Elmo

Elmo was the younger brother of Elwë and Olwë.

Biography

Elmo was only mentioned in the Unfinished Tales in discussions on Galadriel and Celeborn. Because Celeborn was in The Silmarillion presented as a "kinsman of Thingol", Tolkien wished to develop this family link. One of his solutions was to establish Celeborn as the grandson of Elmo, a non-important brother of Elwë who remained behind when Elwë was lost, becoming one of the Sindar of Doriath. In this conception Elmo had a son named Galadhon, who in turn sired Celeborn and another son named Galathil, who was the father of Queen Nimloth of Doriath.

In writings which appear to be later than the one discussed above, Celeborn is made into a Telerin elf, and a relative of Olwë of Valinor instead, but this was not further developed or published.

It therefore remains uncertain if Elmo would have remained in the Middle-earth legendarium.

Etymology

The name Elmo has unclear origins. The first element el may mean "star", which is found in both Sindarin and Quenya. The second element mo, although does not seem to have any direct origin in Sindarin, may have come from the words môr or morn which means "dark, black".

In Quenya, -mo is a frequent ending in names and titles, sometimes with significance.

House of Elmo

Melian

Elu Thingol

Olwë

Elmo

Beren

Lúthien

Eärwen

Galadhon

Galadriel

Celeborn

Galathil

Dior

Nimloth

Eluréd and Elurín

Elwing

Eärendil

Elros

Elrond

Celebrían