The White Council

Re: Weight of elves

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: : At Charadras Legolas ran on powder snow. He had to be extremely light to do that. : : Has anyone thought about the weight of the elves before?

: Legolas' ability to run across the snow was a function of his being, not a matter of physics. The elves (Eldar or otherwise) were creatures associated with the element of earth, and as such they possessed strengths and abilities which cannot easily be explained: perfect balance, resistance to extremes of heat and cold, immunity to poisons and disease, the ability to survive wounds which would kill a human, and the ability to move across the terrain without leaving any trace of their passage.

Well stated. JRRT says Legolas was strong as a tree and the most tireless of the Fellowship. He had a particular dislike for his Elves to be represented as weak and effeminate.

: Their height and weight appears to be similar to that of men, if somewhat less (Galadriel and Celeborn stood approximately 6'4" in height, and they were considered tall for elves). Legolas, I would estimate to have been around six feet tall, weighing perhaps 160-170 lbs. Yet, even if he weighed only half of that, he would still sink into the snow where it not for his race.

The Quendi are taller than men in general. It is said they, IIRC, averaged at 6' or more in the appendices. I take this average to be inclusive of both genders and all varietys (ie Noldo, Sinda, Silvan etc). Legolas was certainly much taller than six feet. In Letters of JRRT (IIRC) the professor said he was the tallest of the Fellowship saving Aragorn only. Aragorn was probably in the range of approaching 7' tall. I think there is something in UT implying, though not stating, Aragorn's great height in reference to his resemblace to Elendil and Isildur. Elendil was said to be more than 7.5' tall. Yet Elu Thingol was taller still hor he was the tallest of the Children of Iluvatar (probably nearing 8') and Turgon was second in height only to Thingol. Galadriel is 'tallest of the women of the Eldar of whom tales tell' and is said to be 6'4". She is said to be of a like height to Celeborn who was accounted tall among the Teleri/Sindar (though my personal opinion is that Celeborn was taller than Galadriel and the Hobbits were mistaken in their view, again this is my own opinion and not necesarily in accord with LOTR). In any event, Galadriel and Celeborn were not 'tall for Elves', Galadriel was tall for a woman of the Eldar and Celeborn was accounted tall among the Teleri/Lindar/Sindar. The Noldor were the tallest kindred of the Eldar overall and had the greatest build. I picture Noldo men AVERAGING 6'6" and 200 to 210 pounds (being the greatest warriors in Middle-earth, this is not unreasonable). The Teleri/Sindar would AVERAGE a couple of inches shorter and perhaps 20 lbs less. The various Silvan and Avari would average a couple inches less than that and drop another ca. 20lbs. The Dunedain (among those of purer blood) would probably be similar in height to the Noldor though heavier in build; those of less pure blood would probably be more like the Sindar in height (though heavier in build).