Matriarchal or Patriarchal societies in ME ???

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by The Might

just wanted to make a small explanation: by Varda I do not want to imply that Elves had a matriarchal society just because they worshiped here, but that this kind of praise to a female shows they were not afraid or unwilling to accept females as leaders or as higher powers

Of course not, and you could not have gone this far, we have all these mentioned Galadriels and Melians who show it rather well. This is just the same - but again, Varda is not taken as, as you say, leader. This is the difference: to admire someone or to praise them might not necessarily mean that you accept them as your superiors. Although also we can see it vice versa... (okay, I think we might stop it, since this is not a political discussion thread)

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

And about Galadriel and Celeborn, it is interesting that while she sails west we are not told definitely when Celeborn leaves (I hope I am remembering that correctly. I haven't reread LotR in some time).

Actually, that is the strangest part of it. Galadriel sails with the Ringbearers, but we have no word about Celeborn. We are told that

But after the passing of Galadriel in a few years Celeborn grew weary of his realm and went to Imladris to dwell with the sons of Elrond.

This is, I think, the last we know about his fate. Anyone else has anything more to add?

P.S. And I apologize for one misquotation I made in one of my previous posts. I am saying there that Celeborn destroys Dol Guldur - to be precise, according to the Appendix B, Celeborn takes the army, but Galadriel breaks down the walls of Dol Guldur (possibly after the forces are defeated, as an act of "un-unhallowing" the place).