Session 5-29: Culture of the Edain

MithLuin

Administrator
Staff member
The next Silm Film session will be on Thursday, April 22nd at 10 PM EDT. If you have not yet signed up for the new GoToWebinar session, you will want to do that here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/79038807347256078

We will be discussing the cultures of the three Houses of the Edain, and how to portray those in our television show adaptation.

Our next session, Session 5-30, will be held on Thursday May 6th at 10 PM EDT. We will be discussing Episode 7. Please visit the relevant thread in the script forum to discuss that episode.
 
With each of the Houses of the Edain, we show a change in their lifestyle/culture over the course of the season, in relationship to how they interact with the Elves of Beleriand. The House of Haleth distrusts the Elves and wants to remain completely independent, rejecting Caranthir's overture outright, and accepting Thingol's terms only bregrudgingly. The House of Hador is initially in conflict with their Elven neighbors, but eventually becomes an independent fiefdom in service to the Noldor (Fingon in particular). The House of Bëor begins by trying to live amongst the Elves as part of an elven society, but eventually finds a need for independence, moving from Nargothrond to Ladros. And while they begin as completely separate, independent groups, they do interact with each other in the latter half of the season.


The House of Bëor begins life as a Vanyar-like group - they are small, the first over the mountains, and united in purpose. They are on a spiritual quest to reach the West. Once they meet the elves, they find their purpose and settle down in Nargothrond. 'For a time' Fast-forward a few generations, and the situation has changed. They are restless, they are cramped in a narrow space, they are wondering if they will ever have a part to play in the war. They've gained much lore and knowledge from the elves, but are chafing from being treated like perpetual children. They have learned to read and write and produce books of lore, but they are feeling a bit...coddled. They have become the Noldor, but luckily for Finrod, their rebellion is less bloody. Andreth and Finrod are able to discuss a path forward for their people that meets their needs. Now, they begin a new life, in a community of their own on the front lines. Barahir emerges as a leader in this new community. He is resourceful, bold, brash....and a skilled outdoorsman, unlike his elders.

We have come up with a few physical artefacts for this community. Bëor will have a walking staff, from his time as an adventurer, and this staff will be given to Andreth by Finrod when she leads the people from Nargothrond to Ladros. Later, Barahir will have this staff. It represents the active leadership of their people. We also would like for there to be a stole, representing leadership of the wise for the House of Bëor. This stole is passed from Bëor to Adanel, and from Adanel to Andreth.


The House of Haleth are independent homesteaders living a fairly isolated pre-Bronze Age culture...when they are forced to band together by external threats that they cannot face individually. Haleth unites them, with a very strong force of will and an unforgiving leadership style. When they relocate to Brethil, they maintain their communal living, but still try to keep somewhat independent. However, they are willing to establish relationships with the other Men - the House of Hador in Dor-lomin in particular, and the House of Bëor through Andreth. The part where they keep to themselves and seem someone disinterested in the other groups makes them most like the Teleri.

We have given Haleth a signature spear, which she gets from her father. This spear does break over the course of the season. Also, after she kills Tevildo, she takes his pelt, so wearing a black fur cloak becomes the sign of leadership among the House of Haleth.


The tall, blond House of Hador is most like the Vanyar based on physical description, but they are also the largest and most war-like group among the Edain who have come to Beleriand. They begin as a nomadic people of herdsmen living in individual family-based settlements. They are connected by culture and the gathering at Estolad, where they all come together for trade, celebrations, legal decisions, etc. They have an uneasy relationship with their Elven neighbors. Their lifestyle is completely disrupted when Hador leads them to Dor-lomin to be an independent settlement under fealty to High King Fingolfin. This move signifies their decision to take an active role in the war against Morgoth, and also indicates that they have coalesced into a united people and chosen to be allies of the Noldor.

The symbol of leadership in the House of Hador is the Dragon-helm, indicating the lord of Dor-lomin.
 
Last edited:
From the Episode 6 discussion, I remember there's athletic competitions that Hador doesn't place well in and this is why he decides to strike out on his own in the direction of Hithlum.
 
From the Episode 6 discussion, I remember there's athletic competitions that Hador doesn't place well in and this is why he decides to strike out on his own in the direction of Hithlum.

Yes, a rite of passage for young men. It starts out with a horse race with spear targets, transitioning to a maze of brambles and thorns, culminating in throwing a spear through a target ring.
 
How will each House of the Edain acquire metallurgy?

I think pre-contact Edain will have little to no knowledge of metallurgy.

The Bëorians have no metal tools or weapons when they arrive, but learn the craft in Nargothrond.

The Haladin have probably one metal tool or weapon per household when we encounter them, acquired through trade with Dwarves and/or Elves, but no knowledge of the craft themselves. They learn slowly on their own and through their minimal contact with Elves and other humans.

When we meet the Estolad culture, they have few smiths who work low-quality metals in portable forges and bloomeries, but any higher-quality items are garnered in trade. They learn more from the Noldor after they move to Hithlum.
 
I think pre-contact Edain will have little to no knowledge of metallurgy.

The Bëorians have no metal tools or weapons when they arrive, but learn the craft in Nargothrond.

The Haladin have probably one metal tool or weapon per household when we encounter them, acquired through trade with Dwarves and/or Elves, but no knowledge of the craft themselves. They learn slowly on their own and through their minimal contact with Elves and other humans.

When we meet the Estolad culture, they have few smiths who work low-quality metals in portable forges and bloomeries, but any higher-quality items are garnered in trade. They learn more from the Noldor after they move to Hithlum.
In that case, when Hador picks up Rhogrin and Annael’s escape party, are they using Elven weapons?
 
The Noldor handing over precious gifts such as armour and weapons to the Dunedain would be a cool scene to show!

It just came to my mind but in a weird way they are corrupting man a second time by doing this, though they may have noble intentions...
 
Caranthir offers to equip the Haladin, but Haleth declines. Hador accepts the Dragon-helm, so presumably he has no such compunction against accepting elven gifts to be armed by the Noldor. And the House of Bëor is setting out on their own in Ladros...but after living among the elves of Nargothrond for multiple generations. So, they've accumulated Noldorin gear by the time they try to establish their own army.
 
Yes, a rite of passage for young men. It starts out with a horse race with spear targets, transitioning to a maze of brambles and thorns, culminating in throwing a spear through a target ring.
Maybe when Hador goes to Hithlum he realizes that he has an aptitude for the sword rather than the spear?
 
?

Sword is a sidearm.As always any swordsman would have shield and lance/spear as main weapon and a blade as a secondary. I don't think it is worth mentioning...
 
Back
Top