazôr received the elven-name of Galador; from him the lords of Dol Amroth traced their descent" (The Peoples of Middle Earth, p. 222. It may well be that the "legends and traditions" of Dol Amroth were true. Among some of the Elves, at least, it appears that the tradition was assumed to have historical basis: "At length they came to the Prince Imrahil, and Legolas looked at him and bowed low; for he saw that here indeed was one who had elven-blood in his veins. 'Hail, lord!' he said. 'It is long since the people of Nimrodel left the woodlands of Lórien, and yet still one may see that not all sailed from Amroth's haven west over water.' 'So it is said in the lore of my land,' said the Prince, 'yet never has one of the fair folk been seen there for years beyond count'..." (The Return of the King, pp. 181-2). I've always admired the character of Prince Imrahil, scion of one of the noblest houses of Gondor in whom ran strong the blood of Mithrellas and of the high Númenóreans. __________________ 'They say,' answered Andreth: 'they say that the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end.'

01-11-2004, 07:42 AM	#6
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	Haha. Now that would indeed be inconvenient. I think the most plausible explanation is that Mithrellas sailed West over the Sea. I don't think she would have left for any other reason. __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

01-12-2004, 06:57 AM	#8
Er-Murazor Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 21	There was some strange explanation in the ICE roleplaying modules about the fate of Mithrellas (that she was heartbroken when her child decided to take the gift of Men and she just runned away or something like that). __________________ You have reached the end of the road, my beloved enemy. The bad thing is that I reached it first.

01-12-2004, 08:32 AM	#9
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	Lost One, right on! Tolkien used many of the obscurer medieval legends in his mythos, and I daresay that the fairy-ancestress theme appears more than once. Don't forget, one of the ancestors of the Tooks was said to have taken a fairy wife, in The Hobbit, which would explain the love for adventure, in that adventuresome family. I don't think that we can use any Role-Playing Games as definitive sources, because they have a history of making things up. Mithrellas' children couldn't possibly have received the "Choice of the Half-elven" because only Earendil's children were given that choice, because of their parents' great deed (sailing to Valinor). All other children of half-elven unions would be mortal, according to Iluvatar. __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

01-11-2004, 02:38 AM	#5
Lobelia Wight Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 150	What I have long wondered was ... what did happen to Prince Imrahil's ancestress after she so conveniently wandered off? :-) And it was convenient to the storyline. Imagine poor Imrahil with his Elvish ancestress still hanging around Dol Amroth voicing her opinion(g).

01-11-2004, 11:21 AM	#7
Lost One Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 67	I think Tolkien was here nodding at the many folkloric stories of the 'fairy-wife': other-worldly ancestresses who one day vanish from their husband and children. The Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty (ancestors of the British royal family) have the fairy Melusine in their ancestry as one such example.

01-12-2004, 09:11 AM	#10
Er-Murazor Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 21	Obviusly RPG have an history of making things up. However, the marriage of Mithrellas is one of the most confusing points in all the universe of Middle Earth. Trying to conclude without proofs that the choice of the half elven only ruled for the sons of Earendil seems pretty weak in my opinion. __________________ You have reached the end of the road, my beloved enemy. The bad thing is that I reached it first.

01-12-2004, 11:34 AM	#11
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,184	In mine too. Here are links to some proofs: Legolas' FAQ entry A somewhat redundant reiteration by yours truly __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne? Last edited by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh; 08-13-2018 at 05:02 PM. Reason: Fixing broken links