Figwit Lives! Aegnor FAQ

If you have any corrections/more info (with references!) please email me!


	Q: Who is Aegnor? A: Aegnor was the fourth son of Finarfin of the House of Finwë and one of the princes of the Noldor who came back to Middle-earth during the Elder Days. Aegnor is a Sindarin name adapted from the Quenya name Aikanár which means "fell fire" or "sharp flame". An earlier version of his Sindarin name was Egnor. The People of Middle Earth pages 346-7: Aikanáro was called by his father Ambaráto. The Sindarin form of this would have been Amrod; but to distinguish this from Angrod, and also because he preferred it, he used his mother name. Aika-nár- meant ‘fell fire’. It was in part a ‘prophetic’ name; for he was renowned as one of the most valiant of the warriors, greatly feared by the Orks: in wrath or battle the light of his eyes was like flame, though otherwise he was a generous and noble spirit. But in early youth the fiery light could be observed; while his hair was notable: golden like his brothers and sister, but strong and stiff, rising upon his head like flames. The Sindarin form Aegnor that he adopted was however not true Sindarin. There was no Sindarin adjective corresponding to Quenya aika ‘fell, terrible, dire’, though aeg would have been its form if it had occurred. (His hair was spiky on his head and probably long at the back. One contributer suggested... a mullet?) Aegnor was in love with a mortal woman named Andreth (the only male elf to fall in love with a mortal woman in canon). However, he chose not to act on his feelings. (See below for more details). He and his brother Angrod settled in Northern part of the Dorthonian highland it in fief from Finrod, their older brother. When Morgoth launched his attack on the Elves he started with the Dorthonian highland and both brothers were slain. Aegnor references can be found in History of Middle Earth X (Morgoth’s Ring) pages 113, 121, 125-6, 177, 182, 195-7, 323-8, 335, and 357 and also in History of Middle Earth XII (The Peoples of Middle Earth) 346-7, and 350. Most of these mention him in passing ("and with Fingon as ever stood Angrod and Egnor, sons of Finarfin"...) but in pages 323-8 in Morgoth's Ring there is a sad exchange between the now old mortal woman Andreth and Finrod about the differences between men and elves and the gulf that separates them. ‘Adaneth, I tell thee, Aikanár the Sharp-flame loved thee. For thy sake now he will never take the hand of any bride of his own kindred, but live alone to the end, remembering the morning in the hills of Dorthonion. But too soon in the North-wind his flame will go out! Foresight is given to the Eldar in many things not far off, though seldom of joy, and I say to thee thou shalt live long in the order of your kind, and he will go forth before thee and he will not wish to return.’

	Q: He died... so, it's not Aegnor after all? A: This is where it gets a little tricky. Elves very rarely used the same name twice, but apparently it DID happen with non other than Legolas. There was a reference to a Legolas Greenleaf of Gondolin in The Book of Lost Tales (part II), but it doesn't look like this is the same Legolas. "Our" Legolas is a prince who comes from Mirkwood. Check here for more details. Another possibility is that Aegnor was re-embodied. In The Peoples of Middle-earth, it is explained that Glorfindel of Gondolin was slain and his spirit returned to the Halls of Waiting, but then he was again returned to Middle Earth. He was re-embodied . (Go here for the whole story). I'm not sure whether re-embodiment means you get the same body again, or it "simply" means the soul is placed in a new, different body.

	Q: So, was he re-embodied or just renamed? A: Lets look at the facts: Figwit is a different person with the same name- Very rare but apparently did happen. Figwit is Aegnor re-embodied- He's not blond (that's only important if being re-embodied means you get the same body again). The Valar are keeping all their best warriors waiting in the halls of Mandos until the end of days and the last battle. Why would a prince, who also happens to be Galadriel's brother, serve as an elf escort? I would have to say this is not the same Aegnor. A shame because he was a very interesting fellow. It is possible that Figgy was given that name because he resembles Aegnor in character.

	Q: Is it official? His name is Aegnor? Well... that only depends on you. Some think of it as the final, official word on Figwit, and some think of it as another interpretation. No matter what you think--Figwit will always stay Figwit.

	Q: Thanks A: A big HUGE thanks to the people who contributed (in no particular order): Raven Starsmore, Tori, Mora, Moriel, Cel, Tathren, Atanua, Luilin and a very special thank you to Sprite.