Are elves in Middle Earth mortal or immortal?
In Lord of the Rings, three thousand years before the story, Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.
But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.
So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?
character the-lord-of-the-rings
add a comment |
In Lord of the Rings, three thousand years before the story, Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.
But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.
So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?
character the-lord-of-the-rings
6
They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
9 hours ago
18
Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
9 hours ago
2
And Galadriel is even older by far than Elrond.
– Kevin Milner
4 hours ago
@Paulie_D: Right. Immortal and invulnerable are different things; you can be both, neither, or just one of the two. Elves are immortal (unaging), but not invulnerable (unkillable).
– ShadowRanger
2 hours ago
@Paulie_D I believe it's colloquially used in that sense, though.
– jpmc26
26 mins ago
add a comment |
In Lord of the Rings, three thousand years before the story, Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.
But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.
So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?
character the-lord-of-the-rings
In Lord of the Rings, three thousand years before the story, Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.
But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.
So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?
character the-lord-of-the-rings
character the-lord-of-the-rings
edited 59 mins ago
Community♦
1
1
asked 9 hours ago
Nazgul
1,3933921
1,3933921
6
They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
9 hours ago
18
Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
9 hours ago
2
And Galadriel is even older by far than Elrond.
– Kevin Milner
4 hours ago
@Paulie_D: Right. Immortal and invulnerable are different things; you can be both, neither, or just one of the two. Elves are immortal (unaging), but not invulnerable (unkillable).
– ShadowRanger
2 hours ago
@Paulie_D I believe it's colloquially used in that sense, though.
– jpmc26
26 mins ago
add a comment |
6
They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
9 hours ago
18
Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
9 hours ago
2
And Galadriel is even older by far than Elrond.
– Kevin Milner
4 hours ago
@Paulie_D: Right. Immortal and invulnerable are different things; you can be both, neither, or just one of the two. Elves are immortal (unaging), but not invulnerable (unkillable).
– ShadowRanger
2 hours ago
@Paulie_D I believe it's colloquially used in that sense, though.
– jpmc26
26 mins ago
6
6
They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
9 hours ago
They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
9 hours ago
18
18
Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
9 hours ago
Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
9 hours ago
2
2
And Galadriel is even older by far than Elrond.
– Kevin Milner
4 hours ago
And Galadriel is even older by far than Elrond.
– Kevin Milner
4 hours ago
@Paulie_D: Right. Immortal and invulnerable are different things; you can be both, neither, or just one of the two. Elves are immortal (unaging), but not invulnerable (unkillable).
– ShadowRanger
2 hours ago
@Paulie_D: Right. Immortal and invulnerable are different things; you can be both, neither, or just one of the two. Elves are immortal (unaging), but not invulnerable (unkillable).
– ShadowRanger
2 hours ago
@Paulie_D I believe it's colloquially used in that sense, though.
– jpmc26
26 mins ago
@Paulie_D I believe it's colloquially used in that sense, though.
– jpmc26
26 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.
According to Tolkien, once an Elf becomes an adult, they stop getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.
Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
When an Elf dies, his spirit goes to Mandos for his judgement, and after a period of waiting could be reembodied.
According to Wikipedia
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
of grief and weariness.
Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.
Interesting info from here
While the three cycles are not specifically defined, the first cycle
is likely childhood and adolescence, which ended at the 100th year,
the second is adulthood which could continue for Ages, and the third
is for extremely old Elves;
Elves did not physically age after they reached maturity, but they did
age in a different sense than Men. They became ever more weary of the
world and burdened by its sorrows.
Elves are naturally immortal; like the Ainur, they are bound to Arda
until its End. Elves are immune to all diseases, and they can recover
from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man.
The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in the form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.
1
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes they are immortal until killed:
As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.
Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.
According to Tolkien, once an Elf becomes an adult, they stop getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.
Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
When an Elf dies, his spirit goes to Mandos for his judgement, and after a period of waiting could be reembodied.
According to Wikipedia
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
of grief and weariness.
Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.
Interesting info from here
While the three cycles are not specifically defined, the first cycle
is likely childhood and adolescence, which ended at the 100th year,
the second is adulthood which could continue for Ages, and the third
is for extremely old Elves;
Elves did not physically age after they reached maturity, but they did
age in a different sense than Men. They became ever more weary of the
world and burdened by its sorrows.
Elves are naturally immortal; like the Ainur, they are bound to Arda
until its End. Elves are immune to all diseases, and they can recover
from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man.
The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in the form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.
1
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.
According to Tolkien, once an Elf becomes an adult, they stop getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.
Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
When an Elf dies, his spirit goes to Mandos for his judgement, and after a period of waiting could be reembodied.
According to Wikipedia
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
of grief and weariness.
Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.
Interesting info from here
While the three cycles are not specifically defined, the first cycle
is likely childhood and adolescence, which ended at the 100th year,
the second is adulthood which could continue for Ages, and the third
is for extremely old Elves;
Elves did not physically age after they reached maturity, but they did
age in a different sense than Men. They became ever more weary of the
world and burdened by its sorrows.
Elves are naturally immortal; like the Ainur, they are bound to Arda
until its End. Elves are immune to all diseases, and they can recover
from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man.
The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in the form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.
1
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.
According to Tolkien, once an Elf becomes an adult, they stop getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.
Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
When an Elf dies, his spirit goes to Mandos for his judgement, and after a period of waiting could be reembodied.
According to Wikipedia
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
of grief and weariness.
Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.
Interesting info from here
While the three cycles are not specifically defined, the first cycle
is likely childhood and adolescence, which ended at the 100th year,
the second is adulthood which could continue for Ages, and the third
is for extremely old Elves;
Elves did not physically age after they reached maturity, but they did
age in a different sense than Men. They became ever more weary of the
world and burdened by its sorrows.
Elves are naturally immortal; like the Ainur, they are bound to Arda
until its End. Elves are immune to all diseases, and they can recover
from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man.
The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in the form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.
They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.
According to Tolkien, once an Elf becomes an adult, they stop getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.
Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
When an Elf dies, his spirit goes to Mandos for his judgement, and after a period of waiting could be reembodied.
According to Wikipedia
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
of grief and weariness.
Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.
Interesting info from here
While the three cycles are not specifically defined, the first cycle
is likely childhood and adolescence, which ended at the 100th year,
the second is adulthood which could continue for Ages, and the third
is for extremely old Elves;
Elves did not physically age after they reached maturity, but they did
age in a different sense than Men. They became ever more weary of the
world and burdened by its sorrows.
Elves are naturally immortal; like the Ainur, they are bound to Arda
until its End. Elves are immune to all diseases, and they can recover
from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man.
The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in the form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.
edited 16 mins ago
Mark Rogers
7812517
7812517
answered 9 hours ago
Filip Kočica
85314
85314
1
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
1
1
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
I've read all of Tolkiens work and I never thought that elves are reborn. There are (in-world) legends about reborn heroes, but if they are true, they are very rare exceptions. Once dead, elves are dead.
– Tom
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom - Elven life cycle
– Filip Kočica
6 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Tom Glorfindel is very active in Middle-earth in the 3rd Age, after dying in Gondolin towards the end of the 1st Age. About Fëanor it is specifically stated that he won't be allowed to leave Mandos until the world ends, meaning that this was not generally true of other elves.
– Galastel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes they are immortal until killed:
As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.
Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia
add a comment |
Yes they are immortal until killed:
As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.
Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia
add a comment |
Yes they are immortal until killed:
As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.
Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia
Yes they are immortal until killed:
As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.
Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia
edited 9 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Ankit Sharma
72.4k61380585
72.4k61380585
add a comment |
add a comment |
6
They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
9 hours ago
18
Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
9 hours ago
2
And Galadriel is even older by far than Elrond.
– Kevin Milner
4 hours ago
@Paulie_D: Right. Immortal and invulnerable are different things; you can be both, neither, or just one of the two. Elves are immortal (unaging), but not invulnerable (unkillable).
– ShadowRanger
2 hours ago
@Paulie_D I believe it's colloquially used in that sense, though.
– jpmc26
26 mins ago