Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? The Oldest Elf in Middle-Earth’s RINGS OF POWER Journey and LORD OF THE RINGS History

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As a seasoned scholar of Middle-earth lore, allow me to share my thoughts on Círdan the Shipwright, as portrayed in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” This venerable elf, with eyes as keen as stars, carries an air of wisdom and experience that is unparalleled among his kin.

For those deeply immersed in the lore of “The Lord of the Rings” and J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythos, Círdan the Shipwright is a well-known figure. However, those with a less comprehensive understanding of the franchise may not be as familiar with him. With Círdan making an appearance in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season two, now’s the perfect opportunity to learn about the eldest elf in Middle-earth.

Similar to numerous characters crafted by Tolkien, Círdan boasts a rich and intricate past. In our discussion, we’ll explore the aspects of this history that are significant for his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s The Lord of the Rings History as it Pertains to The Rings of Power

Essentially, Círdan the Shipwright is one of the oldest elves to reside in Middle-earth during the Second Age, a timeframe covered by “The Rings of Power”. Since elves are immortal beings, this indicates a remarkable longevity for Círdan. We’ll delve into his exact age and its implications on his elfin power in forthcoming sections.

As a dedicated admirer, I’ve always marveled at the mastery of shipbuilding that Círdan has cultivated over the years, driven by his longing to voyage to the eternal lands of Valinor, the Elven homeland. This proficiency earned him the title of “Círdan the Shipwright,” a title that seems slightly redundant given that “Círdan” itself means “shipwright” in Sindarin elvish. Nevertheless, it emphasizes the undeniable fact that no one constructs ships with such mastery as Círdan. For me, building ships isn’t merely a pastime for Círdan from “The Lord of the Rings”; it’s a significant motif in his narrative.

Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens

A key element in Círdan’s tale is his expertise in shipbuilding, which is vividly portrayed during season two of “The Rings of Power.” Originally, Círdan was intended to voyage to Valinor, the esteemed land of elves, when the elves embarked on their initial journey. However, due to various unexpected events, he didn’t make this journey during its first or second attempt. Instead, he remained in Middle-earth, perfecting his shipbuilding skills over time.

Initially, Círdan wished to utilize his abilities for a voyage to Valinor, its distant light beckoning him. However, as stated in “The Peoples of Middle-earth,” a collection of Tolkien’s writings, the divine beings known as the Valar appeared to him in a vision, informing him that he was not yet permitted to make such a journey. Despite his deep longing to visit the land of the elves, Círdan postponed the realization of his most cherished wish for an extended period. According to “The Lord of the Rings,” Círdan’s love for his kin and loyalty prevented him from realizing his greatest desire: to behold the Blessed Realm.

Instead of setting sail for Valinor like Earendil, Elrond’s father, Círdan chose to stay in Middle-earth. His role was crucial in constructing ships similar to the one used by Earendil to appeal to the Valar for aid against Morgoth, Sauron’s predecessor, during the War of Wrath. Furthermore, Círdan became the ruler of the Grey Havens, aiding in the design of vessels capable of transporting his fellow elves from the harbor of the Havens to Valinor. It was through Círdan’s expertise that no elves could reach Valinor without him. Essentially, while Círdan enabled access to the distant lands, he himself did not depart until the final days of elves in Middle-earth. In fact, Círdan was among the last elves to leave Middle-earth.

How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins

In Middle-earth’s Second Age, it is known that Círdan the Shipwright is the oldest elf. However, pinpointing his exact age during the time of “The Rings of Power” can be tricky as Tolkien does not provide a definitive answer in his “The Lord of the Rings” writings. There are debates about whether Círdan, who was originally named Nowë, emerged among the first elves created in Cuiviénen or if he did not awaken there but was born elsewhere. Unfortunately, Tolkien does not provide a clear answer on this matter. Some theories suggest that he was indeed born in Cuiviénen, though he did not awaken there, while others propose that he emerged with the first elves.

It is established in the “The Lord of the Rings” narrative that Círdan participated in the grand expedition, often referred to as the “Great Journey.” This voyage was undertaken by the elves from their initial awakening location, Cuiviénen, to the land of Valinor. Since this journey occurred during the 1105th Year of the Trees, it can be inferred that Círdan must have been born prior to that date.

During the storyline of “The Lord of the Rings,” Círdan would be over approximately 10,000 years old, and during the events of “The Rings of Power” set around 3,000 years prior to the formation of the Fellowship of the Ring, he would be roughly 7,000 years old.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight

As an ardent admirer, I must acknowledge that Círdan, being an ancient elf, is renowned for his wisdom and respect among his fellow elves. Galadriel points this out in the first episodes of The Rings of Power season two, even suggesting that High King Gil-galad would be compelled to heed his counsel. Moreover, it appears that Tolkien hints at Círdan being bestowed with unique powers of foresight by the Valar. According to Tolkien’s writings, after the Valar granted Círdan a vision not to set sail for Valinor, but to stay in Middle-earth, he was gifted with a profound foresight extending beyond the comprehension of all other elves dwelling on Middle-earth.

Moreover, Tolkien notes that in the Annals of the Third Age (around 1000), it was said that Círdan had a greater ability than anyone else in Middle-earth to foresee events in the future. This prophetic insight surpassed not only the Istari who originated from Valinor, but also Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn.

Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf

Tolkien further discloses that Círdan belonged to the initial group who possessed the Elvish Rings of Power. In “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” it is noted that he was the first to don the elven ring, Narya, known as the Ring of Fire.

In the world of “The Lord of the Rings”, Círdan voiced his disapproval of the forging of the Rings before they were even created and had a mistrust towards Sauron. However, in “The Rings of Power”, he was unaware of the creation of the rings until after they had been made. In the books of “The Lord of the Rings”, Círdan joined Elrond and Isildur on their journey into the core of Mount Doom following Sauron’s first defeat at the end of the Second Age. There, Círdan, along with Elrond, encouraged Isildur to cast the One Ring into the fire to annihilate it (and Sauron) forever. Regrettably, Isildur did not comply with this advice.

Círdan and Gandalf

However, Círdan takes a significant action regarding his Ring. Although it holds great value to him, he passes it on to Gandalf during the Third Age of Middle-earth as the menace of Sauron resurfaces. In The Lord of the Rings’ Appendix B, Tolkien records that Círdan said to Gandalf, “Accept this ring, Master… for your tasks will be arduous; but it will bolster you in the fatigue you have undertaken. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it, you can reignite spirits in a world that’s growing cold. But as for me, my heart yearns for the Sea, and I shall reside by the gray coastlines until the final vessel sails. I will wait for you.”

It was his exceptional ability to anticipate events that enabled Cirdan to understand the pivotal role Gandalf would play in wielding the Ring of Power. However, with The Rings of Power implying that The Stranger could indeed be Gandalf, we might witness this Ring of Power being passed from Cirdan before the intended time.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies

In Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films, does Círdan make an appearance? Indeed, but only in limited capacities. Throughout the movies, Círdan is shown on two occasions. First, he appears in the prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, standing behind Galadriel and admiring his ring. Second, at the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Círdan can be seen standing behind Galadriel, Elrond, and Celeborn in the Grey Havens as they prepare for their departure to Valinor. Interestingly, Círdan is absent from the scene where Elrond attempts to persuade Isildur to destroy the One Ring. However, it’s possible that The Rings of Power will seize this opportunity and reintroduce Círdan into a more significant role.

In The Lord of the Rings movies, Michael Elsworth plays Círdan.

Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Indeed, I’m speaking about Círdan here, the elf with a long, flowing beard. You might remember him from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” when he bid farewell to Middle-earth, setting sail westward alongside Elrond and Galadriel. J.R.R. Tolkien describes Círdan as being very tall, with a grey, aged visage, save for his eyes that sparkled like stars. As they approached the gates, he stepped forth to greet them, bowed, and confirmed, “All is now ready.”

Why does Círdan sport a beard unlike other elves? It seems plausible that his age is the reason for this unique feature. Initially, in The Rings of Power, he’s shown with his beard, but by episode three, he shaves it off. We can’t help but wonder about the timeframe required for an elf to regrow their beard.

Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Círdan appears much younger than he will ultimately become before sailing to Valinor at a later time. However, it’s worth noting that even in this series, Círdan is given his beard during the Second Age, albeit for only one or two episodes. Regardless, he’s already quite old by these standards.

In the premiere of season two of “The Rings of Power”, we’re introduced to a character modeled after Círdan. Elrond seeks his advice regarding the Rings of Power. It’s important to note that Círdan was acquainted with Elrond’s father. Initially, Círdan is willing to destroy the Rings, regardless of whether all elves must depart from Middle-earth. He relies on Elrond’s intuition and chooses not to inspect the Rings for fear they might influence him. However, when an unexpected event causes one to land in his possession, he too becomes ensnared by their magic. In the end, Círdan returns the rings to High King Gil-galad in Lindon. Together with Gil-galad and Galadriel, they put on the elf-made Rings of Power, thereby reinstating the divine light of the Valar in Middle-earth.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: In the world of The Rings of Power, Círdan believes elves can wield the Rings of Power for noble purposes. He tells Elrond in episode three, “We don’t fully grasp these rings, but check out their influence on all life-forms. If Sauron gets ahold of them, the evil they could unleash would be catastrophic, controlling everything from minds to wills. That’s why we need elves to hold onto them. I get your wariness… but don’t let that fear prevent you from seeing how they might be used for good.”

Let’s be patient and find out what adventures Círdan embarks on during the second season and subsequent episodes of The Rings of Power.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

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2024-08-29 13:07