XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: Troels@ThisIsFake.invalid   
      
   In message    
   Geza Giedke  spoke these staves:   
   >   
      
      
      
   How did the Elves of Middle-earth know to say 'she' of the Sun and   
   'he' of the Moon?   
      
   > there may be another solution that does not require direct   
   > communication. After all, Sun and Moon were shining with light   
   > characteristic for Laurelin and Telperion, respectively   
      
   I thought that I remembered someone recognizing the light, but I may   
   have confused it with Maedhros recognizing the light of the Silmaril   
   when Eärendil first arose in the West.   
      
   Still, I do agree that the light must have been sufficiently similar   
   for the Eldar of Beleriand to at least associate the Moon and the Sun   
   with Telperion and Laurelin.   
      
   > and I seem to recall that already the trees had "genders" assigned   
   > to them. (Wikipedia agrees, but doesn't cite a source and I do not   
   > have my books at hand.)   
      
   One place where they are described using genders:   
       Telperion was the elder of the trees and came first to full   
       stature and to bloom; and that first hour in which he shone   
       [...]   
       Therefore at the sixth hour of the First Day, and of all   
       the joyful days thereafter, until the Darkening of Valinor,   
       Telperion ceased his time of flower; and at the twelfth   
       hour Laurelin her blossoming.   
   (/The Silmarillion/, part III QS, ch. 1 'Of the Beginning of Days')   
      
   There are many more places.   
      
   > it would be natural for the elves - who knew the Trees themselves   
   > or (in Doriath) via tales told by their King and Queen - to refer   
   > to the Sun, shining with the light of Laurelin, as "She" and to   
   > the Moon as "He" - even without knowing the details of their   
   > creation and the nature of the spirits who guided the two.   
      
   Right. I think you have found the most likely explanation of all.   
      
   --   
   Troels Forchhammer    
   Valid e-mail is    
   Please put [AFT], [RABT] or 'Tolkien' in subject.   
      
       The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head.   
    - /Hogfather/ (Terry Pratchett)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)