Rings of Power: Namárie – the true meaning of Elrond and Durin’s parting word

• Once again Elrond and Durin have to say goodbye in Khazad-Dum.
• This time there is an important Elvish phrase with great meaning that can tell us a lot about the relationship between the two.
• It is not just a word, but also the title of a lamentation.

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After Elrond and his friend Durin failed to convince the dwarf king Durin III to mine the mithril in Khazad-Dum and share it with the Elves, they are both forced to say goodbye. Her farewell, although luckily it doesn’t last long, is one of the most emotional scenes of the 7th episode of “The Rings of Power”. But what does Namárie actually mean and what exactly did Elrond want to express with it?

failed negotiations

Together, Elrond and Durin wanted to convince his father, Durin III, to help the Elves of Eregion. Elrond proposes a treaty that would see the elves supplying the dwarves with wood and food in exchange for mithril for 500 years. But King Durin III is stubborn and suspicious and rejects the proposal.

His son Durin IV is inconsolable and suspects the consequences of this decision. Without the mithril and its magical, rejuvenating effects, the elves cannot survive much longer in Middle-earth. Soon the elves will have to leave or perish from Middle-earth. A fate that, according to Durin III, was decided long ago.

A farewell that brings tears

When Elrond is ready to leave, he and Durin IV must say their goodbyes. It’s obviously difficult for both friends and they know that it might be their last meeting. Durin is highly emotional and asks if it’s a goodbye. Elrond comforts him and tries to explain how the Elves celebrate such a farewell.

Durin completes it and says the Elvish word for it, Namárie. Elrond then explains that it means more than “farewell”. “Turn to the good” is his wording and both friends exchange deep looks for the last time. But what exactly does this special Elbe farewell mean?

Namárie – a bitter goodbye

In the Quenya Elvish language, Namárie means farewell. But the real meaning of it is much deeper. In the Tolkien backstory, as well as in the films, Namárie appears as Galadriel’s singing farewell to the companions.

The “Lamentation of Galadriel”, as Namárie is also known, was composed by her as a song which the Lady of the Woods recites as she bids farewell to the companions of Lothlórien. It is also intended to impressively express her longing for Valinor, her homeland.

But how do her rather melancholic words fit with Elrond’s translation? Perhaps it is a slightly freer translation by Elrond, or he has always used Namárie with that meaning and through his friendship with Galadriel. From a purely linguistic point of view, in the language of the Elbe it means, as Durin says, “Farewell”.

But it can also have several meanings and, apart from the pure translation, also have another content. The very “Turn to good” declared by Elrond. In addition to sadness and melancholy, there is also something hopeful in Galadriel’s vocal farewell to Namárie. “Farewell! Maybe you will find Valimar!” are the last lines of her poem.

Valimar, or Valinor, might be seen as the sacred land of the Elves and Valar, “the good” to turn to in parting. Especially when in Elrond and Durin’s situation it’s uncertain when they’ll see each other again.

On October 14, 2022, the finale of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season 1 awaits us in the Amazon Prime Video news program. But don’t worry, supplies have already been taken care of: “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season 2 is already being filmed!