In all seriousness, this channel is the best thing on the internet. I have been Tolkien freak for at least 40 years. One of the first books I ever bought was an original edition Silmarillion at my church's rummage sale for 75 cents. The narration and artwork you use is fantastic. Like when I am reading Tolkien and I have entered his realm, that is how I feel in these videos.
@@NerdoftheRings have you ever done a video on Mithrellas and Imrazor? I have always found that interesting, it being an elf woman and human man for once and that they helped with the founding of Dol Amroth-which I always imagined as a cosmopolitan city by the ocean.
I just want to brag for a second, I actually have a first draft first run of the Silmarillion in mint condition. Still has printing ink on the edges and the full map in the back
I love the idea that Eöl doesn't recognise the authority of the Noldor and regards them as unwelcome incomers to the lands of the Teleri. It makes you wonder how many other tensions and dissenting views there were among all the elves.
Thranduil's dad disliked Galadriel's growing influence in Lorien, while some of the elves of Lorien (mostly mixed Nandorin-Laiquendi elves) also feared the wars that the Noldor were frequently part of. Amroth and Nimrodel, who ruled Lorien before Galadriel and Celeborn, left that country because they sought the more peaceful lands of the southernmost shores of Gondor (which ofc becomes Dol Amroth later). So yea more than a few of woodland-dwelling elves hated the idea of being neighbors with Noldor
@mon_moi His father was Oropher son of Orodreth and it is said that their first primogenor was Yngwé and a elven maiden of the blood of the Elves of Tol Eresaé Aquilondé.
The sons of Fëanor, who were Princes of the Noldor, had sworn an Oath to recover the Silmarils and had committed many evil deeds in their madness to fulfill their quest. Naturally many of the other Elven peoples weren't cool with that.
Eol and Aredhel's story was one of the first, after Feanor and his sons, in the Silmarillion that really got me with a swapping stroke of tragedy and the sheer storytelling brilliance present in the novel. In just a brief chapter you're put to know and understand each character and feel their ultimate downfall in such an impactfully cathartic way. Which results later in Tuor's story, where Maeglin even as the villain, you don't fully hate him even in his malice because you were made to know the tragedy of his story.
Yes, I agree the Story (stories) are really well written, but I hate Maeglin even more than Morgoth himself, so I don't really agree with the last part
What an interesting character, and his sword being a black blade that was sentient kind of reminds me of Elric’s sword Stormbringer, maybe inspired by Eöl’s creation.
@@NerdoftheRings Eol and Aredhel seem to fit the Hades and Persephone archetype, right? I think the sentient sword is possible because it was made from a heavenly material, the meteorite, seeing as how the ancient world considered the sun, moon, and stars to be sentient beings.
@@flashflood4 the difference is that while Hades did kidnappe Persephone, she wasn't his prisoner. They were also the most stable and loving relationships in the Greek mythology.
It is absolutely baffling yet amazing that you continue to find such interesting subjects in the world of LOTR to make content. It truly speaks volumes on the depth of this world and your love for the franchise. Many thanks and much love, friend
fell into the youtube rabbit hole and ended up watching all your videos over the past week or so, now im all caught up :) i loved tolkiens work when I was younger but life got busy so im greatly appreciative for what you do and the time you put into it! keep it up mate :x
In the Prose Edda (a Norse mythology text and one of Tolkien's inspirations), the line between the "Dwarves" and the "Dark Elves" is pretty blurred, leading some people to think they're just different names for the same beings. It seems like Tolkien kind of incorporated this into his own Dark Elf, making him more Dwarf-like in his skills and lifestyle. Just an interesting tidbit I noticed.
But, if I'm not mistaken, all Elves who did not travel to Valinor and witness the light of the two trees were considered Dark Elves, no? All the Sindar, for instance.
@@karlpoppins Yes, you are right, the only that might be considered a Sindar but was not a Dark Elf was Elu Thingol because he went to Valinor as an emissary of his people when he was called Elwe, but he is the only exception.
No no no. The Poetic Edda by Sturlusson waa very distinct in the Vólúspa in that elves and dwarves were separate entities, with separate realms...Alfheim for the elves, Svartalfheim for the dwarves. The Prose Edda is credited to Sturlusson, but it isn't as consistent as the Poetic Edda, which was very specific, and so much so that the Poetic Edda was the main source Tolkien used, to the point of ripping off the names straight out of the Voluspa. Thorin Eikenskjaldi comes to mind, along with Gandalf and ALL the dwarves from Durin down the line to Dain with the company of dwarves in the Hobbit all being taken directly from the creation story in Voluspa. The Voluspa isn't found in the Prose Edda
That would be a good wrap up video to tie eveyone together (or not) and you could show the ages they lived in and who was the last important figure in the family of one age and who was the next/start in the next age.
It's quite nebulous at times. In some versions Celeborn is Galadriel's first cousin, and in others he's her second cousin. And don't even get anyone started about Orodreth.
As a diehard fan of both film and book, I find your series very useful. I wish everyone would devour both versions, and noting the differences is a great way to examining adaptation, the differences between cinema vs novels in general, and it leaves me more appreciative of both.
A video on Ecthelion of the Fountain would be amazing...I would love to know more about the slayer of the Lord of Balrogs!!! Another fantastic video as always :)
It's interesting to me that Eol settles in Nan Elmoth of all places, since that is the very forest where Melian and Thingol fell in love and were entranced for 300 years. Even if it isn't under Melian's force field, I still think it's very much enchanted. Did he feel a sense of belonging there that his king and queen once also found in that forest?
This is so interesting to hear a different perspective on the Noldor and Middle Earth before vs after the light! And intriguing to think about what space is like in Tolkien's world. It's been a while since I read Silmarillion so I don't remember Eol well. Too bad he's a creep. Awesome video!
the elves committed acts of unprecedented greek tragedies yet valar forgave them EVERYTIME, but as soon as humans claim to see a little bit of valinor, they get their island sunken
Because Valar, maiar and elves (and probably dwarves too) had to deal with each other until Dagor Dagorath, since none of them could truly be 'killed'. Meanwhile humans just can be killed and their souls would reach Eru.
"everytime" is pushing it a bit. They sunk Voronwe's ship because he tried to reach Valinor before the ban on the Noldor was lifted; the oceanic Maia Uinen also sunk several of the stolen ships from Alqualonde in anger. Plus the whole Doom of Mandos was specifically to teach the elves a lesson for being dumb
LOTR and The Hobbit also the silmarillon are one of the best and brilliant story books ever on fantasy. Brilliant video. We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos.
Gurthang is quite the awesome blade! I'm doing a collab with David DelaGardelle from CedarLore Forge later this year and we are going to make Gurthang. Should be a lot of fun!
By far. One of my fav Elf among all in 1st Age. He was such a distinct elf. Always spend his time with dwarves. He hatred towards sun and light where most of the Elf (especially the Teleri, Noldor, Vanyar) love the light of the Two tree and by far. One of the reason why Gondolin fall
Perhaps Eol was photosensitive, retina flash burned, sunburned incredibly easily? That would, and does, drive me into dimmer places ... nothing to do, practically, with good and evil ... now, being shunned for being photosensitive? That, I can see that driving someone to less-than-prosocial behaviors ...
I kinda assumed Eol put a piece of himself into the speaking swords. Perhaps Sauron even heard of this magic and took inspiration and put himself into his one ring.
Same as Feanor, his greatest of all his work were the silmarils but he couldn't make them again even if he tried too since a part of his own essence, fea or soul were put into it.
Omg , i remember asking you on one of your livestreams if you are going to do a video about ëol the dark elf . And by the looks of it IT'S TIMEEEE!!! Thank you notr . I don't know if you are going to stumble upon my comment , but if you do i want you to know that you were the only one that reignited my love for the lore of Middle-earth , and again i can't thank you enough for this ❤ .
Maybe Adar is Maeglin, Eol's son... Who was thrown down a cliff, hit the rocks three times and fell into the flames... That fits Adar's scars nicely. And just imagine how much more of an impactful villain he would be, considering the apallment of the elves who discover that the traitor of Gondolin, responsible for all this destruction, lost lives and sorrow is still alive.
I hope it is not Maeglin. That would greatly diminish the impact of his death in the Silmarillion. Especially for Tuor, the one who killed him in single combat. Maeglin's story is perfect as written and it would be an affront to change it. No, I hope it's a character invented by the show
I wish Maeglin was Adar but I cannot see how since he was thrown down to his death at the Fall of Gondolin (510 in the First Age), falling into the flames. He didn't survive into the Second Age.
This is one of those Tales where Tolkien weaves True Magic. There is so much glimpsed Nothern Myth in this Tale that is beyond Epic. In fact the word Epic is simply not Epic enough. Manwe hath spoken via Tolkien in this Tale.
This character is eve far more important then I even realized. So not only did he Forge a sword that would later be reforged and eventually kill Morgoth, but his story would lead to the direct fall of the 2 most powerful Elven kingdoms? His son Meaglin would lead to the destruction of Gondolin. Being related to Thingol, the Dwarves would learn of the Elf kingdoms from him and eventually to Doriaths destruction? Thingol, Turgon and Morgoth could easily form a friendship over a common hatred of Eol lol.
Dark elves, and elves in general as far as I know, likely originate from Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, existing thousands of years before either of those 😂
Martin, that's what we're all being told but it was pointed out that in the most recent episode, they specifically named something not in LOTR that was only covered Unfinished Tales & The Silmarillion. So either Amazon is pushing back to see if they can out lawyer the Tolkien family or they're finding loopholes or have been granted specific permissions? My guess is the family will allow Amazon to "name" things in the Silmarillion as long as they make NO change to the source material. So that way Amazon can make reference to things in those books/works, but can't change anything about their stories that was named. So...maybe Amazon can name Eol, but has to leave him dead and can fill in the unnamed Maeglin life events.
@@butchgreene there was a boromir and a Legolas in the first or second age as well. They simply can't make adar as maeglin or eol because both died in the first age long before the rings of power which is the middle or end of the second age.
@@krupam0 for ppl interested in this, the reason for it was that meteors were the only source of relatively pure iron, as there were no methods in that time for refining iron ore, the forges people built back then out of mud and straw were not hot enough to melt iron, they could only heat the iron from the meteors to the point that it was hot enough to hammer and bend it. there are some good youtube videos about this, search for "meteor weapons" on the Invicta youtube channel for example.
There is a dagger made from meteor iron amongst the treasures found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. It was one of the most valuable items buried with the boy-king.
I'm Learning a lot about the universe. I certainly wouldn't be able to keep track of everything. I appreciate the effort and passion you put making these videos. although I can't stand ROP or the showrunners. I am glad that there's someone like you giving them a fair shot. Keep up the good work.
Hey Steven A, I’d recommend reading the Silmarillion if you have the time. It’s not the easiest read, but if you are interested in Tolkiens world then it will have lots for you to enjoy.
Why? he betrayed his father. betrayers betray. just because you condemn it in one instance and excuse it in another doesn't change the fact that betrayal is betrayal
@@unclebounce1495 Did he really betray his father or just bide his time to get revenge? Saying something at the time of his father's execution would have only gotten him killed. King Turgon was a moron and the one who was really responsible for the fall of Gondolin. You cannot just kill someone's father and expect them to be cool with it. Maeglin had to avenge his father. The honor codes of the first age demanded it. King Turgon should have seen it a mile away and executed Maeglin when he had the chance. OR if he was feeling merciful let both Maeglin and Eol go free. Either option would have been fine. Instead Turgon decided to split the difference between harshness and kindness by killing the father while sparing the son. Such folly sealed the fate of Gondolin.
@@Novusod Good points, but I still lean toward betrayal. After all, that is what gives the curse weight - the wrong doing (most curses need retributive substance mythically to have lasting power, but not always). Also, as I mentioned before, the son already expressed fanciful interests in the "green pastures" of the other elves. Lastly, he chose to go with his mother and follow her through many places where he could have resisted if he wanted to. and finally, after all that, when his father spoke up, he also remained silent. that's a lot of strikes against him to say he remained loyal to his father but was just "laying low" and "biding his time." I think he was short-sighted and naive and was lured by the greener pastures temptation and likely stories of "city-life" greatness by his mother. then when he gets there and realizes it's not so grand once the novelty wears off and instead has lots of restrictions and rules and obligations, he grows up and realizes why his rural-like father kept him away from the "civilized" urbanites. classic rural run-away to the city because it's got so much more "culture" until you realize it has more trash and grime and odor but culture is just roots and family tradition in either location. but you could be right. I suppose he could have been non-betrayal just supportive of his mother then trapped by Turgon and remained silent until revenge could be enacted. Just seem like a much more unlikely explanation for the events to me.
I really have wanted this video for a long time, ’tis really an intresting tale. Now, my top 1 video I would like to see is the tale of Aldarion and Erendis.
You are perfect. The voice, the editing, the presentation where you use movie portraits too so that movie fans don't get confused. You are more valuable than the one ring for the fandom
The rifts betwen Noldors and the other elfs are awesome to explore in the books, and I would love to see some of those in RoP, the Noldors are like an elitist branch with superior civilization skills, but they can be pretty routhless towards lesser elves, I belive the book give us elements to imagine the noldors like some aristocratics warriors who didnt care to others as they care for themselves, at least in the first age, and that narrative of Eol about them drawing frontiers and making war in other peoples land had some true in it, even if it is contradicted afterwards....
Damn, this elf… He’s like the goth kid at school, like the bullies who smoke at 14, like both Batman and the Joker, like the rogue in every DnD campaign, he’s…edgy.
Such a good video , I really love all content from the first age , thanks god Amazon doesn’t have rights over this material , otherwise they would be making just another mess out of it ! Good job with this kind of videos , don’t care about the coverage of the rings of power .
All of your videos are interesting but this one really caught my eye. I didn't know Tolkien wrote about dark elves. Having played fantasy MMOs for years, and still do every day, I always pick a dark elf. Or high elf. Hearing about Tolkien's depiction of dark elf is awesome. Keep up the great work.
Tolkien's dark elves, the moriquendi, are the tribes that did not heed the call of the valar to summon them to Valinor. They are "dark" from lack of enlightenment/knowledge, not physical light.
This is such an amazing story! I wish they made a live adaptation movie or series of Eol's life the same way they did the lord of the rings movies. ^.^
In a French-speaking book series by regretted Pierre Bottero, in the fictional world of Gwendalavir, there is a dark, bendable, thin yet super-resistant metal, vargelite. Now I know where the inspiration for it came from !
@@jmgonzales7701 Looking at the "Index of Names" in The Silmarillion, it looks like the term Dark Elf has different meanings. In one meaning Dark Elf refers to all elves who did not take the Westward journey. In another sense the term Dark Elf is applied to Eol as a title. He "loved the night and the twilight under the stars".
@@jmgonzales7701 There are multiple races of elves. "Dark Elf" is a term applied to the group (or race) Tolkien named "Moriquendi". Eol is of this race. Some of the other names are Sindar, Noldor, Vanyar, Teleri, Nandor. There's a page in the back of The Silmarillion with a diagram of the different groupings/races.
He was the first non LOTR elf I noticed years ago. I was looking for "Dark Elf" because I was wondering if they existed on ME. Welp, it's just him. He remains the most fascinating Silmarillion elf to this day and that's even after finally noticing Feanor.
at time 3:15 its stated Celebrimbors father Curufun is one of the only other elves we know to gain dwarven friendship". It was not Curufin that gained Dwarven friendship, it was Caranthir who ruled in the Thargelian who lived close to the Dwarf cities.
I low-key agree with Eol...nobody asked the Noldor to come "defend middle earth"... they came for their own selfish reasons, and they're just defending themselves really. It's not like they made some kind of official deal. I don't like when people act like they're doing someone else a favor when they're really only doing things for themselves that they would already be doing anyway. Eol's rash decision to die is probably a mistake but...he kinda had a point lol. The Noldor did sort of suck.
Also, Eol was a notorious sorcerer in his own right. Nan Elmoth was defended chiefly by his enchantments of misdirection, engulfing mists, and changing pathways. The Noldo can’t take credit for that. I still can’t stand Eol, though.
Great video, as always. I do think, though, you miss how extremely creepy the words "not wholly unwilling" actually are. So creepy. Made me feel sick when I read it. Because it also means "not wholly willing." And someone's life not being hateful for a few years stands out as terrible when Tolkien shows so many beautiful examples of real, genuine love, romance, and friendship in marriages. "Not wholly unwilling." So disturbing.
In all seriousness, this channel is the best thing on the internet. I have been Tolkien freak for at least 40 years. One of the first books I ever bought was an original edition Silmarillion at my church's rummage sale for 75 cents. The narration and artwork you use is fantastic. Like when I am reading Tolkien and I have entered his realm, that is how I feel in these videos.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Matthew. So glad you are enjoying the channel!!
@@NerdoftheRings have you ever done a video on Mithrellas and Imrazor? I have always found that interesting, it being an elf woman and human man for once and that they helped with the founding of Dol Amroth-which I always imagined as a cosmopolitan city by the ocean.
@@NerdoftheRingsIs there a video about the life and travels of Maeglin?? I can't seem to find it on your channel.
I just want to brag for a second, I actually have a first draft first run of the Silmarillion in mint condition. Still has printing ink on the edges and the full map in the back
@@javelinphotography I'm not sure if 1st draft, but I certainly have a first edition The Silmarillion complete with map and dust jacket
I love the idea that Eöl doesn't recognise the authority of the Noldor and regards them as unwelcome incomers to the lands of the Teleri. It makes you wonder how many other tensions and dissenting views there were among all the elves.
The Green Elves didn't like Anyone in their lands.
Also some of the more pushy sons of Feanor escalated tensions with locals.
Thranduil's dad disliked Galadriel's growing influence in Lorien, while some of the elves of Lorien (mostly mixed Nandorin-Laiquendi elves) also feared the wars that the Noldor were frequently part of. Amroth and Nimrodel, who ruled Lorien before Galadriel and Celeborn, left that country because they sought the more peaceful lands of the southernmost shores of Gondor (which ofc becomes Dol Amroth later). So yea more than a few of woodland-dwelling elves hated the idea of being neighbors with Noldor
@mon_moi
His father was Oropher son of Orodreth and it is said that their first primogenor was Yngwé and a elven maiden of the blood of the Elves of Tol Eresaé Aquilondé.
The sons of Fëanor, who were Princes of the Noldor, had sworn an Oath to recover the Silmarils and had committed many evil deeds in their madness to fulfill their quest. Naturally many of the other Elven peoples weren't cool with that.
Eol and Aredhel's story was one of the first, after Feanor and his sons, in the Silmarillion that really got me with a swapping stroke of tragedy and the sheer storytelling brilliance present in the novel. In just a brief chapter you're put to know and understand each character and feel their ultimate downfall in such an impactfully cathartic way. Which results later in Tuor's story, where Maeglin even as the villain, you don't fully hate him even in his malice because you were made to know the tragedy of his story.
I completely agree.
Yes, I agree the Story (stories) are really well written, but I hate Maeglin even more than Morgoth himself, so I don't really agree with the last part
What an interesting character, and his sword being a black blade that was sentient kind of reminds me of Elric’s sword Stormbringer, maybe inspired by Eöl’s creation.
I doubt that. Stormbringer was inspired by Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword, released in 1954. Moorcock was a fan of his work.
Cursed swords are pretty central in Norse myth, such as Tyrfing, influencing all three writers. Nice observation.
The way Eöl ensnares Aredhel to get lost in the woods and come to his house reminds me a bit of the Phantom of the Opera.
This guy is the only character in Silmarillion that made me shudder. Eol makes my skin crawl with the way he basically kidnapped and kept Aredhel.
Dude definitely has a creepy vibe about him. I always wondered how he made sentient swords!
@@NerdoftheRings Eol and Aredhel seem to fit the Hades and Persephone archetype, right? I think the sentient sword is possible because it was made from a heavenly material, the meteorite, seeing as how the ancient world considered the sun, moon, and stars to be sentient beings.
@@NerdoftheRings In an earlier version Eol took Aredhel to wife by force...It seems he was of terrible temperament but a brilliant craftsman.
@@flashflood4 the difference is that while Hades did kidnappe Persephone, she wasn't his prisoner. They were also the most stable and loving relationships in the Greek mythology.
Luthien getting kidnapped was pretty creepy too.
It is absolutely baffling yet amazing that you continue to find such interesting subjects in the world of LOTR to make content. It truly speaks volumes on the depth of this world and your love for the franchise. Many thanks and much love, friend
Wow, last time I was this early, Eru hadn't even begun the First Song.....
Nice! 🤣
You have my like 👍
@@arjunsengupta9797 I'm glad you got here BEFORE he started singing. That noise woke me up. He sounds like one of Beruthiels Cats
Your wife has our sympathy.
😂😂
fell into the youtube rabbit hole and ended up watching all your videos over the past week or so, now im all caught up :)
i loved tolkiens work when I was younger but life got busy so im greatly appreciative for what you do and the time you put into it! keep it up mate :x
In the Prose Edda (a Norse mythology text and one of Tolkien's inspirations), the line between the "Dwarves" and the "Dark Elves" is pretty blurred, leading some people to think they're just different names for the same beings. It seems like Tolkien kind of incorporated this into his own Dark Elf, making him more Dwarf-like in his skills and lifestyle. Just an interesting tidbit I noticed.
Well spoted!
I've seen this come through a lot, the connections between ancient Norse culture and the movies.
But, if I'm not mistaken, all Elves who did not travel to Valinor and witness the light of the two trees were considered Dark Elves, no? All the Sindar, for instance.
@@karlpoppins Yes, you are right, the only that might be considered a Sindar but was not a Dark Elf was Elu Thingol because he went to Valinor as an emissary of his people when he was called Elwe, but he is the only exception.
No no no. The Poetic Edda by Sturlusson waa very distinct in the Vólúspa in that elves and dwarves were separate entities, with separate realms...Alfheim for the elves, Svartalfheim for the dwarves. The Prose Edda is credited to Sturlusson, but it isn't as consistent as the Poetic Edda, which was very specific, and so much so that the Poetic Edda was the main source Tolkien used, to the point of ripping off the names straight out of the Voluspa. Thorin Eikenskjaldi comes to mind, along with Gandalf and ALL the dwarves from Durin down the line to Dain with the company of dwarves in the Hobbit all being taken directly from the creation story in Voluspa. The Voluspa isn't found in the Prose Edda
Even Tolkien couldn't avoid adding an edgelord in his story!
Morgoth is always more emo than you.
"Men call me Dark Elf, and I am of the night."
No wait what
@@brunopereira6789 Hopefully one day George will finish Darkstar's story.
@@specialnewb9821 literally more goth
Túrin is pretty edgy too.
You should really do a family tree of the elves and man of middle earth so that we see how some charachters are related to one another
That would be a good wrap up video to tie eveyone together (or not) and you could show the ages they lived in and who was the last important figure in the family of one age and who was the next/start in the next age.
It's quite nebulous at times. In some versions Celeborn is Galadriel's first cousin, and in others he's her second cousin. And don't even get anyone started about Orodreth.
I need a human lineage as well, because Tour, hour, Hurin and Beren are confusing me
We need this in song form, in the tune of Monty Python's philosopher's song...
Also, nice name.
I did exactly that in private on a miro board. A tree from Finwe down to Aragorn with every known person of three ages
As a diehard fan of both film and book, I find your series very useful. I wish everyone would devour both versions, and noting the differences is a great way to examining adaptation, the differences between cinema vs novels in general, and it leaves me more appreciative of both.
Aredhel is the most underrated character.
I love watching your videos man keep them going they get me through my coming to work
A video on Ecthelion of the Fountain would be amazing...I would love to know more about the slayer of the Lord of Balrogs!!!
Another fantastic video as always :)
Yes!
This is one of my favorite tales in the sillmarillion...it reminded me of a fairy tale ...so thank you Matt
I agree.
It's interesting to me that Eol settles in Nan Elmoth of all places, since that is the very forest where Melian and Thingol fell in love and were entranced for 300 years. Even if it isn't under Melian's force field, I still think it's very much enchanted. Did he feel a sense of belonging there that his king and queen once also found in that forest?
Can’t wait for Maeglin’s story! You’re such a tease😄
Keep up the great work Matt! This was a great one 👊
This is so interesting to hear a different perspective on the Noldor and Middle Earth before vs after the light! And intriguing to think about what space is like in Tolkien's world. It's been a while since I read Silmarillion so I don't remember Eol well. Too bad he's a creep. Awesome video!
the elves committed acts of unprecedented greek tragedies yet valar forgave them EVERYTIME, but as soon as humans claim to see a little bit of valinor, they get their island sunken
Because Valar, maiar and elves (and probably dwarves too) had to deal with each other until Dagor Dagorath, since none of them could truly be 'killed'. Meanwhile humans just can be killed and their souls would reach Eru.
At least we are Eru's favorite
"everytime" is pushing it a bit. They sunk Voronwe's ship because he tried to reach Valinor before the ban on the Noldor was lifted; the oceanic Maia Uinen also sunk several of the stolen ships from Alqualonde in anger. Plus the whole Doom of Mandos was specifically to teach the elves a lesson for being dumb
An especially good one! I've never heard this tale before. Thanks!
LOTR and The Hobbit also the silmarillon are one of the best and brilliant story books ever on fantasy. Brilliant video. We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos.
Great video, I love the stories of the First Age. I must have read the Silmarillion at least a dozen times since childhood.
impressive
Thank you for this Video, I was just talking about Gurthang to someone that never heard of it.
Gurthang is quite the awesome blade! I'm doing a collab with David DelaGardelle from CedarLore Forge later this year and we are going to make Gurthang. Should be a lot of fun!
A Video of Turgon would be great!
As always a fantastic video
The sword forger and the Founder of Nan Elmoth, I have to admit Nerd you've been killing it with the uploads! Did Adar maybe inspire this episode? ;)
ROP is not cannon and it should never be referenced in serious Tolkien circles.
@@tonalambiguity3345 Just shut up.
@@tonalambiguity3345 neither is the trilogy but people still talk about them, what's your point?
@@tonalambiguity3345 Why?
@@matheusfernandes2102 As someone who did quite a lot of forumming about 3rd age i can confirm trilogy isn't regarded as canon in Tolkien talks.
By far. One of my fav Elf among all in 1st Age. He was such a distinct elf. Always spend his time with dwarves. He hatred towards sun and light where most of the Elf (especially the Teleri, Noldor, Vanyar) love the light of the Two tree and by far. One of the reason why Gondolin fall
Yeah his distinctness was a nice change though I still hate him.
One of my favorites, too. A very special elf.
I feel sorry for his wife as well, though.
@@hesperio9 yeah poor aredhel, got sidetracked, kidnapped then died saving her son by the man who entrapped her to begin with.
@aminiqbal4907 She knew he lived in that forest. Her fate were her own.
I might have joined Eol in Nan Elmoth, for I too love the twilight and the stars.
Perhaps Eol was photosensitive, retina flash burned, sunburned incredibly easily? That would, and does, drive me into dimmer places ... nothing to do, practically, with good and evil ... now, being shunned for being photosensitive? That, I can see that driving someone to less-than-prosocial behaviors ...
Great video, they are a short but important part of the First Age tales!
the art in this video is amazing
I kinda assumed Eol put a piece of himself into the speaking swords. Perhaps Sauron even heard of this magic and took inspiration and put himself into his one ring.
Same as Feanor, his greatest of all his work were the silmarils but he couldn't make them again even if he tried too since a part of his own essence, fea or soul were put into it.
This is what morgoth did as well.
Omg , i remember asking you on one of your livestreams if you are going to do a video about ëol the dark elf .
And by the looks of it IT'S TIMEEEE!!!
Thank you notr . I don't know if you are going to stumble upon my comment , but if you do i want you to know that you were the only one that reignited my love for the lore of Middle-earth , and again i can't thank you enough for this ❤ .
They went to and froing several times through Nandungortheb , enough to give even the closest families ptsd and problems, great video, thanks.
Maybe Adar is Maeglin, Eol's son... Who was thrown down a cliff, hit the rocks three times and fell into the flames... That fits Adar's scars nicely. And just imagine how much more of an impactful villain he would be, considering the apallment of the elves who discover that the traitor of Gondolin, responsible for all this destruction, lost lives and sorrow is still alive.
If there is a scar, there is a story behind. Also his left hand is covered.
yeah Maeglin was what came to mind when I asked myself, why would an elf be working for Sauron.
I hope it is not Maeglin. That would greatly diminish the impact of his death in the Silmarillion. Especially for Tuor, the one who killed him in single combat. Maeglin's story is perfect as written and it would be an affront to change it. No, I hope it's a character invented by the show
I wish Maeglin was Adar but I cannot see how since he was thrown down to his death at the Fall of Gondolin (510 in the First Age), falling into the flames. He didn't survive into the Second Age.
Could also be Maglor. No info for his exact death, and the Silmaril burnt his hand before he cast into the sea.
I really liked the cloud effect as we first zoomed in on Beleriand, it is really cool and adds a nice touch to the video.
The story Eöl is as good as a Shakespearean tragedy. It could get its own film, or at least a stageplay.
and I can already see some ladies simping for him when that happens. we love us a brooding, dark character lmfao
This is one of those Tales where Tolkien weaves True Magic. There is so much glimpsed Nothern Myth in this Tale that is beyond Epic. In fact the word Epic is simply not Epic enough. Manwe hath spoken via Tolkien in this Tale.
This character is eve far more important then I even realized. So not only did he Forge a sword that would later be reforged and eventually kill Morgoth, but his story would lead to the direct fall of the 2 most powerful Elven kingdoms? His son Meaglin would lead to the destruction of Gondolin. Being related to Thingol, the Dwarves would learn of the Elf kingdoms from him and eventually to Doriaths destruction?
Thingol, Turgon and Morgoth could easily form a friendship over a common hatred of Eol lol.
Malekith: I'm the original Dark Elf
Eol: Hold my mastercrafted weapons
Dark elves, and elves in general as far as I know, likely originate from Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, existing thousands of years before either of those 😂
Anglachel reminds me of the one ring a lot ...not as powerful but as sinister as it was
Great channel great story. I didn't think Elves would out each other to death.
Truly awesome narration of dialogue between Ëol and Turgon. You are really good at it!
I was thinking of Eöl a few days ago, this feels like some sort of serendipity.
One of the coolest elves in the entire legendarium. I always see him chillin by a tree with Bauhaus playing in the background.
Amazing story and as high quality content, as one could expect from Nerd!
Amazon doesn’t own the rights to portray Eol or Maeglin. Adar is an original character and they are just trying to give him an Eol vibe.
You have NO IDEA what they are trying to do.
Martin, that's what we're all being told but it was pointed out that in the most recent episode, they specifically named something not in LOTR that was only covered Unfinished Tales & The Silmarillion. So either Amazon is pushing back to see if they can out lawyer the Tolkien family or they're finding loopholes or have been granted specific permissions?
My guess is the family will allow Amazon to "name" things in the Silmarillion as long as they make NO change to the source material.
So that way Amazon can make reference to things in those books/works, but can't change anything about their stories that was named.
So...maybe Amazon can name Eol, but has to leave him dead and can fill in the unnamed Maeglin life events.
@@butchgreene there was a boromir and a Legolas in the first or second age as well. They simply can't make adar as maeglin or eol because both died in the first age long before the rings of power which is the middle or end of the second age.
I wonder if the Avatar episode where Sokka forges a black sword from a meteorite was inspired by Eöl's story.
I was thinking the same thing! I love when fandoms connect lol
Not really, the earliest iron tools forged by humans often come from meteorites, so it's a trope that's quite ubiquitous.
@@krupam0 for ppl interested in this, the reason for it was that meteors were the only source of relatively pure iron, as there were no methods in that time for refining iron ore, the forges people built back then out of mud and straw were not hot enough to melt iron, they could only heat the iron from the meteors to the point that it was hot enough to hammer and bend it. there are some good youtube videos about this, search for "meteor weapons" on the Invicta youtube channel for example.
There is a dagger made from meteor iron amongst the treasures found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. It was one of the most valuable items buried with the boy-king.
@@krupam0 tbf, Tolkien created a lot of those tropes
Watching Nerd of the Rings videos is like reading a book ❤
Great work as always.
We love listening to your channel.
I'm Learning a lot about the universe. I certainly wouldn't be able to keep track of everything.
I appreciate the effort and passion you put making these videos.
although I can't stand ROP or the showrunners.
I am glad that there's someone like you giving them a fair shot. Keep up the good work.
Hey Steven A, I’d recommend reading the Silmarillion if you have the time. It’s not the easiest read, but if you are interested in Tolkiens world then it will have lots for you to enjoy.
Hearing this Silmarillion piece of dialogue between Eol and Turgon makes the dialogues of RoP even more painful to watch
So was Eöl the ONLY Elf to dwell in Nam Elmoth? I seem to remember he had some Doriath Elves move with him there but I could be mistaken.
This once was my fav Tolkien channel! Today it’s just another…time will do justice!
Eöl seems really goth for an elf. Really,really goth.
But no matter how goth Eöl is, Melkor will always be more goth.
Eöl. What a poser.
The most underrated comment here.
Whenever I come across your channel I binge watch everything 🤣 thank you for these videos ❤️
I have just discovered this channel and I wondered if he had a deep dive into Eol! One of my favorite characters.
They should make a mini series where each episode is a characters back story, they can even do villains
I think that the Silmarillion would work great as animated series
First Age stories are always so good.
i wonder why we never started with the first age
I understood Dark Elves to be amongst the firstborn who refused to journey to Valinor and witness the Two Trees.
I really liked Maeglin but I was really shocked how he betrayed all of Gondolin 😢
I mean, he was being tortured and plus he was showed what he desired so of course he took the deal.
Why? he betrayed his father. betrayers betray. just because you condemn it in one instance and excuse it in another doesn't change the fact that betrayal is betrayal
@@unclebounce1495 Did he really betray his father or just bide his time to get revenge? Saying something at the time of his father's execution would have only gotten him killed. King Turgon was a moron and the one who was really responsible for the fall of Gondolin. You cannot just kill someone's father and expect them to be cool with it. Maeglin had to avenge his father. The honor codes of the first age demanded it. King Turgon should have seen it a mile away and executed Maeglin when he had the chance. OR if he was feeling merciful let both Maeglin and Eol go free. Either option would have been fine. Instead Turgon decided to split the difference between harshness and kindness by killing the father while sparing the son. Such folly sealed the fate of Gondolin.
@@Novusod Good points, but I still lean toward betrayal. After all, that is what gives the curse weight - the wrong doing (most curses need retributive substance mythically to have lasting power, but not always). Also, as I mentioned before, the son already expressed fanciful interests in the "green pastures" of the other elves. Lastly, he chose to go with his mother and follow her through many places where he could have resisted if he wanted to. and finally, after all that, when his father spoke up, he also remained silent. that's a lot of strikes against him to say he remained loyal to his father but was just "laying low" and "biding his time." I think he was short-sighted and naive and was lured by the greener pastures temptation and likely stories of "city-life" greatness by his mother. then when he gets there and realizes it's not so grand once the novelty wears off and instead has lots of restrictions and rules and obligations, he grows up and realizes why his rural-like father kept him away from the "civilized" urbanites. classic rural run-away to the city because it's got so much more "culture" until you realize it has more trash and grime and odor but culture is just roots and family tradition in either location. but you could be right. I suppose he could have been non-betrayal just supportive of his mother then trapped by Turgon and remained silent until revenge could be enacted. Just seem like a much more unlikely explanation for the events to me.
@@Novusod Turgon should have killed his own kin? Now that, if anything, is against the honor codes of the first age.
Perfect Timing!
One of my favourite elves. Sinister ...
I really have wanted this video for a long time, ’tis really an intresting tale. Now, my top 1 video I would like to see is the tale of Aldarion and Erendis.
You are perfect. The voice, the editing, the presentation where you use movie portraits too so that movie fans don't get confused. You are more valuable than the one ring for the fandom
The rifts betwen Noldors and the other elfs are awesome to explore in the books, and I would love to see some of those in RoP, the Noldors are like an elitist branch with superior civilization skills, but they can be pretty routhless towards lesser elves, I belive the book give us elements to imagine the noldors like some aristocratics warriors who didnt care to others as they care for themselves, at least in the first age, and that narrative of Eol about them drawing frontiers and making war in other peoples land had some true in it, even if it is contradicted afterwards....
He Was A Hero Dang It!
Damn, this elf… He’s like the goth kid at school, like the bullies who smoke at 14, like both Batman and the Joker, like the rogue in every DnD campaign, he’s…edgy.
i swear you can make so many legendary movies from tolkiens lore.
This guy sounds like a real Eol.
Careful. He might have the darksword. Talking that mess might get you cleaved asunder. 😅
One of mu favorite stories from the Silmarilion.
Such a good video , I really love all content from the first age , thanks god Amazon doesn’t have rights over this material , otherwise they would be making just another mess out of it ! Good job with this kind of videos , don’t care about the coverage of the rings of power .
Loved this video, great work 😊
Looks like Eol's door at 5:30 was the inspiration for the door of khazad dum in the Rings of Power. Where is the art from?
I noticed that after the fact! Kinda crazy huh? It’s by Matthew Stewart, a great artist who does a lot of Tolkien stuff
Awesome narrative, love it!
All of your videos are interesting but this one really caught my eye. I didn't know Tolkien wrote about dark elves. Having played fantasy MMOs for years, and still do every day, I always pick a dark elf. Or high elf. Hearing about Tolkien's depiction of dark elf is awesome. Keep up the great work.
Tolkien's dark elves, the moriquendi, are the tribes that did not heed the call of the valar to summon them to Valinor. They are "dark" from lack of enlightenment/knowledge, not physical light.
@@hawkname1234 bingo.
Beautifully narrated. New story learned today thank you 👌
Does anybody know or can tell me the of the music in beginning of the video at 0:30 ? great video
Glad to see you gaining so many subs lately! Keep up the great work! ♥
I love your music. Where is it from? Eol is one of the most interestingly complex Elves in Tolkien's legendarium.
OUCH!!!! WOW!!!! Excellently told.
Goodness! These videos just keep getting better & better 🙏🏻
I kept hearing AOL the dark company. Whose tale also ends in self-wrought tragedy.
This is such an amazing story! I wish they made a live adaptation movie or series of Eol's life the same way they did the lord of the rings movies. ^.^
In a French-speaking book series by regretted Pierre Bottero, in the fictional world of Gwendalavir, there is a dark, bendable, thin yet super-resistant metal, vargelite. Now I know where the inspiration for it came from !
Eol was an elf darkling,
Of him the harpers never ever sing.
The first whose glance was ever mean,
To wife and son such cruelty seen.
is he the only dark elf?
@@jmgonzales7701 Looking at the "Index of Names" in The Silmarillion, it looks like the term Dark Elf has different meanings. In one meaning Dark Elf refers to all elves who did not take the Westward journey. In another sense the term Dark Elf is applied to Eol as a title. He "loved the night and the twilight under the stars".
@@JoeQuake so he is the only dark elf? there is no sub race of elf?
@@jmgonzales7701 There are multiple races of elves. "Dark Elf" is a term applied to the group (or race) Tolkien named "Moriquendi". Eol is of this race. Some of the other names are Sindar, Noldor, Vanyar, Teleri, Nandor. There's a page in the back of The Silmarillion with a diagram of the different groupings/races.
He lived alone in a dark forest and shunned all peoples but dwarves.
No he had some followers elves that were similar to him
What a hateful rat
Typical Russian twen avoiding the draft in 2022
@@voster77hh 😆
@@voster77hh lol run russian run
Damn Eol! Calm down bro! Very interesting story ⚔️
Ahh so this is where the inspiration for 'Nightblood' comes from... Nice one, sando ha.
So much for Eol and his curse too.
He was the first non LOTR elf I noticed years ago. I was looking for "Dark Elf" because I was wondering if they existed on ME. Welp, it's just him. He remains the most fascinating Silmarillion elf to this day and that's even after finally noticing Feanor.
Is there a video about the life and travels of Maeglin?? I can't seem to find it on your channel.
at time 3:15 its stated Celebrimbors father Curufun is one of the only other elves we know to gain dwarven friendship". It was not Curufin that gained Dwarven friendship, it was Caranthir who ruled in the Thargelian who lived close to the Dwarf cities.
Please do a video about Maeglin next
I low-key agree with Eol...nobody asked the Noldor to come "defend middle earth"... they came for their own selfish reasons, and they're just defending themselves really. It's not like they made some kind of official deal. I don't like when people act like they're doing someone else a favor when they're really only doing things for themselves that they would already be doing anyway. Eol's rash decision to die is probably a mistake but...he kinda had a point lol. The Noldor did sort of suck.
Also, Eol was a notorious sorcerer in his own right. Nan Elmoth was defended chiefly by his enchantments of misdirection, engulfing mists, and changing pathways. The Noldo can’t take credit for that. I still can’t stand Eol, though.
Such a complex character with amazing lore!
Great video, as always. I do think, though, you miss how extremely creepy the words "not wholly unwilling" actually are. So creepy. Made me feel sick when I read it. Because it also means "not wholly willing." And someone's life not being hateful for a few years stands out as terrible when Tolkien shows so many beautiful examples of real, genuine love, romance, and friendship in marriages.
"Not wholly unwilling." So disturbing.
I hope you do a video on Maeglin in the near future.