Elvish Reproduction

[Gorwingel]

I would just suspect that the elves had this kind of like the race of men. But I am not very knowledgable in this topic (Sitting here wondering why anyone would want to know this, no offense) I could understand the twins question though. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Thinlómien]

Also, does it seem that there are always more Elf males being born? Feanor has no daughters, for example, and Galadriel was the only daughter. Can we safely assume that female Elves tend to give birth to more males than females?

I don't think so. Having a lot of sons (and maybe one daughter) is just usual stuff of legends and tales. Maybe we shouldn't think the "gender-balance" with the lords of eldar as an good example of elvish "gender-balance" but just parts of the story.
The non-famous elves had all the daughters...

And about yhe menstruation: from all your "conclusions" maybe once a year in a period of 100-300 years after getting married?

[Ainaserkewen]

Or maybe famour Elves did have daughters but they were written away like in the Bible.

[Thinlómien]

Maybe, since many of the elf-lords' wives/mothers aren't mentioned anywhere. For example, who was the wife of Fingolfin? Or Orodreth? Or Fingon? This is one of the really few things that make me irritated with Tolkien.

[Lalwendë]

I think the question of why Elves did not have very large families could be answered by considering that as they are immortal, if they continued having children throughout their lives, the Elven population would simply be too large and unsustainable. Perhaps the Elves knew this, and with their love of the natural environment might also have realised what a strain on resources that would become, as in our own world.

In Morgoth's Ring I believe it also states that once an Elven couple had completed their family, the main joy that they had from marriage was companionship:

with the exercise of the power the desire soon ceases, and the mind turns to other things. The union of love is indeed to them great delight and joy, and the 'days of the children', as they call them, remain in their memory as the most merry in life; but they have many other powers of body and of mind which their nature urges them to fulfil.

and

It might be thought that, since the Eldar do not (as Men deem) grow old in body, they may bring forth children at anytime in the ages of their lives. But this is not so.For the Eldar do indeed grow older, even if slowly; the limit of their lives is the life of Arda, which though long beyond the reckoning of Men is not endless, and ages also. Moreover their body and spirit are not separated but coherent. As the weoght of the years, with all their changes of desire and thought, gathers upon the spirit of the Eldar, so do the impulses and moods of their bodies change.

Also, in times of war Elves endeavoured not to have children, indeed, not to marry, and the history of Middle Earth is peppered with conflict which might reduce the potential population.

So with such considerations, it might be expected that Elven bodies are also made a lot differently to human bodies.

[Nukapei]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

And about yhe menstruation: from all your "conclusions" maybe once a year in a period of 100-300 years after getting married?

Once a year was about what I was thinking, too, Thinlómien! Especially when I read something (can't remember where! Gah!) that said that Elves are only fertile in the Spring. So, maybe one 'cycle'? Doesn't have to be a month long -- can be two or three! Gestation is a year, so the baby is born the following spring.

[Inderjit Sanghera]

Great warg-Twins were extremely rare. I can think of two Elvish twins-Amrod and Amras and Elladan and Elrohir.

[Lalaith]

Ahem. And, as I pointed out earlier in this thread, Elros and Elrond.

[Ultimatejoe]

You guys are forgetting about Elwing's brothers, Elured and Elurin.

[Airehiriel]

Since we are on the topic of reproduction and the like, I have a question. Do you think Elves, being as dignified and refined as they are, had sex for bonding and/or recreation, or just for reproductive purposes?

I am asking this seriously, not to be perverted.

[The-Elf-Herself]

http://imladris.elendor.net/background4c.html

Go here and it should answer your questions.

[Inderjit Sanghera]

Elros and Elrond weren't twins,well at least I have never read a canolonical statement that they were twins.

[ January 22, 2003: Message edited by: Inderjit Sanghera ]

[Inderjit Sanghera]

As far as I know, Amrod and Amras are the only FULLY Elven twins mentioned.

[Lalaith]

Elros and Elrond were both born in First Age 532.

[The Saucepan Man]

Doubtless they would retain for many ages the power of generation, if the will and desire were not satisfied; but with the exercise of the power the desire soon ceases, and the mind turns to other things.

So, Celeborn was Celebate. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Lalaith]

Thanks to the Elf-Herself for that link. It was really interesting.

[Raefindel]

The-Elf-Herself, I would also like to thank you for that link. It is indeed very interesting.

[littlemanpoet]

My initial reaction to this topic was as strong and nameless as Tarthang's. But I think what he may have been getting at was that this kind of topic, whereas certainly within the realms of the discussable, tends to demythologize Middle Earth. As far as it does so, it pulls it down from its lofty heights to mundane speculation. Those who enjoy such endeavors, of course, continue. But to suggest that someone who does not care for this topic, is prudish, is not helpful.