Aragorn's Ancestors - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Gilthalion*** · 03-22-2001, 07:40 PM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: canon and questions

Just finished the Suite101 essay Elves by the numbers.

I suppose one could quibble over the assumptions made for generational staggering, but the methodology is sound. Over the years, the populations would be quite large since attrition was only due to "unnatural" causes.

Coming at the problem from another angle leads one to believe that MM's generational assumptions are fairly close to what was necessary to generate populations able to support the armies the Noldor fielded.

An army of 10,000 requires a tremendous amount of logistical support. For every elf on the field, there were many more engaged in the tasks of food production, husbandry, weapons manufacture, clothing, transportation, engineering, etc. I don't think we should assume the Spartan efficiencies of a military civilization.

In other words, it really takes quite a large population to support armies even of this size. I forget what the ratio of field to support is in a modern army, but it is quite high for any army. Beyond pure military support, as indicated in the previous paragraph, is the support of the entire population behind it.

In other words, we are talking about large populations indeed.

That settled, if we aren't speaking of a Spartan civilization, to what can we compare it? Or can we at all?

Much of the population was hundreds to thousands of years old. Elvish children were evidently raised to their particular station in life. I'm thinking something almost Asian...

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03-22-2001, 07:40 PM	#24
*Gilthalion* Hobbitus Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: South Farthing Posts: 635	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight Posts: 213</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: canon and questions Just finished the Suite101 essay Elves by the numbers. I suppose one could quibble over the assumptions made for generational staggering, but the methodology is sound. Over the years, the populations would be quite large since attrition was only due to "unnatural" causes. Coming at the problem from another angle leads one to believe that MM's generational assumptions are fairly close to what was necessary to generate populations able to support the armies the Noldor fielded. An army of 10,000 requires a tremendous amount of logistical support. For every elf on the field, there were many more engaged in the tasks of food production, husbandry, weapons manufacture, clothing, transportation, engineering, etc. I don't think we should assume the Spartan efficiencies of a military civilization. In other words, it really takes quite a large population to support armies even of this size. I forget what the ratio of field to support is in a modern army, but it is quite high for any army. Beyond pure military support, as indicated in the previous paragraph, is the support of the entire population behind it. In other words, we are talking about large populations indeed. That settled, if we aren't speaking of a Spartan civilization, to what can we compare it? Or can we at all? Much of the population was hundreds to thousands of years old. Elvish children were evidently raised to their particular station in life. I'm thinking something almost Asian... <center><font face=verdana size=1> http://www.barrowdowns.comBarrow-Downs</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000Bare Bones</a>~http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhirTar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgard...ilthalion.htmlGrand Adventures</a>~http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.aspThe Hobbits</a>~http://www.tolkientrail.comTolkien Trail</a> </center></p> __________________ Please read my fan fiction novel THE HOBBITS. Wanna hear me read Tolkien? Gilthalion's Grand Adventures!