How old is Legolas?

Question

In the Lord of the Rings series I can't find it ever saying how old Legolas is. Is he older or younger than arwen, for instance? Can someone please tell me what they know!!!!

Answer 1

Though neither Legolas' age nor his birthdate are directly given in Tolkien's writings, some passages in The Two Towers gives some hints about his age:



"[The forest] is old, very old," said the Elf. "So old that almost I feel young again, as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children. It is old and full of memory. I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace."[1]



"These are the strangest trees that I ever saw," [Legolas] said; "and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them: they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought."[1]



"Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood my home since then," said Legolas, "and but a little while does that seem to us."[5]

Answer 2

In the LOTR Trivial pursuit dvd game Legolas is stated as being 647 years which is young for an elf and Gandalf is 1,789 years. It doesn't mention Arwen's age however so I can't help you on that score, sorry.

Answer 3

There is no definite answer to Legolas's age - Tolkien never states it, although certain clues are dropped by Legolas as to how old he might be. His age is NOT 2931 - that is just the age Peter Jackson made up for the LOTR movies. Certain clues state that Legolas may be at least 500 years old, or even thousands. Some great sites and articles that discuss Legolas's age are: http://www.tuckborough.net/legolas.html , http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/36517, and http://www.istad.org/tolkien/legolas.html.

Answer 4

I think age is irrelevant when you're an elf. I always got the impression he was older than Arwen but who can tell?

Answer 5

The elves are immortal, so they don't age. This is the tragedy of Arwen who chooses to marry a mortal, knowing that he will die.

Answer 6

How Old Is Legolas

Answer 7

He's supposed to be somewhere in the 2000's-3000's, I believe.

Answer 8

The Encyclopedia of Arda (http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/l/legolas.html) is a great resource. There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer to your question.

Answer 9

not sure exactly but he is older than arwen but younger than elrond

Answer 10

Not sure, but the first place I'd look is The Silmarilion

Answer 11

He was 1,500 years old, a young man by Elf standards.

Answer 12

i don't remember now, but i used to have a card game that told the age of all the characters on the cards . . .

Answer 13

tolkein never says.. check out the commentary on his age in wikipedia. some passages give hints

Answer 14

He's old enough :]



Sorry, I wish I knew!