The allure of the Elves has been a source of fascination for Lord of the Rings fans for generations. Author J.R.R. Tolkien spent much of his life constructing a rich and complex lore surrounding them, from tracing the history of their varied races to creating an entire language. The mythology is so vast and intricate that Tolkien continued to develop it over decades, spanning thousands of pages and notes that were revised over and over.
One aspect of Elven lore that doesn't receive much time in the spotlight is the Grey Havens. While the Lord of the Rings film trilogy spent a lot of time in the Elven lands of Rivendell and Lothlórien, the Grey Havens are only shown within the last few minutes of The Return of the King. It’s where Frodo and Bilbo go at the end of their adventures, as do others who were named Ring-bearers like Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond. But what exactly are the Grey Havens? Who lives there, and why is it so important? Here is a guide to the Grey Havens for those who have asked these very questions.
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Where Are The Grey Havens?
The Grey Havens are also known as the city of Mithlond, which is located in the northwest of Middle-earth in the Elven realm of Lindon. Just off of the coast of Lindon is the Great Sea, or Belegaer, which turns into the Gulf of Lune. The Grey Havens reside on the River Lune, and to the east of there lie the Tower Hills, the Far Downs, the White Downs, and then the Shire.
After the War of Wrath, when Morgoth was defeated and the continent of Beleriand was destroyed, the Elves settled the new city of Mithlond in Lindon. It was the start of the Second Age in Middle-earth, and a new beginning for the Elven people.
During the Second Age, the first war with Sauron began, and the Grey Havens became a center of chaos and strife. The Havens were overtaken by Sauron and his armies following the siege of Eriador and Imladris. However, the Elves still had allies in the west, and a Númenórean army sent by King Tar-Minastir sailed their fleet to Middle-earth’s aid. Sauron and his forces were driven out, eventually cornered by the armies of Men and Elves, and fled to Mordor.
Why Are The Grey Havens Important To The Elves?
The Grey Havens was a place of vast significance to the Elves, though not for the reason some Lord of the Rings fans may think. There has sometimes been a bit of confusion between the Grey Havens, which is in Middle-earth, and the continent of Aman, which is often referred to as the Undying Lands. Aman is far to the west of Middle-earth across the Belegaer Sea, and is home to the Valar and the Maiar.
The Grey Havens is a port city, and it is the departure and arrival point for Elves traveling to and from the Undying Lands. It was one of the very first Elven settlements in Middle-earth after the War of Wrath, and served as their capital. The population lessened as the War of the Elves and Sauron raged, and new cities were built in the west, such as Eregion and Rivendell. Nevertheless, the Grey Havens remained the only sanctioned harbor for sailing to the Undying Lands.
Were The Undying Lands A Metaphor For Heaven?
Death is just another path, one that we all must take.
At the end of The Return of the King, the hobbits of the Shire travel to the Grey Havens to bid farewell to Bilbo Baggins and their dear friend, Gandalf, who are about to sail to the Undying Lands. It is then that Frodo reveals that he, too, will be making the journey. After offering comfort to his fellow hobbits, Frodo says goodbye and boards the ship, which then sails off into the sunset.
This scene in the film was a moment of speculation for many Lord of the Rings fans. Some believed that the ship going to the Undying Lands was a symbol of Frodo dying and going to heaven, or some form of afterlife. The ship sailing into a bright white light surely made it seem that way. However, there is no hard evidence that this was an intentional metaphor on Tolkien’s part, and any assumptions are purely hypothetical.
The Undying Lands may sound like a place where people go to live forever, but in fact, they are called such because the people from there, like the Ainur and the Eldar, are immortal. Think of it as a super swanky retirement home for immortal beings who are done with war and strife. The only people allowed there are immortals - with the exception of Ring-bearers, like Frodo and Bilbo, and later, Samwise Gamgee. Gimli was also able to enter the Undying Lands as Legolas’s plus one. While the hobbits and Gimli were not immortal like the Elves, they had the privilege of living their final days in a peaceful paradise.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
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