Fingon the valiant?

[Artanis]

Any idea why Fingon was called 'The valiant' in Valinor? Was there any dangerous activities in the Blessed Realm, where there was no death among the Elves?

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally Posted by Artanis

Any idea why Fingon was called 'The valiant' in Valinor? Was there any dangerous activities in the Blessed Realm, where there was no death among the Elves?

That's a good question. I could see him being called that once they were in Beleriand. Perhaps it was given to him in Valinor because of the stand he took in the persuit of Morgoth, and toward Feanor. I would say it could have had something to do with his leardership in crossing the ice, but Maedhros referred to him as the "Valiant" when asking Feanor about the ships returning, which implies that Fingon was called the "Valiant" long before that. Then perhaps there were some unspoken deeds during the Darkening of Valinor or something.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

And it can't have been just after the awakening of the elves as seen as Maedhros wasn't born until they got to Valinor.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally Posted by Telcontar_Dunedain

And it can't have been just after the awakening of the elves as seen as Maedhros wasn't born until they got to Valinor.

The most likely contexts for valiant in Aman would be hunting and mountain adventuring. Perhaps even a few lurking mosters such a Shelob, but lesser, to be dispatched around the periphery.

[Radagast The Brown]

It was said about Celegorm that he went hunting with teh group of Orome. That's where he got Huan of Valinor.. maybe Fingon went on hunts too, and there he got his name, like Lefty said.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Maybe he just got 500 posts and a custom title.

[Attalus]

Originally Posted by Lefty Scaevola

Maybe he just got 500 posts and a custom title.

That would make him Fingon the Spammer.

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by Lefty Scaevola

Maybe he just got 500 posts and a custom title.

Hee-hee.

Another explanation I've heard elsewhere is that Fingon and his mate Maedhros were enjoying cliff-diving, and that Fingon always jumped from incredible heights at the most dangerous spots.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Maybe he told Feanor that the SIlmarils were rubbish.

[Attalus]

Originally Posted by Telcontar_Dunedain

Maybe he told Feanor that the SIlmarils were rubbish.

Naw, just in poor taste. "Fëanoro, that headband that you wear to the festivals with all three Silmarils on it make you look like a mithril miner. How about cutting it down to one?"

[Telumehtar]

I've always imagined that Fingon picked up this title during some kind of hunting incident, something not too dissimilar to the scene in La Reine Margot, where Henri of Navarre leaps to the aid of the king - who was in imminent danger of being skewered by a wild boar - and takes the creature down with nothing but a dagger. A more romantic idea would be Fingon saving Maedhros from this fate - though that might be stretching the point a little.

I've heard the cliff-diving idea too, there is a picture on Elfwood showing this scene isn't there? Done by the same artist who drew that amazing picture of Fëanor, Nerdanel, and the brats? I like the idea, especially when put in the context of her artwork. Very cool.

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by Telumehtar

I've heard the cliff-diving idea too, there is a picture on Elfwood showing this scene isn't there? Done by the same artist who drew that amazing picture of Fëanor, Nerdanel, and the brats? I like the idea, especially when put in the context of her artwork. Very cool.

Yeah, that's where I got it from. The picture of the homely Fëanorean scene is sweet.

Welcome, btw.

[Kirinki54]

Originally Posted by Telumehtar

A more romantic idea would be Fingon saving Maedhros from this fate - though that might be stretching the point a little.

I think you a right here. If that was not a valiant deed, than what was?

There is the problem of Maedhros naming Fingon "valiant" before that (as mentioned bySGH), but I can see at least two possible explanations.

The history as depicted in The Sil was supposedly handed down by Elves to Men, and interpreted in the process. It is possible that the notion of Fingon naming Fingon valiant after the Kin-slaying was put in incorrectly.

The other is that Fingon was named valiant even in Valinor, but even without killings and death there, he might well have distinguished himself as a brave person. Or reknowned for his strength:


val·iant ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vlynt)
adj.
Possessing valor; brave.
Marked by or done with valor. See Synonyms at brave.

n.
A brave person.


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[Middle English, from Old French vaillant, from Latin valns, valent- present participle of valre, to be strong. See wal- in Indo-European Roots.]
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valian·cy or valiance or valiant·ness n.
valiant·ly adv.



valiant

\Val"iant\, a. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, Equivalent, Prevail, Valid.] 1. Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [Obs.] --Walton.

2. Intrepid in danger; courageous; brave.

A valiant and most expert gentleman. --Shak.

And Saul said to David . . . be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. --1 Sam. xviii. 17.

3. Performed with valor or bravery; heroic. ``Thou bearest the highest name for valiant acts.'' --Milton.

[The saints] have made such valiant confessions. --J. H. Newman. -- Val\"iant*ly, adv. -- Val\"iant*ness, {n}.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


valiant

adj : having or showing valor; "a valiant attempt to prevent the hijack"; "a valiant soldier" [syn: valorous]

[Durin1]

I just remembered something from the HoMe series about Galadriel and her "other" names. It is stated (in Customs of the Eldar, I think) that from an early age Elves were given their "true" names but also a surname according to some premonition, of sorts, most especially given by the mother. Perhaps when he was born Fingon was given the name "valiant" to denote some sort of "quality" within him that was identified early in childhood, or even at birth?

[Durin1]

I remember too that Elves with "gon" had their names derived from the original Kane which apparently means "valiant".

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

so sort of finvaliant the valiant? gets a bit confusing

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by Durin1

I just remembered something from the HoMe series about Galadriel and her "other" names. It is stated (in Customs of the Eldar, I think) that from an early age Elves were given their "true" names but also a surname according to some premonition, of sorts, most especially given by the mother. Perhaps when he was born Fingon was given the name "valiant" to denote some sort of "quality" within him that was identified early in childhood, or even at birth?

That's a good suggestion Durin1! It is true that the Elves had at least two names, one given from their father, and one from their mother. Tolkien states that Findekáno (Fingon), Turukáno (Turgon), Írissë (Aredhel) and Arakáno (Argon) were probably father-names, and I don't think their mother-names are known.

Originally Posted by Durin1

I remember too that Elves with "gon" had their names derived from the original Kane which apparently means "valiant".

I think you're wrong here. I'm pretty sure that "gon" is a Sindarized form of the Quenya "kano", which means "commander". Maglor's father-name was Kanafinwë, and here "kano" means "strong voice" or "commanding".

[Durin1]

Originally Posted by Artanis

I think you're wrong here. I'm pretty sure that "gon" is a Sindarized form of the Quenya "kano", which means "commander". Maglor's father-name was Kanafinwë, and here "kano" means "strong voice" or "commanding".

Artanis, although you are correct to point out that "kano" is more clearly interpreted as "commander/commanding", I would argue that it could also denote as valiant in a generalised sense (as many of Tolkien's words do).

...although i'll stand corrected if I am totally wrong!

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by Durin1

Artanis, although you are correct to point out that "kano" is more clearly interpreted as "commander/commanding", I would argue that it could also denote as valiant in a generalised sense (as many of Tolkien's words do).

...although i'll stand corrected if I am totally wrong!

Well I'm no Quenya expert so what you say may be perfectly valid.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Maybe some vailent acts during the firts kinslaying.