A Maia of the race of the Ainur, Melian was the wife of Elu Thingol, the Queen of Doriath, and the mother of Luthien. Among all the characters created by Tolkien, a few are so charming and mysterious as Melian. She was the only Maia to marry the child of Eru, the only Spirit of the Kindred of Valar with actual power, and the most beautiful child in Middle Earth. She was one of the most powerful and greatest Maiar. [1]
History
Before coming to Middle Earth, Melian served Este and Vana and lived in Lorien's gardens, teaching the nightingales to sing. A few of the people at that time were so wise, beautiful, and talented at singing songs. She loved the shadows of giant trees. Nightingale followed her everywhere she used to go. It is said that when the lights of the Two Trees came together, Melian sang songs and all the creatures listened, pausing their work. She was the closest to Yavanna among all the Valar. When the Elves woke on the coast of Cuivienen, she left Valinor and came to Middle Earth, filling the silence with her voice and the birds.
She met the Elven King Elu Thingol in the forests of Nan Elmoth and fell in love with him. Later, she ruled over Doriath by the side of her husband. She guarded the city with the use of her powers for thousands of years. She made use of the protection spell, the Girdle of Melian, though she had predicted that the defense would be breached someday by somebody. The power stopped anybody less potent than her from entering the reign.
The spell was so powerful that it did not let Ungoliant bypass it. [2] Melian and Elu Thingol had a daughter who was named Luthien. When she was in Doriath, she became a friend of Galadriel and taught her some arts that she had learned from Yavanna. She later asked Galadriel about the return of Noldor, but Galadriel narrated the story briefly, excluding the death of Finwe, Kinslaying at Alqualonde, and other events. Eventually, Thingol and Melian came to know the truth. She warned Thingol about trusting the sons of Feanor. When Beren and Luthien departed, she helped Turin and his family.
When he returned from exile, Melian had lifted the spell. Thingol's arrogance finally resulted in his death in a battle, after which Melian vanished from the Mortal Lands and fled to Valinor, where she lamented on the death of her husband. As she was not present, Doriath was exposed to enemies.
The primary line of Melian's descent was the Half-Elven, and the Maian blood passed to the Men and Elves through her daughter. As predicted by her, when Beren arrived, she enquired the King for sending Beren to look for a Silmaril. The quest would result in the ruin of Doriath. Events like this show how powerful, wise, and foreseeing she was as compared to her husband.
She met the Elven King Elu Thingol in the forests of Nan Elmoth and fell in love with him. Later, she ruled over Doriath by the side of her husband. She guarded the city with the use of her powers for thousands of years. She made use of the protection spell, the Girdle of Melian, though she had predicted that the defense would be breached someday by somebody. The power stopped anybody less potent than her from entering the reign.
The spell was so powerful that it did not let Ungoliant bypass it. [2] Melian and Elu Thingol had a daughter who was named Luthien. When she was in Doriath, she became a friend of Galadriel and taught her some arts that she had learned from Yavanna. She later asked Galadriel about the return of Noldor, but Galadriel narrated the story briefly, excluding the death of Finwe, Kinslaying at Alqualonde, and other events. Eventually, Thingol and Melian came to know the truth. She warned Thingol about trusting the sons of Feanor. When Beren and Luthien departed, she helped Turin and his family.
When he returned from exile, Melian had lifted the spell. Thingol's arrogance finally resulted in his death in a battle, after which Melian vanished from the Mortal Lands and fled to Valinor, where she lamented on the death of her husband. As she was not present, Doriath was exposed to enemies.
The primary line of Melian's descent was the Half-Elven, and the Maian blood passed to the Men and Elves through her daughter. As predicted by her, when Beren arrived, she enquired the King for sending Beren to look for a Silmaril. The quest would result in the ruin of Doriath. Events like this show how powerful, wise, and foreseeing she was as compared to her husband.
Etymology
Melian is a Sindarin name, which means 'Dear Gift' from the words 'Mel' and 'anna' belonging to the Quenya word Melyanna. Some earlier names for Melian were Gwenethlin and Gwenniel.
Other Versions of The Legendarium
In Tolkien's earlier works, Melian has been described as an elf, being more fearful than shown later. This version appears in Tolkien's story of Luthien and Beren, 'The Tale of Tinuviel' published in 'The Book of Lost Tales – II'. She appears in a later narrative, and her character is portrayed as weaker and frailer than her final version. In other words, she also appears under different names like Gwenniel.
