Círdan the Shipwright: A Mysterious Inhabitant of Middle Earth

Compiled with information from the Silmarillion and the

Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien

By Elizabeth Hazel © 2004

             Círdan the Shipwright is a shadowy yet important individual in the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. Very little is explained about this character, yet by culling details from the trilogy and The Silmarillion, a biography of sorts can be constructed that more fully explains the importance of this character. Like many other people, places, and things mentioned in the tale of Middle Earth, additional information can be found in the Appendices of the trilogy. This compilation has been undertaken because Círdan is of much greater importance than the fragmentary mentions of him in the trilogy suggest.

             The earliest mention of Círdan is given in the history of the Elves (the Eldar or Quendi) in The Silmarillion. During the First Age, a branch of the First Born, the Teleri, remained in Middle Earth at the mouth of the River Sirion with King Olwë. After many years passed a second wave of emigration took place, and many of the Teleri journeyed to Aman, the Blessed Lands. Some of the Teleri were persuaded by Ossë the Maia (or minor member of the pantheon of gods called The Valar; and vassal of Ulmo of the Waters, a Valar who was a benevolent guardian of Middle Earth) to remain in Middle Earth.

             Some of Teleri who chose to stay in Middle Earth were called the Falathrim, or the Elves of Falas. The Falathrim built harbors at Brithombar and Eglarest, and were the first mariners of Middle Earth. They became master shipbuilders and excelled in sea craft and sea lore. In his first mention in the lore of Middle Earth, Círdan is named as the Lord of the Falathrim. So it is known that Círdan never journeyed to the Blessed Lands of Eressëa, but was a member of one of the clans of Elves who remained in Middle Earth. The Elves who never made this journey are considered the Dark Elves, and are called the Moriquendi.

             The Eldar who remained in Middle Earth established realms within the land called Beleriand. One of these, King Thingol, had a castle called Menegroth built by the Dwarves. This construction was paid for with pearls supplied to Thingol by Círdan. The pearls were harvested from the shallow waters around the Isle of Balar (a geographic feature that did not survive the destruction of Númenor and Beleriand). The acquisition of these pearls suggests a continuing association between Círdan and Ossë.

             Orc attacks caused King Thingol to be cut off from Círdan at Eglarest. The Orcs drove Círdan to the rim of the sea. The armies of Morgoth passed into the Vale of Sirion and besieged Círdan in the Havens at Falas. After the first wave of wars with Morgoth were resolved, Fingolfin made a great feast, called Mereth Aderthad, the Feast of Reuniting (of the Elves), which celebrated the return of the Noldor from the Blessed Lands. The folk of the Havens, including Círdan, attended this event.

             Another great Elf King, Finrod Felegund, was friends with Círdan. Together they labored to rebuild the coastal cities of Brithombar and Eglarest. At Eglarest a tower was constructed, and called Barad Nimras. Although the Moriquendi and the returning Noldor had been reunited, the Noldor had not been forthcoming about the reason for their return from the Blessed Lands to Middle Earth. Eventually, the Oath of Fëanor, the curse of the Valar known as the “Doom of the Noldor,” and the violent kin-slaying wreaked by the followers of Fëanor were discovered by Círdan. Círdan realized that the effects of the “Doom” were spreading like a disease through the established realms of the Moriquendi, further extending the malice of Morgoth. The Noldor were poisoning Middle Earth with their curse. Círdan sent word to King Thingol, who in turn shared this knowledge of the returning Noldor with Finarfin and Finrod. Feeling betrayed by the concealment of these evil events, the kings of Middle Earth banned the language of the High Elves (Quenya) in Middle Earth, and returned to the language of the Moriquendi, called Sindarin.

             Wars with Morgoth continued in Middle Earth. King Fingon was aided by Círdan and the Elves of Falas in the battle against Morgoth and Angband at Hithlum. The Eldar achieved victory in this conflict. In the fifth battle against Morgoth, armies of the enemy ravaged Falas, and besieged Brithombar and Eglarest. The Havens were reduced to ruins. The tower, Barad Nimras, was cast down, and many of Cirdan’s people were slain or enslaved. Some of the elves were fortunate enough to escape by ship, including Gil-galad, the son of Fingon. Cirdan piloted the refugees to the Isle of Balar. King Turgon sought the aid of Círdan after his return to the mainland. They built seven ships, whose mission was to sail to the West and plead for aid from the Valar in the struggle against Morgoth. These ships never returned, nor were there any tidings of their fate.

             However, Ulmo (the Ocean God of the Valar) came to Círdan and gave him warning that great danger and peril was approaching Nargothrond. The evil powers of the north had defiled the springs of Sirion. He advised Cirdan to “shut the doors and don’t go forth; cast the stones of your pride into the loud river, that the creeping evil may not find the Gate.” The remnants of the inhabitants of the ruined realms of Doriath and Gondolin came as refugees to Sirion. They joined Cirdan’s people at the Isle of Balas, which was under the protection of Ulmo. Once again, a ship was launched to appeal for aid from the Blessed Lands; Tuor and Idril Celebrindal were a part of this voyage – although Tuor was of the Second Born, he was numbered as one of the Eldar. Although this ship did arrive in Eressëa, aid was forbidden.

             Tuor’s son, Eärendil, was the husband of Elwing. He was the lord of the people at the Havens of Sirion, and good friends with Cirdan. Cirdan continued to live on the Isle of Balas with the refugees from Brithombar and Eglarest. At his appeal, Cirdan assisted Eärendil in the construction of a ship called “Vingilot” (Foam Flower), the fairest of all ships. Elwing had possession of the single Silmaril that was retrieved from Morgoth by her grandparents - Beren and Lúthien. Because of this, she was attacked, and her sons Elros and Elrond were taken captive by Medros and Maglor, the sons of Fëanor who were still under the bond of the oath and curse of doom. The small remnant of the people of Gondolin and Doriath were tragically destroyed during this attack. In her sorrow, Elwing cast herself into the sea, but was borne up by Ulmo and transformed into a bird so that she might escape and be rejoined with her husband. Maglor grew to love Elros and Elrond. Elwing and Eärendil took the ship Vingilot, and sailed to Valinor with the Silmaril. Finally, upon this desperate appeal, the pity of the Valar was aroused, and thus began the final War of Wrath upon Morgoth in Middle Earth.

             The breaking of Thangorodrim by the Hosts of the Valar and the overthrow and eternal imprisonment of Morgoth is reckoned as the ending of the First Age. Most of the Noldor and many of the Sindar returned to Eressëa as this age ended, yet some Elves remained in Middle Earth, including Cirdan, Celeborn and Galadriel, Gil-galad, and Elrond; as well as elves loyal to these leaders. The land of Beleriand was destroyed. The Ered Luin, or Blue Mountains, were now the geographic feature that dominated the western coastline of Middle Earth.

             The Second Age was the glory and fall of Númenor. As this age began, the Elves who remained in Middle Earth established a city called Lindon on the coast in the shadows of the Ered Luin, where Galadriel, the greatest of Elven women and sister of Finrod Felegund, lived for many years. The Grey Havens, the home of Cirdan, was also built at the mouth of the River Lhûn, which emptied into the Gulf of Lune. Later on, other Elven realms were established in Middle Earth: Lothlorien, the kingdom of Galadriel and Celeborn; the realm of Eregion ruled by Celebrimbor; and the kingdom of Thranduil in Greenwood (later known as Mirkwood).

             The Second Age ended with the overthrow of Sauron by Elendil and Gil-galad, who both perished in the conflict. Isildur cut the One Ring off of the hand of Sauron with the broken blade of Narsil. Elrond and Cirdan accompanied Isildur to the Cracks of Doom, and insisted that Isildur destroy the Ring by casting it into the fiery crevasse of Orodruin. However, Isildur refused and kept the Ring, which was lost in the River Anduin when Isildur was ambushed by Orcs on his journey north. The finding of the One Ring by Sméagol, which was subsequently passed to Bilbo and Frodo; and Frodo’s quest to finally dispose of the One Ring in the Crack of Doom, is a dominant plot line of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

             By the Third Age, the age of the Númenórean Realm in Exile, Cirdan was one of the most powerful Elves remaining in Middle Earth. His home base was the Grey Havens, inhabited by the remnants of the people of Gil-galad. He is “the Lord of the Havens and mighty among the wise.” King Arvedui of the Arthedain (North Kingdom) was defeated and pursued by the Witch-King of Angmar. He was finally driven to seek the help of the Lossoth, the Snowmen of Forochel. Some of his people, including his children, escaped to Lune, and informed Cirdan of the peril of the king. He sent a ship in an attempt to rescue King Arvedui when he was pursued to the northern bay of Forochel. Against advice by the natives, Arvedui insisted that the ship cast off, and it was crushed in the ice and sank. The death of Arvedui (in 1975 TA) ended the rule of kings in Arnor, and his son was titled as a chieftain of the Dúnedain.

             As one of the Eldar of greatest wisdom and power in Middle Earth, Cirdan was given one of the Three Rings of the Elves – the Red Ring that held the power of the Flame of Anûn (the Fires of the West). All of the three Elven Rings were hidden and their owners kept secret. Elrond was the possessor of Vilya, the mightiest of the Three, a ring of gold with a blue stone. Galadriel wore the third – Nenya, a ring of mithril that bore a white stone.

             The arrival of the Istari, or the Wizards, was something of a mystery. None knew what or who they were except Cirdan, who told Elrond and Galadriel that they “came from over the sea,” from the West. Cirdan gave the Narya the Great, Red Ring to Gandalf “for he knew whence he came and whither he would return.” (It is interesting to note that the ring was given to Gandalf rather than Saruman, who was ostensibly the leader of the Istari on Middle Earth). Cirdan told Gandalf, “Take now this Ring for thy labors and thy cares will be heavy, but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness.”

             At this stage, the participation of Cirdan in the events of Middle Earth continues in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and its Appendices. It is noted that “Cirdan saw further and deeper than any other in Middle Earth.” There is a description of him given, “Very tall he was, and his beard was long, and he was grey and old, save that his eyes were keen as stars…” In the Fellowship of the Ring, Gildor represents Cirdan at the council in Rivendell that establishes the quest of the Fellowship. As the trilogy winds to an end, it is said that “in the Grey Havens dwells Cirdan – still, until the last ship sails into the West in the last days of the Kings.”

             The etymology of his name is given some explanation. The root of the name is “kir,”

meaning: “to cut, cleave; a cleft; or, pass swiftly through.” In Quenya, the language of the High Elves, “círya” means “sharp-prowed ship.” The suffix –tin or –din is of Sindarin origin, and means “sparkle.” One may translate his name to mean something like “sparkling prow,” or “shining cut.”

***

             There are many possibilities for speculation in the preceding history of Cirdan. Although given few references in the main story lines of The Silmarillion or The Lord of the Rings, he obviously plays a greater role than the surface references imply. His role in the first three ages of Middle Earth (as well as a role in at least part of the fourth) indicates that Cirdan is a good deal more than a minor figure in Tolkein’s world.

             It is quite possible that Cirdan was one of the First Born who awakened at Cuiviénen under the stars of Menelmacar (the constellation Orion). This would place him at the very origin of the Eldar on Middle Earth, and make him one of the oldest, if not the oldest member of the Eldar on Middle Earth by the time of the Third Age (details about the Awakening are scanty).

             Another very significant point is that – although Cirdan is a shipwright – he never journeyed to Valinor, and was always a part of the Teleri (an Elf who remained in Middle Earth). This seems to be reinforced by his ties to the Valar Ulmo and the Maia Ossë. The only other Elf who had a close association with one of the Maiar was King Thingol, who married Melian the Maia.

             There is a hidden but critical insinuation in the association of Cirdan, Ossë, and Ulmo. Ulmo was one of the Valar most sympathetic toward the land of Middle Earth, as the waters of the rivers of this land flowed into his oceanic realm. The ocean separated Middle Earth and the Blessed Lands, but was also the tie between these two lands. Only through the assistance of Ulmo can ships sailing west reach the Blessed Lands – and Cirdan is the master builder of the ships that make that journey. As the Third Age begins, he is the master and keeper of the single portal through which the Eldar can return to their ancient home in Valinor.

             There is also a connection between the element of water and the skills of prophecy and foresight. The quality of Cirdan’s foresight is strongly implied by the fact that he gave his Elven Ring Narya to Gandalf rather than to Saruman. The Rings were forged during the Second Age; the Istari arrived at the beginning of the Third Age, and Saruman’s treachery was not revealed until near the end of the Third Age. Cirdan was somehow aware, nearly 3,000 years in advance, that Gandalf would be the good guy. The power of Narya is demonstrated when called upon by Gandalf during his battle with the Balrog – a case of fighting fire with fire! And although Cirdan seems to have the powers of prophetic wisdom, there is no indication that he felt impelled to share his wisdom on a regular basis. He took action at specific times: the bestowal of the ring; giving warning the kings of Beleriand; and rescuing the children of the line of Beren and Luthíen so that the line was sustained through peril. In this sense, while the Istari were the movers behind the events of the Third Age, Cirdan could be reasonably assumed to be a prime mover of events behind all three of the great ages of Middle Earth.

             Although Cirdan is mentioned several times during both books, he is rarely central to any of the major actions that take place in these epics. However, the things that he does (and the roles that he plays) are critical to the flow of the stories, as listed below.

The First Age

             - sends ships with relief troops from Falas (defender, rescuer)

             - bears messages from Ulmo (herald, connected with the gods)

             - houses refugees, rebuilds the Havens (protector and architect)

             - is not fooled by the devices of Morgoth or Sauron (wise man)

The Second and Third Ages

             - re-establishes the Havens at Lune, is affiliated with the High King Gil-galad, Elros and                                        Elrond (redeemer of value, preserver of life)

             - receives the Istari upon their arrival in Middle Earth, entrusted with the secrets of their                                        origin and purpose (holder of exclusive hidden knowledge)

             - Friend to the Edain who escape from the wreck of Númenor (the Elendili) and                                           preserves remnants of High Elven society in Lindon (representative and leader)

             - accompanies Elrond to the battle at which Sauron is overthrown (Dagorlad) and                                        encourages Isildur to destroy the ring (warrior, advisor)

             - attempts to rescue the last king of Arnor             

             - has a representative present at the council that gives the quest to the Fellowship of the                                        Ring (involved in secret planning, critical events) 

             - guards the palantir stone of Emyn Beraid - the stone that can communicate with the                                        Master Stone on Erresea at Avallonë (communicates with the Blessed Lands)

             - builds ships and arranges passage as the Eldar emigrate back to the Blessed Lands as                                        the Third Age ends, and continues to do so as the Fourth Age begins (port                                                     authority)

             Although the beginning of the Fourth Age officially begins when Elrond departs Middle Earth, the end of the presence of the Eldar on Middle Earth does continue for some time after this date. Celeborn remained and founded a new kingdom near that of King Thranduil, who continued to rule over the wood elves. Mention is made of the assistance rendered by elves in the rebuilding of Minas Tirith during the rule of King Elessar, so it is clear that there was a gradual emigration of Eldar throughout his reign.

             The ship that conveyed Elrond also transported Galadriel, Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf. The palantír of Emyn Beraid which had been held by Cirdan was given to Elrond upon his departure, although it was rightfully belonged to King Elessar. Either it was not offered to the King, or he agreed to the removal of the stone from Middle Earth. The palantír of Emyn Beraid looked only to the sea, and to the lands beyond the sea in the West. The departure of this palantír effectively ended communications between the Blessed Lands and Middle Earth.

             It can be assumed that Cirdan was the captain of the crew of the last ship carrying Eldar into the West, thus closing the portal of exit at the Grey Havens. Legolas is said to have built his own ship, and departed from Anfalas with Gimli after the death of King Elessar in year 119 of the Fourth Age. This is the only departure to the Blessed Lands that cast off from a location other than the Havens, suggesting that perhaps that Cirdan had departed sometime before. The voyage of Legolas and Gimli was recorded as the final departure made to the Blessed Lands.

             It is hoped that this summary gives a better idea of the importance of this intriguing character in Tolkein’s epic novels, and a fuller appreciation of his role in the events described therein.

ENDNOTES