Galadriel

Lore & Background

Born in Valinor as the youngest child of Finarfin and Eärwen, Galadriel was called the fairest of all Elves. She possessed a marvellous gift for judging minds with mercy but withheld goodwill from Fëanor, who begged thrice for a tress of her hair to no avail; their friendship ended forever. Her silver-golden hair captured the radiance of the Two Trees, Laurelin and Telperion. During the First Age rebellion, she was the only female leader in the Noldor's flight from Valinor, though she later parted ways with Fëanor. In Beleriand, she lived at Nargothrond and Doriath, sharing dark secrets about Morgoth while omitting the kinslaying of elves.

In Their Own Story

In the Second Age, Galadriel and Celeborn ruled Eriador before settling in Lothlórien. When Annatar (Sauron) deceived Celebrimbor regarding the Rings of Power, Galadriel distrusted him and fled to Lórien via Moria's gates while Celeborn stayed behind. After Sauron attacked Eregion, Celebrimbor entrusted her with Nenya, one of the Three Rings. By the Third Age, she welcomed the Fellowship to Lothlórien, testing their resolve with a searching look that Boromir mistook for temptation. When Frodo offered her the One Ring, she acknowledged its corrupting influence would make her 'great and terrible' but refused, accepting her people's fading and her return to Valinor. After Sauron's defeat, she threw down Dol Guldur's walls and attended Arwen's wedding in Minas Tirith before departing Middle-earth with Elrond, Gandalf, and the Ring-bearers.

Reader's Guide

Galadriel served as joint ruler of Lothlórien until the end of the Third Age, providing the Fellowship with supplies, Elven cloaks, and boats. Her gift to Frodo was the Phial containing light from Eärendil's star. She healed Gandalf upon his return in white robes, signaling his new status as head of the Istari. Though she ruled Lothlórien for time during the Second Age according to some accounts, she definitively returned there after Amroth was lost in the Third Age. Her daughter Celebrían married Elrond, mothering Arwen, Elladan, and Elrohir. Celeborn remained behind after Galadriel's departure; no record exists of when he eventually sought the Grey Havens.

Did You Know?

• Galadriel was the only female leader in the Noldor's flight from Valinor during the First Age.
• Fëanor begged Galadriel thrice for a tress of her hair, but she refused him every time, leaving them unfriends forever.
• Her height is described as two rangar (man-high), approximately 6 feet 4 inches or 193 cm.
• Galadriel's silver-golden hair was said to capture the radiance of the Two Trees Laurelin and Telperion.
• After Sauron's defeat, Galadriel personally threw down the walls of Dol Guldur.