Science fiction and fantasy: Xenite.Org -- Worlds of Imagination on the Web!

The White Council

Re: Eldarin Fertility (was Re: In what ways did the Elves use their Rings?)

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

Archive index

Tolkien and Inklings Forum
Middle-earth Mailing List
LoTR movie news
LoTR collectibles
Liv Tyler is Arwen
Elijah Wood is Frodo Baggins
Tolkien Middle-earth at Suite101
LoTR movies forum
All Forums

  Posted by Stephen Geard on April 09, 1999 at 07:20:57
In Reply to: Re: Eldarin Fertility (was Re: In what ways did the Elves use their Rings?) posted by Michael Martinez on April 09, 1999 at 04:29:19:



: Indeed. But in MORGOTH'S RING Tolkien explains how they actually lost a part of their strength or spirit in reproducing, so they would normally have at most only four or so children. Feanor and Nerdanel were highly remarkable for producing seven sons.

Curious. I missed that bit. Yet, in the same volume Finwë (after losing Míriel) says: "Alone among the Eldar I have no wife, and must hope for no sons, save one, and no daughter. Whereas Ingwë and Olwë beget many children in the bliss of Aman." (p.258) I took that to mean that large families were the norm in Valinor (after all Finwë actually had six, if we count the three girls out of Indis).

On the other matter:

: In the later ages they had fewer children, though Tolkien doesn't specify how much later or what the average was ...

: There should be SOME reason for why the Elves didn't increase their numbers throughout the Third Age ...

Do you risk meeting me halfway, Michael?



Tip: Earlier messages, if they are missing when you click on the links, may be in a lower-numbered archive. Edit the URL in your browser window to change the archive number. Ex. archive_02/ becomes archive_01/.
Tip: Click on the Tolkien and Inklings Forum link to followup to archived messages. You'll need to copy the text from this message and repost it in your new message.


The Tolkien and Inklings Forum is an SF-FANDOM Web site.

SF-FANDOM is a part of the Xenite.Org network.

Xenite.Org is home to Lord of the Rings movie news. The Tolkien and Inklings Forum is the Web's oldest fan-run forum dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien.

Xenite.Org has been providing the most comprehensive Lord of the Rings movie news on the Web since February 1998.

Xenite.Org also brings you Xena Online Resources. Xena Online Resources is the Web's largest directory of Hercules and Xena-related content.

The Xenite.Org network is home to more than 100 science fiction and fantasy Web sites.



The Tolkien and Inklings Forum is an independent, moderated forum provided as a courtesy to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and the Inklings, including C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, et. al., by Xenite.Org. Please be sure to review our Posting Policy before participating in our forums. This archive is provided as a courtesy of Xenite.Org and in no way implies or imparts any liability or obligation on our part to uphold or maintain the content provided herein. This message and other archived messages from Xenite.Org forums may contain content not necessarily endorsed, reviewed, or approved by Xenite.Org and/or its moderation staff. All opinions expressed in these archives are those of the original posters and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Xenite.Org, its owner or owners, moderators, administrators, and/or other volunteer staff or agents. All content is copyright the original poster unless otherwise noted. This page is copyright © 1997-2001 Michael L. Martinez. All rights reserved. No reproduction, electronic or otherwise, may be made without the express permission of the copyright holders, except as occurs in normal browser caching and search engine indexing. You may print one copy of this page for your personal use.