Dates
Divided from the other Teleri at the close of the Great Journey; Elves of this people survived until at least the end of the Third AgeLocation
Widespread, especially across Beleriand, but the chief realm of these people was Thingol's land of DoriathOrigins
That part of the Teleri who remained behind in Middle-earth when their fellow Elves departed across the Great Sea into the WestRace
Division
Cultures
Various, but most notably the Elves of Doriath and Elves of the FalasSettlements
Pronunciation
si'ndarr (note that the final 'r' sound should be pronounced - 'rr' is used here to emphasise this)
Meaning
'Grey people'1
Other names
Note
Sindar is a plural term; the singular form is Sinda, and the adjective for these people is Sindarin
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 22 May 2004
- Updates planned: 10
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An Elvish people of Telerin origin. Coming to the western shores of Middle-earth with the others of their kin, they did not pass across the Sea, but remained in Beleriand. Some had tarried there searching for their lord, Elwë, while others were persuaded to remain by Ossë the Maia.
Before the return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the Sindar were found in most parts of Beleriand; all claimed Elwë (known as Thingol in the Sindarin tongue) as their high king. There were two main countries of the Sindar, however; in Doriath under the rule of Thingol and Melian, and in the Falas, under the lordship of Círdan the Shipwright. For two ages, the Sindar dwelt in peace and plenty; they roamed throughout Beleriand, from the shorelands of the Falas in the west to the Blue Mountains in the east, and all owned Thingol as their lord and king.
In the third age of the Captivity of Melkor (that is, the last age of the Years of the Trees), evil things that had dwelt east of the Blue Mountains began to trouble the Sindar. At this time, they first considered the need for weapons and armour, which they had not needed before. They traded with the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost, and learned smithcraft from them. Thus armed, they drove the invading wolves and Orcs and other foul things from their land and had peace again, for a time.
Notes
1 |
The interpretation 'grey people' is loaded with possible meanings. At least in part, it seems to be meant symbolically: these people were neither Light Elves nor Dark Elves, but lay somewhere between the two. In his index to The Silmarillion, Christopher Tolkien also suggests a more prosaic explanation: that the Noldor (who gave them this name) first encountered the Sindar under the grey northern skies of Mithrim. A connection was also implied with the name of their lord, Thingol (whose name came from Sindacollo, meaning 'Greycloak'). |
See also...
Aelin-uial, Aldaron, Alphabet of Daeron, Ancient Tongue, Angerthas Daeron, Annael, Aranrúth, Aranwë, Araw, Belegûr, Belegurth, Certar, Dagor-nuin-Giliath, Dark Elf, Dark Elves, [See the full list...]Dark Power of the North, Dor Caranthir, Doriath, Drughu, Dwarves, East-elves, Edhellond, Edhelrim, Edhil, Eglador, Eglath, Eldar, Eldar of Hithlum, Eldar of the West, Elu Thingol, Elven-cloaks, Elvenesse, Elves, Elves of Beleriand, Elves of Doriath, Elves of Gondolin, Elves of Harlindon, Elves of Lindon, Elves of Middle-earth, Elves of the Havens, Elves of the High Kindred, Elves of the Twilight, Elves of the Wood, Elves of Thranduil, Elvish, Falmari, First Age, Folk of the Wood, Forester, Forsaken Elves, Forsaken People, Gaerys, Gate of Bronze, Gilthoniel, Golodhrim, Gondolin, Gonnhirrim, Grey-elves, Grey-elves of Mithrim, Greycloak, Halmir, Havens of Sirion, Hells of Iron, Helluin, Hidden King, High Folk of the West, High Seat of Vinyamar, King of Doriath, King of the Silvan Elves, Laer Cú Beleg, Laiquendi, Land of Mist, Land of the Elves, Land of the Girdle, Legolas Greenleaf, Lindar, Lord of Lórien, Lord of Lothlórien, Melian, Middle-earth, Moriquendi, Noldor of Gondolin, Oropher, People of the Great Journey, Queen of Elves and Men, Return of the Noldor, Second Battle, Seven Gates of Gondolin, Silvan Elves, Silvan Elvish, Sindacollo, Sindar of Beleriand, Sindar of Nevrast, Singollo, Taras-ness, Tauron, Teleporno, Teleri, The Secret, The Sheen, The Wise, Third Clan, Third Gate, Three Kindreds, Tuilë, Úmanyar, Wars of Beleriand, Wild Elves, Woodland Realm, Yrch
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 22 May 2004
- Updates planned: 10
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Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1999, 2000, 2004. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.
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