Gondor, Rohan and Lorien

[Thinlómien]

I've got the impression that none of the Rohanian tales that tell of Lórien tells of celeborn, they are very Galadriel-centered. Now why is that? Any thoughts?

The only answer that comes to my mind is that mysterious woman in power is a more intriguing subject to people in ME of that time than a mysterious man in power... People were not used to woman rulers and the thought inspired their imagination. Or maybe they had heard tales of Galadriel's "magic".

[narfforc]

I don't think the Rohirrim knew much at all about Lorien in a real sense, as for their tales they wrote next to nothing down, most tales were of the bardic tradition. I think most of what they knew would have been rumour and lies spread by both Sauron and Saruman. The words Witch and Sorceress were used to scare potential allies, this is how Galadriel was known to many, for the ring was with her not Celeborn, and the Enemy feared her. As for not knowing female rulers, I say again she was a co-ruler, Lorien was ruled by a Lord and Lady, and both Rohan and Gondors Kings had Queens all through their history.

However in saying all this, females rulers are pretty short on the ground in Tolkiens works, I am uncertain as to why he does not give more credence to them. I am sure he would of known of the figures of Boudicca and Medb of Connaught. Badb, Macha and Morrigan are the Irish Goddesses of War, there is also Nemain. Many mythologies/legends have female rulers/warriors.

Galadriel herself is said to be as good as any on a battlefield, yet Tolkien fails to give her to us, we are left with a calm, serene almost priestess figure staring in a bowl of water, she has been portrayed as The Oracle and not the Warrior (in LotR), what exactly is this power she is so powerful with.

[Raynor]

Galadriel herself is said to be as good as any on a battlefield, yet Tolkien fails to give her to us, we are left with a calm, serene almost priestess figure staring in a bowl of water, she has been portrayed as The Oracle and not the Warrior (in LotR), what exactly is this power she is so powerful with.

Then again, there is this interesting passage in the RotK:

Originally Posted by , March 25th, 3019, The Tale of Years

They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed.

It could reffer actually to her army, but it does leave open some interpretations.

[Boromir88]

To add onto Raynor's post, later on in Tolkien's writings he does show us more of a 'battle-prowess' with Galadriel that may not have been noticeable in The Silmarillion or LOTR:

Her mother-name was Nerwen 'man-maiden,' and she grew tall beyond the measure of even the women of the Noldor; she was strong of body, mind, and will, a match for the loremasters and the athletes of the Eldar in the days of their youth.~Home XII, Late Writings

Even after the merciless assault upon the Telerin and the rape of their ships, though she fought fiercely against Feanor in the defense of her mother's kin, she did not turn back.~ibid

A queen she was of the woodland Elves, the wife of Celeborn of Doriath, yet she herself was of the Noldor and remember the Day before days in Valinor, and she was the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that remained in Middle-earth."~The Silmarillion, of the Rings of Power

[narfforc]

I remember those passages, however I was talking of LotR (the story). If nothing had been published after Tolkien died we would still know little of Galadriel, and it is a shame we do not see more of this real Galadriel in his published works. The same of course can be said of Celeborn, he too in some accounts fought in those same wars as Galadriel.

I hope I am not intruding by jumping in. I'm new to this sort of thing and bring with me only my love of LOTR and other JRRT writings.

The theme I am gleaning from this thread is a lament that Celeborn seems to be sitting in the back seat and a wonder that Galadriel is held up so high. The Silmarillion answers this. Galadriel was a High Elf and JRRT seemed obsessed with them. Celeborn is a Wood Elf, of one of the clans that never even answered the call to go overseas, if memory serves me right. He is very old and has been around a long time, but his entire existence has been in Middle Earth.

Galadriel, on the other hand, was born in Valinor. She knew life in the undying lands amidst the two trees. She joined the rebellious ones and fled to Middle Earth. She had high ambitions of being a big fish in a little pond. In the beginning, she was a warrior, willing to fight to be that big fish.

However, by the time we meet her in LOTR, the battle has pretty much gone out of her. She is struggling against the curse the Valar placed upon those Elves who rebelled and fled to Middle Earth - that they would weary of it. The ring of power she wore kept that weariness at bay - but it cost her. Her's is by far the more dramatic story. I think that's why she gets more press than Celeborn.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

Well, Celeborn was actually a Sinda (Grey-Elf), closely related to Elu Thingol of Doriath. This makes him one of the Eldar, not the Avari, but ultimately still one of the Moriquendi. (Sorry, I just enjoy being able to throw terms like those around and actually know what they mean.) But yeah, your point still holds that Galadriel certainly had more inherent power than Celeborn did. And I think that's why she's usually considered the dominant member in the marriage.