stone elves - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 01-23-2009, 08:08 PM

I was looking at movie stills of Lorien and RIvendell, and noticed that the movie sets had lots of humanoid statues.

And this struck me as very odd. Men make statues of men when they die; or to preserve their youth; or to show some ideal that man cannot really attain. Why would an elf carve a statue of an elf? The real elf is still there. (Unless the elf died; then I understand it-- excepot they're going to get reincarnated.) Anyway-- why make a statue of an elf, when the elf would likely outlive the statue? Those statues in Lorien and Rivendell looked rainworn and weathered. I bet the elf who posed as the model, doesn't.

Why would elves bother making statues of anything? They like things that live. Trees, rivers. Tirion and Gondolin were both famous for their fountains... I don't remember fame of statues.

Comments?

alatar · 01-23-2009, 08:18 PM

Interesting. I remember a statuette of Aragorn's mother in Rivendell, but no other. WIll have to look more closely.

mark12_30 · 01-23-2009, 08:25 PM

That's the only statue that makes sense to me.

Unless one of the statues was supposed to be Celebrian...

Lindale · 01-23-2009, 09:10 PM

I don't get it either. Maybe it's one of those interpretations of PJ that we'll never really understand--he interpreted that because there is the Argonath, there must also be statues of Elves everywhere in Lorien and Rivendell.

Now that I googled it, Gilraen's statue looks a lot like the Virgin Mary's in Catholic churches.

Couldn't find other statues too, but I remember they look a bit like that too. Like old Catholic statues.

Beregond · 01-23-2009, 10:48 PM

The statues could well be from the imagination of Alan Lee rather than Peter Jackson. And in most things I would hesitate to criticize either Lee or John Howe because I love their art so much, but you make a very interesting point here. Dwarves and men carve stone for fun, but elves use stone for practical needs, don't they? I remember no mention in the books of any carven figures crafted by the Eldar people.

Rune Son of Bjarne · 01-24-2009, 07:04 AM

Plenty of Elves died in the first age, could it not be some of the major characters from the Sil?

It could be that the elves of Rivendell found statues decorative. . .

Personaly I think they add a bit of atmospere to Rivendell when watching the movies, it gives the impression that it is a place that have excisted for a very long time and maybe that is the reason they where put there by the movie makers.

11-24-2009, 09:04 PM

it sounds interesting！

Morsul the Dark · 11-24-2009, 09:11 PM

It does sound interesting however I don't know why the elves wouldn't make statues... I mean they'r very artistic aren't they? why paint a portrait of someone alive?

Thanks Spambot for making this post possible!

01-23-2009, 08:08 PM	#1
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	stone elves I was looking at movie stills of Lorien and RIvendell, and noticed that the movie sets had lots of humanoid statues. And this struck me as very odd. Men make statues of men when they die; or to preserve their youth; or to show some ideal that man cannot really attain. Why would an elf carve a statue of an elf? The real elf is still there. (Unless the elf died; then I understand it-- excepot they're going to get reincarnated.) Anyway-- why make a statue of an elf, when the elf would likely outlive the statue? Those statues in Lorien and Rivendell looked rainworn and weathered. I bet the elf who posed as the model, doesn't. Why would elves bother making statues of anything? They like things that live. Trees, rivers. Tirion and Gondolin were both famous for their fountains... I don't remember fame of statues. Comments? __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

01-23-2009, 08:18 PM	#2
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Interesting. I remember a statuette of Aragorn's mother in Rivendell, but no other. WIll have to look more closely. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

01-23-2009, 08:25 PM	#3
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	That's the only statue that makes sense to me. Unless one of the statues was supposed to be Celebrian... __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

01-23-2009, 09:10 PM	#4
Lindale Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: midway upon... in a forest dark Posts: 975	I don't get it either. Maybe it's one of those interpretations of PJ that we'll never really understand--he interpreted that because there is the Argonath, there must also be statues of Elves everywhere in Lorien and Rivendell. Now that I googled it, Gilraen's statue looks a lot like the Virgin Mary's in Catholic churches. Couldn't find other statues too, but I remember they look a bit like that too. Like old Catholic statues. __________________ The heart does things for reasons Reason itself cannot comprehend. - Blaise Pascal Legal Madness.

01-23-2009, 10:48 PM	#5
Beregond Playful Ghoul Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,251	The statues could well be from the imagination of Alan Lee rather than Peter Jackson. And in most things I would hesitate to criticize either Lee or John Howe because I love their art so much, but you make a very interesting point here. Dwarves and men carve stone for fun, but elves use stone for practical needs, don't they? I remember no mention in the books of any carven figures crafted by the Eldar people. __________________ "Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass is green."

11-24-2009, 09:04 PM	#7
onlyone Guest Posts: n/a	it sounds interesting！

11-24-2009, 09:11 PM	#8
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	It does sound interesting however I don't know why the elves wouldn't make statues... I mean they'r very artistic aren't they? why paint a portrait of someone alive? Thanks Spambot for making this post possible! __________________ Morsul the Resurrected