[Afrodal Fenyar]

Well, has anyone counted how many times has Tolkien has said somebody to be the most powerful, of the mightiest?

Húrin, the mightiest of the warriors of men.
Ar-Pharazon, the mightiest of the kings of Nümenor.
Morgoth, the mightiest of those who dwelt in Arda at it's beginning.
And so on.

Rarely somebody is "one of the most powerful" or "one of the greatest".

So, I believe that the mightiest of the Eldar is Fëanor. He created the Silmarils, and is said to be the greatest of the noldor. He banished Morgoth from his doors, and when chasing him to the Middle-Earth he fought damn hard until his death.

And when he died, his body burned because of his great spirit.

Now, Lúthien entered Angband - a deed I believe Fëanor, in his madness, would have
done without any fear. So, Lúthien was probably wiser than Fëanor, but that doesn't make him any greater of more powerful or mightier than Fëanor. Yet it doesn't put Fëanor above Lúthien.

Or wait!
What kind of power are we talking of?
Fëanor's power was in creating things and in speaking, manipulating people - with his speech he won the trust of the noldor, and led them to war.
Lúthien was the most beatiful(see, superlatives strike again) of the Eldar, and a great singer - remember her songs to Mandos and Morgoth, and she was very wise. But she got caught pretty many times.

So, Lúhtien was a great healer and migthy in singing(for the "magic" of the elves was in songs), and Fëanor in crafting and manipulating people. It's really hard to say which one is the greatest.

It could as well be Fingolfin, who was a great warrior, wounded even Morgoth, and was not far from killing him.

But somehow, I still want to say Fëanor. I've always thought of him as the greatest of the Eldar.

But of the GOOD it's surely Lúthien, for Fëanor was cruel and evil, due to the lies and evil deeds of Morgoth.

Sorry about my english.

[ October 19, 2002: Message edited by: Afrodal Fenyar ]

[ October 19, 2002: Message edited by: Afrodal Fenyar ]