Dwalin the Dwarf - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 10-08-2007, 11:45 AM

The Essay on Durin's Folk has two seemingly contradictory statements, but which I think are actually congruent: one that states that Dwarves aren't 'war-high' (ready for fighting or really hard work) until 30; another that indicates that their 'maturity' (meaning a period of no visible physical change or aging) lasts from ca. 40 to ca. 240. This is only an apparent disconnect- it just means that 30-40 is a period between between having adult size and actual maturity, analagous say to RW ages between 16 or 17 and 21.

Dain was indeed a 'stripling' at Nanduhirion- but had he been under 30 he wouldn't have been there at all!

FWIW, JRRT also tells us that Dwarves are effectively immune to disease (not really a surprise)- but that they can be prone to one serious health problem: corpulence. Some Dwarves from around age 200 or so become morbidly obese, so much so as to preclude physical activity (as with Bombur, who needed a crew of young Dwarves to propel him from couch to table).

Hammerhand · 10-08-2007, 03:43 PM

Well, Dwalin aside, Gimli died at 262 which is the highest i have been able to find. I couldn't find supporting dates for Durin the Deathless, though from his name and mention in literature, he must surely have been old - if anyone can enlighten on him it would be grand...

Which reminds me, i was absolutely gutted when reading LotR that there was hardly any mention given to our old friends at the Lonely Mountain, Dale, Mirkwood, Lake Town and the principalities surrounding.

Kuruharan · 10-09-2007, 08:51 AM

Maybe Dwalin was just one of those people who have a really long life...it happens.

Hammerhand · 10-09-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Maybe Dwalin was just one of those people who have a really long life...it happens.

Maybe...maybe not.

That would be like someone today living to be 170 or something crazy.

10-08-2007, 11:45 AM	#1
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	The Essay on Durin's Folk has two seemingly contradictory statements, but which I think are actually congruent: one that states that Dwarves aren't 'war-high' (ready for fighting or really hard work) until 30; another that indicates that their 'maturity' (meaning a period of no visible physical change or aging) lasts from ca. 40 to ca. 240. This is only an apparent disconnect- it just means that 30-40 is a period between between having adult size and actual maturity, analagous say to RW ages between 16 or 17 and 21. Dain was indeed a 'stripling' at Nanduhirion- but had he been under 30 he wouldn't have been there at all! FWIW, JRRT also tells us that Dwarves are effectively immune to disease (not really a surprise)- but that they can be prone to one serious health problem: corpulence. Some Dwarves from around age 200 or so become morbidly obese, so much so as to preclude physical activity (as with Bombur, who needed a crew of young Dwarves to propel him from couch to table). __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it. Last edited by William Cloud Hicklin; 10-08-2007 at 11:50 AM.

10-08-2007, 03:43 PM	#2
Hammerhand Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dark side of the moon. Posts: 81	Well, Dwalin aside, Gimli died at 262 which is the highest i have been able to find. I couldn't find supporting dates for Durin the Deathless, though from his name and mention in literature, he must surely have been old - if anyone can enlighten on him it would be grand... Which reminds me, i was absolutely gutted when reading LotR that there was hardly any mention given to our old friends at the Lonely Mountain, Dale, Mirkwood, Lake Town and the principalities surrounding. __________________ A great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar.

10-09-2007, 08:51 AM	#3
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	Maybe Dwalin was just one of those people who have a really long life...it happens. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...