Post by artanaro on Nov 18, 2005 15:13:59 GMT -5
Melian Meaning: Derived from 'Melyanna', meaning 'dear gift'
Kind Maia
Lifespan Immortal, no known beginning or ending
Melian was a Maia who served the two Valier, Estë and Vána. Melian dwelt in the gardens of Lórien where she tended the trees that flowered. She found great joy and pleasure in the shadows of the great trees. Melian was considered akin to the Valië, Yavanna, "the giver of fruits’" before the world was made.
Of great beauty and wisdom was Melian and her songs had the power of enchanting all who heard them. Melian used to sing in the gardens of Lórien at the time of the mingling of the lights of the Two Trees of Valinor. So great was the beauty and enchantment of her song that it is said that even the Valar would leave their works when she sang. It is said that nightingales always surrounded Melian and that she taught them their songs.
At the time of the awakening of the Elves, Melian journeyed to Middle Earth. She then filled the silence with her enchanting voice and those of her birds. When the Teleri rested in the forests of Neldoreth during their great journey to the west, Elwë Singollo (Elu Thingol), their lord, was passing through the woods to seek the dwellings of the Noldor. But it chanced that as he was passing through the woods of Nan Elmoth, the song of Melian fell upon his ears and forgetting all his purposes instantaneously, he followed her voice and came to her in a starlit glade wherein he fell into a trance looking upon the light of Valinor in Melian's face.
On awakening from his trance many years later, Elwë Thingol took Melian for his wife and did not journey into Valinor. Together they established a realm in the woods of that land and this was later named Doriath, "the land of the fence." The name arose because of the invisible wall of shadow and bewilderment that Melian had surrounded the region with. This was done so that none could enter the region without the permission of either Melian or King Thingol. But wise as she was, she did foretell the passage of Beren through the fence because of the great doom that was on him. To Melian and Thingol was born Lúthien, the most beautiful of her kindred. Melian gave many other wise counsels to Thingol, including the building of Menegroth at the end of the third age of captivity of Melkor. She warned Thingol that Melkor would soon trouble Middle Earth once again.
Melian departed in grief from Middle Earth forever to the Undying Lands after Thingol was slain by some of the treacherous Dwarves.
from LOTR Fanatics Library
Kind Maia
Lifespan Immortal, no known beginning or ending
Melian was a Maia who served the two Valier, Estë and Vána. Melian dwelt in the gardens of Lórien where she tended the trees that flowered. She found great joy and pleasure in the shadows of the great trees. Melian was considered akin to the Valië, Yavanna, "the giver of fruits’" before the world was made.
Of great beauty and wisdom was Melian and her songs had the power of enchanting all who heard them. Melian used to sing in the gardens of Lórien at the time of the mingling of the lights of the Two Trees of Valinor. So great was the beauty and enchantment of her song that it is said that even the Valar would leave their works when she sang. It is said that nightingales always surrounded Melian and that she taught them their songs.
At the time of the awakening of the Elves, Melian journeyed to Middle Earth. She then filled the silence with her enchanting voice and those of her birds. When the Teleri rested in the forests of Neldoreth during their great journey to the west, Elwë Singollo (Elu Thingol), their lord, was passing through the woods to seek the dwellings of the Noldor. But it chanced that as he was passing through the woods of Nan Elmoth, the song of Melian fell upon his ears and forgetting all his purposes instantaneously, he followed her voice and came to her in a starlit glade wherein he fell into a trance looking upon the light of Valinor in Melian's face.
On awakening from his trance many years later, Elwë Thingol took Melian for his wife and did not journey into Valinor. Together they established a realm in the woods of that land and this was later named Doriath, "the land of the fence." The name arose because of the invisible wall of shadow and bewilderment that Melian had surrounded the region with. This was done so that none could enter the region without the permission of either Melian or King Thingol. But wise as she was, she did foretell the passage of Beren through the fence because of the great doom that was on him. To Melian and Thingol was born Lúthien, the most beautiful of her kindred. Melian gave many other wise counsels to Thingol, including the building of Menegroth at the end of the third age of captivity of Melkor. She warned Thingol that Melkor would soon trouble Middle Earth once again.
Melian departed in grief from Middle Earth forever to the Undying Lands after Thingol was slain by some of the treacherous Dwarves.
from LOTR Fanatics Library