Círdan the Shipwright - Epic Character History
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Círdan the Shipwright was one the oldest and wisest Elves in Middle-earth in Tolkien’s works, and he was the friend of many different folk. His tale flows through many ages of the world, and it is quite an inspiring one. Thank you all so much for watching, let me know what you think about Círdan and his history in the comments below! As always, a great thanks to the online artists whose visual works made this video possible! If you are one of the artists, please let me know and I will post your name and a link to your work in this description!
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Houses of the Elves:
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Círdan giving Gandalf the Ring of Fire: “Take this ring, but don’t tell Saruman. He’s a bit of a jerk.”
*Saruman Rhee's in the background*
@@mrhalfwit972 REEEEEEEEEEEE
Makes you wonder what Elrond thought of Saruman.... seems like both Cirdan and Galadriel always thought he was an asshole lol
@@KS-xk2so well they were correct
If I’m not mistaken, cirdan actually is the oldest elf in middle earth by the time the third age ended. He might’ve even been one of the original 144 elves to awaken
Jake Alter Do you think that this means he was as powerful as galadriel?
Tolkien, as far as I know, never developed a solid power scale to use for comparison. The only real thing we could possibly use is the hierarchical system and the concept of lessening power with lower groups. If he is one of the original elves to awaken, and Galadriel was the same, then I’d say they’re comparable. Tho their specific specialties would likely vary, as their different paths would carve different fates for each.
Also, it turns out that my phone automatically suggests 🧝♀️ whenever I type Galadriel in.
He was definitely one of the ones to make the Great Journey
Alejandro Guerra Villegas unlikely since she was from valinor and had one of the 3 rings. He is at least as wise though
You are not mistaken; he was kinsman to the three lords of the elves who first entered Aman, and his kingdom in the Falas was technically the first Kingdom of Middle Earth.
*Editor:* How many Elves characters with complex backstories and long history do you want to put on your books?
*Tolkien:* YES.
Hahaha for real!
@@MenoftheWest I both bless and damn Tolkien for made me develop an love for elves. 😂
Maria Paz G. Lesme I think that’s only a blessing
@@DiracComb.7585 Oh believe it, it's also a curse. A curse that I'll glady accept it. 💙🧝♀️🧝♂️
Why did he have to give them all multiple names and all of them so hard to pronounce! That's the good thing about Hobbits, they have names like Merry and Sam!
How does one live that long, see all of the horrors of the world of Arda, and still make it all of the way to end? Its a lesson to all of us who wish to quit too hastily.
dosn't that make Cirdan a veteran of like every war in Arda?
It really has nothing to say for us on that matter of "quitting to hastily" since we have no hope of immortality (yet). Quit or quit not we have 0 chance of enduring. However if you try you can ferret out a few kernels advice; Cirdan's people were the most mobile of Elves, and were not destroyed when they lost their homeland (unlike Thingol, Finrod, and Fingon's people)(the only Elven naval power), and Cirdan's pride was not allowed to put him or his people at excessive risk. Thingol's pride and greed (Silmaril) entangled him in the doom of Feanor, Finrod Felegund's open promise to Barahir which forced him into a perilous quest for a Silmaril which cost him his life and ultimately destroyed his people (for his successors were pale shadows), Fingon's pride led him to establish his Kingdom on the doorstep of Angbad resulting in his kingdom falling first to Morgoth as well as taking him to Angbad's front door on a fool's errand to confront the mightiest being to ever descend into Arda in personal combat. Gil-galad himself confronted Sauron and met his doom. The list goes on.
Cirdan never did anything of the sort. You don't see him seeking out personal combat, you don't see him committing suicide by Valar, you don't see him pursuing the Silmarils or making promises that commit him to foolish actions. His policies are measured, his councils pragmatic, and does not accept undue risk. In this way the math problem that affects all immortal but killable creatures was abated long enough for him to complete his task. And yet he was not a coward, and did aid his Kings, and did lead armies to support his military allies.
By math problem I mean this: even if medical technology one day gives human beings a life span immune to the affects of old age, eventually, all immortal men and women will die. Eventually everyone will succumb to accident, homicide or suicide. Cirdan minimized his risks and so endured long enough to pass into the west.
He had a massive vacation after beleriand and gil-galad, basically he had thousands of years of vacations in lindon
@@kyomademon453 haha
@@kyomademon453tbf his vacation consisted in building hundreds if not thousands of ship worthy of going to Valinor, so its still hard work really
Cirdan, patron saint of guardians if there ever was one, first and last sentinel of the longest path. He was the most reliable, ever-ready, traveling far from his comfortable home if needed, sheltering so many others in need, always putting off what he would want for himself to help others in a troubled world. If anyone ever truly deserved a hero's welcome to the eternal city, it was Cirdan.
Is literally older than the sun, finally hits puberty.
I love how token decided that everything in his Universe needed three or four names
Token? I think you mean Tolkien.
@@quinnwatson951 youre right. Autocorrect
Auto-correct...or a second/third name?
It makes sense thematically in many cases (Gandalf being a bit of a traveler for instance). But you can tell his love for language in his taking every opportunity to show off = )
Clarity was not one of Tolkiens forte.
If I didn't have you to sum up everything I've read in the Tolkien books, I would have no idea what the heck happened in Middle Earth! Thank you so much for spending so much time on these videos and making them amazing!!! Great job Yoystan!
sometimes it seems to me that tolkien stories are stories that really happened, I never get tired of listening It even though I read the silmarillion more than 5 times so far... thanks for your videos they are very good...
Jose Zamora u could consider them like a mythology. Now from a literary standpoint, Tolkien didn’t create an actual mythology, rather he created a mythos, but they still feel deep and real enough h that u could actually imagine them happening.
Same here its like.. it feels true.. i dunno ive got this feeling. Like all of this happened.
Cirdan is probably one of my favorite least-talked about characters in the legendarium. This is a really well-done biography of him and I deeply enjoyed watching. As always, Yoystan, you never disappoint. I'm going to reread The Fall of Gondolin and The Silmarillion again soon. Thanks so much for putting out great work like this every week!
I love the idea that the last ship into the West had two hobbits and a horse.
The Void Looks Pretty gotta respect the horses dude. They’re boss.
Not the last as Samwise eventually followed. Point stands though. I imagine as they arrive, the other elves are saying, "Cirdan, yes, Elrond, excellent. Galadriel, fantastic. Mithrandir and...horse? Well okay then. And at the back it's...oh come on, now you're just having a laugh."
Technically, the VERY last one had one grey elf and a dwarf. ;)
The last had Cirdan himself and a few Elven stragglers?
@@johnleclerc8806 there was Legolas, Sam, and Gimli on the ship too
of course, he physically looked old, he was one of the original elves! He's seen things you people wouldn't believe; Ankelogon The Black towering over mountains, the two trees of Valinor killed by Melcor and Ungoliant, witnessed the fall of Beleriand, aided in the death of Ankelogon The Black, fought the necromancer of Dol Guldur, and sew the early years of the fourth age. Hell fucking yea!
He never made it to Aman to see the two trees before they were destroyed, unfortunately.
Cirdan is my favorite elf
I have been looking forward to this video. Círdan is one of the most important characters in whole Arda.
He is incredibly old and wise. Great job man.
Can you do an Epic Character history on Cirdan's beard though? I really need to know and understand how he became one the most follically gifted Elves of Middle-Earth.
Any male elf who enters the third phase of their life (10,000+/- ?)can grow a beard.
His age
If I ever start a goth metal band, I'm naming it "Cirdan's Beard".
Durin the first would be a good person to talk too. Cirdan was my favorite when I figured out his age from silmirillion.
Cirdan has been one of my favorite characters and he would definitely be one of my picks to speak to! Thank you for all your videos on Tolkiens legendarium! You are very easy to understand and listen to! Keep up the good work!
Whenever I'm down I know I can watch your vids and know that there is good in this world. Thanks bud!
You do you realize that Melkor eventually re-enters Arda more powerful than ever and all his past allies get resurrected and reassembled and that the entire world gets broken and is ended in a final battle right? Not that reassuring to me.
@@Dadecorban Nah. I know that, in the end, Iluvitar comes through.
@@NoName-fc3xe Now I know I want to take a different route with these comments. The only thing we know about the creation story and the final battle is what the Elves in Valinor have recorded of what the Ainur have told them. You don't really know. Not even Manwe knew the fate of men's souls. Maybe men get put in the soul trash compactor.
@@Dadecorban That's very possible. I don't personally believe in souls so it's moot to me but I like to think that Tolkien was an optimist. In his myth you get a happy ending unlike reality where you just get an end.
Not going to lie, for a character not widely known, Cirdan has an amazing story arc and story. Him succeeding in his wish to see the undying lands after seeing 5 ages of middle earth is so heartwarming.
I mean, he saw them but never set foot on them since he went to tol eressea not valinor
0:55 -1:05 I didn’t know about this, I want to hear more about this topic! Great work!
WHAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I requested this a month or two ago. Well met my friend !!! :D
Kai King-Blow Well met indeed friend! Thanks for the suggestion!
Men of the West since this is the sight for a request video... can you do a video on the unique creatures of tolkiens middle earth lore unlike any other creatures in other lore myth books or fiction fantasy... ?
Thank you for another video, I love círdan as a character and am so excited about this video
11:30 lovely ending, I really liked this video. Annuminas will be awesome! As well as that "three stages of Elven life" one.
You have no idea how much I needed to hear / read a story such as Cirdan's today :)
Thanks so much, Yoystan!
Thank you for your channel. Your lore is truly excellent. Love your pronunciations too. I have learned so much from you.
Thank you for remembering my question from the last podcast! Great video
Thank you so much for posting this video! Ever since I heard about him giving Naria to Gandalf I wanted to know more about him!!😉😊
It is a crime how little attention has been paid to this fascinating elf! Thank you so much for this!
Why do you think book readers are the harshest critics of their visual counterparts? Visual mediums skimp out on all sorts of shit.
I would LOVE to see more of him and Glorfindel, they are epic characters that need so much more attention.
youtoob4life To lose out on seeing Glorfindel, possibly the most mysterious and powerful warrior on the side of the free peoples, in the movies just so we could see more of Arwen still hurts my heart.
@@thelastwaltz730 Don't.. please don't remind me :(
I know! He’s so interesting. I wish Tolkien would have fleshed out his character more, and we could have been told more stories from Cirdan’s POV.
Círdan has always been in the back of my head, mostly because he gave Narya to Gandalf and because I just like the word Shipwright, but I have never really explored his character more, so thank you Yoystan for bringing light this, wise, fascinating and important character! as for 10 characters that I would like to speak to, well we can humbly start with myself, The Witch-King, then Gandalf, Galadriel, Treebeard, Aragorn, Sam, Smaug, Bilbo, Elrond and now thanks to this video, Círdan
Thank you for doing this character's epic history. I think it is such a wonder that Cirdan is the only Elf we (at least that we know) that lived in Middle Earth from the very beginning of the YT 1050 to sometime in the fourth age when the Last Ship of the Elves sailed West. So much of Middle Earth's history seen by One Elf who probably could've written the entirety of Middle Earth in a book. I feel that Cirdan was a true Elf to Middle Earth, that his duty to defend Middle Earth and not allow his desire to want to sail west overcome his duty.
What the dwarves did was Unforgivable that would be like me being commissioned to do a painting and then demanding have the painting as my compensation
@@agachill5000 the customer is always right
@@agachill5000 a d Thingol was the customer
that's exactly what happened lol
Dang, 😧 so Círdan is the elf that actually lived a really long life in Middle Earth? Even long before the third age ended? That's pretty cool, but pretty insane at the same time!!! Good job Yoystan for making this vid!!!😊😊😊👍👍👍
There are plenty of Elves who lived a long time. Galadriel and Glorfindel came across the sea in the first age. Elrond was born in the first age. This is just off the top of my head. He is certainly the oldest in Middle Earth though.
@@Dadecorban yeah you could be right! but Galadriel and Glorfindel were likely born somewhere between the late years of the trees or the early first age. As for Elrond, he was born during the late first age after all. (At least within the last century of that age anyways).
@@Dadecorban Cirdan is possibly the oldest, since he could be one of the first elves who awoke in Middle Earth. Celeborn and Galadriel were both born in the first age, while i think Galadriel is older, since it is mentioned that she lived when the two trees still shined. In Celeborns case it is just stated that he was born in the first age without mentioning the trees.
Elrond, Glorfindel (as you mentioned) and Thranduil were also born in the first age. So we got at least 6 elves who wandered in Middle Earth since the first age.
@@geviesanta3631 Maybe it's your English, but your original comments says "Cirdan is the elf that actually lived a really long time" and I am simply pointing out that there are several very old Elves in the lore. It's possible you mispoke and meant to say "Dang, so Cirdan is the oldest Elf in Middle Earth"
@@dwightsmith3815 He's almost certainly (rather than possibly) the oldest named Elf living in Middle Earth during the third age. It's highly unlikely that there is some older, unnamed Elf that's been Highlandering his way through the ages in secrecy, thought of, but unmentioned by Tolkien. ^.^ I mean, Tolkien spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to decide for himself whether the Galdor and Glorfindel from Gondolin were the same ones as mentioned in Lord of the Rings. That's a lot of time trying to make sure that named characters and their histories are accounted for with no room for lineal ambiguity. Then again, Amazon just bought the rights to create their own lore in a First Age tv-series, so anything is on the table now.
Thanks, Men! This was the best study yet -- in subject matter and in presentation, in my opinion. I've always found Cirdan to be especially fascinating, as he seems to embody the vast scale and majesty of the events and time span of the ages of the world.
Cirdan! WOOO!! So glad you made this video, ive heard so much of him yet knew so little, it feels like. Thank you.
A criminally overlooked character, whose importance I somewhat grasped, but whose sheer AGE I was ignorant of until I was recently gifted a copy of "The Silmarillion," and re-read it. Cirdan is, indeed, the oldest living elf I can think of by the end of the Third Age, and easily the greatest "survivor" of all the Elven leaders after all he's been through. So it's quite timely to find this new video addressing this very character.
What seems to emerge in viewing his life is a very humble elf with a genuinely retiring personality, and yet one who still has enormous (if under-praised) qualities of leadership. He seems to be a rare example of a leader with an introverted character, something I find personally fascinating.
I, too, thought that he likely left with Celeborn. For when Celeborn left, "with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth," which would have had to include the even older Cirdan, who in turn had promised to leave "when the last ship sails." But there's a wrinkle in this story, in that Samwise is said to have also sailed to the Undying Lands in 1482 S.R. If he did so, then it would have to be the last ship, since he certainly couldn't build it himself, especially at his age!
So Cirdan could well have been waiting to meet him at that point, and one then has to wonder how much of Celeborn's party was still waiting. Did Samwise find a whole ship ready to go? Or did he find Cirdan waiting, by himself, with a single small vessel just big enough for the two of them? (I've got the beginnings of a story based on THAT idea.)
Thank you for this video - Cirdan is a wonderful character. I hope he gets a mention in the new TV series, as he has been a part of almost every major event in Middle Earth since the beginning.
I love your statements of morality and character at the end of each of your videos; it's edifying and encouraging.
Thank you very much for doing this video. Cirdan is my favorite character in all of Tolkien's books, even thoough he is not often highlighted in the stories.
I like your personal conclusions at the end but would appreciate more analysis of specific themes or events to reach said conclusions.
That said, I enjoy your work, tone of voice and choice of imagery.
Thanks for all the effort you have put in over the 2 years I have been following you.
Every time I feel depressed I can watch one of your videos and it gives me hope. Your wonderful narration and Tolkiens mythic stories just make me step back from this world & imagine what could be if more people slowed down and thought about how there actions effected other people. Thank you so much for the beautiful narrative. You are a bright spot in a scary dark world.
Can I just say THANK YOU?? I am in the middle of a big, stressful move and I am just cranking through most of your content while trying not to freak out and your stuff is making me feel so much better. Tolkien has been my escape since I was 13 when I'm feeling anxious and these videos are just the best thing. Thank you so much for all your hard work to put these together. You are so appreciated!!
One of the best videos of all! Such an amazing story just about one character. I wish I could spend one life in the Middle-Earth to contemplate all this with my own eyes.
I love Cirdan so much that I got a personal license plate for my vehicle, which is grey. I even put part of the quote you shared in the video about following the light on the back as a window sticker
I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM ONLY JUST DISCOVERING YOUR CHANNEL. big big big fan of every video ive watched so far
Thanks for doing my recommendation! Great video on a great character
His beard symbolizes his wisdom and foresight. Thank you again for another great video
I didn’t realize there was so much more to Cirdan! Thank you very much for the upload!!! I love your videos very much!!! It motivates me to reread the Tolkien novels again!!!
i love your snippets at the end of your videos! Thank you!
Yet another brilliant video man I love your channel and listen to your videos all the time even the older ones I start from your very first video all the way up to the newest I hope you post for as long as you can man
Wow! What an amazing character! And over over 10,000 years old? Círdan is indeed an epic character.
🧝♂️Love your videos, thanks so much for making them🖤 My partner and I are reading The Silmarillion as well as some Unfinished Tales and your videos are immensely helpful and highly entertaining. I was very intimidated by Tolkien's lush world and you my friend are a fantastic guide🧙♂️
Your ending was really good, like always, and Círdan did demonstrate a valuable lesson (I tried about 50 of the alt options until I found Alt 161 ;D)
Awesome video! Enjoy your week!💯🙏🙌
Yoystan, I loved the last sentiment you spoke about, about helping others. Very beautiful thought!
It never ceases to amaze me, been 30 years now and I'm still learning new things about Tolkien's world.
LOVE U DUDE UR ONE OF MY FAVORITE TUBERS LOVE THE LORE OF LOTR AND UR VOICE IS VERY PEACEFUL ANYHOW LUVE THE VIDS LUV U KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK 🤘👍
I literally just read about him in the Fall of Gondolin!!!!!!
Very helpful video. I'm doing a character study of Cirdan, and your video was concise and easy to follow. Thank you!
Thank you for this video, I love Círdan!
Great summary of his life. Thanks
...hannon le, mellon-nin. It has been a dark, heavy day, and somehow this gives me hope.
Keep up the excellent work
Please, I'd love to hear life stories about individual Hobbits of the Shire, such as the"Old" Gaffer, Farmer Cotton, Rose Cotton, Fredigar Bolger, The Sackville-Baggins. Those videos would make my day. Thank you.
Thanks again for an awesome video!
Almost 11,000 years old, no wonder he had a long beard
most underestimated Elf by most great character
I love Círdan, and he would certainly be one of the 10 I would want to talk to! Thanks for this great video!
Hi Yoystan, thank you for this, I have a hard day, this give me hope :)
Awesome video. I can't wait to see the elven life cycles video
I love the epics you do! So informative!
I think I need to read the book again because I don't even remember this character or any of these other characters that are very important it seems in other ways to Side Stories.
They are in the simmarillion or in the appendix of Return of The King. Theres lots of other books besides just hobbit and the trilogy the movies are about. Theres sooooo much to it. Like a huge history book of an imaginary world. Some of it is hard to follow for me, the audiobook of simarillion is great.
I suggest the audio book.
Thank you for the video.
Nice work dude thanks
Very interesting. Everyone knew Cirdan "The Shipwright" was a straight up honcho but I never knew exactly what his deal was.
Nice to hear all of this elf in compressed and chronologic order. Again, I learned.
I had zero knowledge about this guy, very cool video!!!
The tale of Círdan illustrates the staggering creative imagination of Professor Tolkien. It's arguably a peripheral story in terms of the overall histories of Arda and yet Círdan is also crucial in terms of major historical developments of Middle Earth. His narrative alone would doubtless fill an episode or two of the soon-to-be televised histories of Middle Earth.
I really like that your narrative summaries are delivered in a similarly grandiloquent manner to that of Professor Tolkien's magisterial fashion.
Imagine living for all those ages and ages... and never having sex; poor old Círdan!
Edit: Ossë not osseeyay.
Hey my man, can you do a video on the mouth of Sauron? I was just thinking that I'm a super big nerd for LOTR but I know like nothing about him. Also, great video man! Keep up the great work!
Also I totally saw that topic coming
That picture of the kindslaying is one of the most beautiful pictures which came from Tolkiens world..such amazung colors
What a. amazing character.
So old that he has a beard... he has the guise closest to Iru-Illuvitar.
10,932 years... i could never wait that long to fulfill my greatest desire
I’d honestly love to see a movie on this character!
Great video
Over 10,000 years old? That's some life he lived.
Great job
What a great channel. Recommended from nerdrotic.
First and a great video
Great video Men of the West.
The patiance of this guy.His greatest desire was to travel to Valinor and yet he waited almost 10000 years to finally do so
Great video! Tell me, do you have any idea, what happened or could have happened to Vingilótë after the War of the Wrath?
Thanks man! Vingilot and Eärendil would remain in the sky, passing from East to West every day, and when he reached the West, his love Elwing would meet him in the sky, as she had wings of her own. The light of Eärendil’s silmaril became a beacon of hope and the star most loved by the Eldar!
@@MenoftheWest Thanks for the great answer!
If I was putting together a Council of Tolkien it would definitely have Turin Turambar in it. Whatever he councilled, I'd just do the opposite, lol
Hey man, subscribed and I am loving your content! I’m super into Elvish linguistics and to be honest the only thing that could be improved about this channel is the pronunciation of the Elvish words (yeah... I’m gonna be THAT guy!). Sounds like you’re using Martin Shaw’s pronunciation which is quite off sometimes (correct pronunciation should be SIN-da-rin, o-ROD-reth, TE-le-ri, etc). I get that the rules are complicated so, for the next video you do, if you send a list of Elvish names you’re including I’d be happy to send audio files with the correct pronunciation, or upload a video? Once again, love your work! Just tryna be a helpful fan haha
Very well done )
I'd imagine that when Círdan realized he was finally growing a beard he felt overjoyed, as will probably all Elves who grow beards.
I would love to see the Dwarves reaction to this guy. "Elf?, with a beard? Get the fuck outta here!"
I've always been curious about Cirdan, because he was always there, always mentioned. I know that Thingol was one of the first; the original Elves, but didn't know exactly, about Cirdan. He is the only Elf that I can remember, that is described as being old looking.
Can you do an epic character history of Elendil
He is older then Galadriel
Only two beings older than Cirdan would be tree beard and Tom bombidiel. Tree beard would be good slow conversation to have.
One of my favorite characters. Love to think he was actually one of Elves to awake under the stars of Arda.