The Encyclopedia of Arda The Encyclopedia of Arda Interactive Edition available now
ALPHABETICAL • RACES • PLACES • MISCELLANEOUS • SITE SERVICES • ARTICLES & GUIDES • INTERACTIVE
Latest • Maps • FAQ • Chronicle • Calendar • Excyclopedia • Old & Rare Words • Links • Random
Title of
Both Tom Bombadil and Treebeard1

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 3 May 2004
  • Updates planned: 1

Eldest

A name for the oldest of beings

A title for the eldest of all beings. Confusingly, it seems to apply to two different individuals; not only does Tom Bombadil claim it for himself, but Celeborn also uses it to address the old Ent Treebeard.


Notes

1

Of these two, Tom probably has the better claim to the title. He said that he was able to remember 'the first raindrop and the first acorn.' (The Fellowship of the Ring I 7): if so, then it seems he must be older than Treebeard, who appeared after the first trees.

However - as far as it's possible to tell - Tom seems to be a magical being or a spirit of some kind, whereas Treebeard was a living, breathing creature, albeit an immensely old one. So, when Celeborn referred to Treebeard as 'Eldest', he wasn't necessarily wrong. He may simply have meant 'eldest living thing in Middle-earth', which would probably have been true.

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2002, 2004. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.