: : : I think that in the Third Age the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood became a "melting pot", inhabited by Nandor, Avari, Doriathrin, and some Laiquendi and Falathrim; and that they were called Wood or Silvan Elves collectively. As for Thranduil's golden hair, as I've said before, was probably either dyed, a freak of nature, or a mistake on Tolkien's part.

: I am wondering why you think that Thranduil's golden hair was either fake or a mistake. I realize that by "fake" you are likely joking, but in looking at the materials there is clear evidence that Thranduil and Legolas could have had just about any hair color. Blonde is no more or less likely than dark brown or light brown. In some of his "sweeping" mythological works Tolkien gives general descriptions of Elven races, but these are just that "general." In the history of Middle Earth much time has passed and the Elves have wandered far and at times mingled by the time we are introduced to Legolas Greenleaf. I think that we need not accuse Tolkien of a mistake here but accept the fact that Thranduil had golden hair, as did a number of Elves in Lorien. As for Legolas, we are not given any clear indication that I am aware of, and therefore, given the information we have, it is just as well to assume he had blonde as dark. In fact, blonde might be more likely given the genetic influence of his father (of course we know nothing of his mother's hair color).

I believe that somewhere in Letters, Tolkien talks about this and his dislike of the artists giving Legolas blond hair. However, I cannot find the reference.

: My feeble point is this: sometimes there is an element in the LOTR that cannot be proven by reviewing the facts. There just are not enough facts and Tolkien as a writer was fallable on some points. As for me, I have always pictured Legolas as tall, fair-skinned and BLONDE. But then again, I am blonde and have a liking for Norse and Anglo-Saxon culture, so I may be biased! LOL

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