ME Bible: The Silmarillion on 12/27/2002 08:34 AM CST
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Your all forgetting Tom.

He was there before the Elf's went west the first time, making him the eldest creature in middle earth. Well it is between him and treebear actually, he's created before the elves awake as well. But not before the eagles.

Relevant Silmarillion Passages:
"That also shall come to be by the heed of Iluvatar, and before the Children awake there shall go forth with wings like the wind the Eages of the Lords of the West"

followed by

"'Nay,' he said, 'only the tress of Aule will be tall enough. In the mounts the Eagles shall house, and hear the voices of those who call upon us. But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees."

Page 41 in Harper Collins Trade papers.

and from the FOTR:

"That was not then his name. Iarwain Ben-adar we called him, oldest and fatherless."

as to what Tom, no one, not even Tolkien explained his full and true place in middle earth.

Azkial




Another good source is "Morgoth's Ring", published later yet contains a lot of information concerning elves left out of the Silmarillion. Also, "The Lays of Beleriand" has extensive history of the First Age laid out in prose (The ways were weary; and woven with deceit; o'er the hills of Hithlum; to the hidden kingdom, so on).

In "The Tolkien Reader" there is a whole section in the back of poems that tell a bit more about Tom, called "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil". Most is related by Hobbits, so the information is a bit loose with the facts. Nice referencing, Azkial.

Ken/Gidske
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