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Originally Posted by Belegorn
Tar that is interesting. It appears to fly in the face of everything that has been attributed to Fëanor. Look at the first quote for instance. I would assume that Lúthien was one of the Children of Iluvatar. There is a contradiction there.
"Fëanor was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind... of all the Children of Iluvatar" [Sil, p. 112]
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Contradiction, perhaps. But JRRT is fond of using these superlatives, for various characters. However, in this instance it is a direct comparison, and I give it some weight.
As for your quote see this:
"Fëanor was the mightiest in skill of word and of hand, more learned than his brothers; his spirit burned as a flame. Fingolfin was the strongest, the most steadfast, and the most valiant. Finarfin was the fairest, and the most wise of heart", Sil. p. 60.
If Feanor was the mightiest in all parts of body, how could Fingolfin be stronger? Yet JRRT says Fingolfin was the strongest.
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There are instances where terms like these, greatest, mightiest, or fairest have been used for various characters. I'd ask if it's this one or that?
Contradiction aside, whether Luthien, or Galadriel, I would say that Sauron or some other great force of Melkor's could take down any realm in the F.A. held by different bearers of the Rings. The Elves are powerful and even the really top one's like Glorfindel, who is said to be nearly equal to the Maiar, could not stop them. If he is held to be so powerful, and Galadriel who is greater imo as per, "the mightiest and fairest of all the elves that remained in Middle-earth" [Sil, p. 370], could have her realm toppled by a Ringless Sauron if he chose to throw all of his strength at her, then any other Elven kingdom could be destroyed no matter what Elf held a Ring of Power.
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Interestingly, in Letter 245 JRRT writes:
"In the 'Mirror of Galadriel', 1381, it appears that Galadriel conceived of herself as capable of wielding the Ring and supplanting the Dark Lord. If so, so also were the other guardians of the Three, especially Elrond." [Gandalf was dealt with previously, I tend to consider this more generally referring to the great among the Eldar of the time.]
Elrond (granted he is not an Elf) would be especially capable, I think due to his Maiarin heritage.
But personally, the best quest to ask is greatest at what? As mighty as Galadriel is, would she beat Elrond in a sword fight? Is Luthien going to be able to be able to out wrestle Ecthelion who grappled with Gothmog?
No.
Greatest in some of these may also have a moral/spiritual context as well.