Idril Celebrindal
Exile of Gondolin
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2024
- Messages
- 666
Gil Galad died during the sige of Barad-Dur. Isildur himself recorded his death. An yet part of the song that Sam sings near Amon Hen makes it seem as if his fate is unknown.
"But long ago he rode away
And where he dwelleth none can say
Far into darkness fell his star
In Mordor where the shadows are"
The "And where he dwelleth none can say" part makes is seem as if the elves really didn't know what happened to Gil Galad, or that they thought he was taken captive by Sauron. But wouldn't his death have been seen by many? And you would think that Isildur would tell peope what happened to Gil Galad, if nobody else saw it. So did Bilbo make a mistake while translating the song from Elvish (Sindarin, I'm assuming?)? Or is the "Where he dwelleth none can say" somehow connected with the choice of Elves to come back to Arda after they die, and the Elves are wondering if he was reborn or not? Or is this simply a small mistake made by Tolkien, however unlikely that may seem?
Or am I misinterpreting the song?
"But long ago he rode away
And where he dwelleth none can say
Far into darkness fell his star
In Mordor where the shadows are"
The "And where he dwelleth none can say" part makes is seem as if the elves really didn't know what happened to Gil Galad, or that they thought he was taken captive by Sauron. But wouldn't his death have been seen by many? And you would think that Isildur would tell peope what happened to Gil Galad, if nobody else saw it. So did Bilbo make a mistake while translating the song from Elvish (Sindarin, I'm assuming?)? Or is the "Where he dwelleth none can say" somehow connected with the choice of Elves to come back to Arda after they die, and the Elves are wondering if he was reborn or not? Or is this simply a small mistake made by Tolkien, however unlikely that may seem?
Or am I misinterpreting the song?

