Tolkien Gateway


Revision as of 07:47, 6 January 2009 by Sage (Talk | contribs)
DominionsPossibly Dorwinion
Skin colorWhite
Hair colorProbably dark
DistinctionsRefused the Great Journey
MembersPossibly Morwë, Nurwë

Q: unwilling The Avari are a branch of the Elves. Also known as East Elves


The rest, remained suspicious, or simply refused to depart from their own lands, and spread gradually throughout the wide lands of Middle-earth. They were after known in Quenya—the language of the Eldar that eventually reached Valinor—by the name Avari, meaning "the Unwilling", because they refused the summons.

Initially the Avari stayed in Cuiviénen but many of them started to wander westards, and were mingled with the Nandor of the Vales of Anduin, Eriador and some reached Beleriand, mingling with the Laiquendi. But very few settled in Doriath. The Avari who came from the Tatyar were unfriendly and jealous to the Noldor, their exalted kin, and accused them for arrogance.





Their population was composed of 1/2 of the Tatyar and 1/3 of the Nelyar, who maybe were called Lindai. According to a tradition their leaders were Morwë of the Tatyar and Nurwë of the Nelyar.

Six tribes of Avari are mentioned, and their names are all cognates of the Primitive Quendian word Kwendî (the Speakers): Kindi, Cuind, Hwenti, Windan, Kinn-lai, Penni[1].







In Sindarin they were called Evair.

Other versions of the legendarium




  1. The War of the Jewels
  3. The History of Middle-earth, The War of the Jewels Quendi and Eldar, p. 362,371

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