Thranduil and his court were Sindar of Doriath, not Silvan of Ossiriand, yes.

Sindar were not High Elves though. The High Elves on Middle Earth were all Noldor - the only Teleri High Elf ever in Middle Earth (excluding during the War of Wrath) was Elwe Thingol; the sole exception, because he saw the light of the two trees when he was a volunteer before returning to Cuivenien for the march of the elves, but being lost in Doriath without completing it.

Oh. You may be right. I might be confusing those two because I was basing my argument off quotes that said that Thranduil was akin to the elves of Lorien, but they were Sindarian weren't they?

also not Appendix A, but rather Unfinished Tales.

I always read the part where Galadriel throws down the walls of Dol Guldur as figurative, as in she commanded her victorious forces to destroy it.

Could you please post what you believe is relevant?

Legolas is son of Thranduil, son of Oropher, a Sindar elf. The Sindarin are a branch of the Teleri that did not originally complete the Great Journey. As the term "High Elf" designates those Noldor (generally) or other elves that were exiled or returned from the Undying Lands, the Sindarin are not High Elves.

Ergo, Legolas is not a High Elf.

Whoops, HR beat me to it.

In the "History of Galadriel and Celeborn" chapter of Unfinished Tales it says here "This was peopled by those elves who forsook the Great Journey of the Eldar from Cuivienen and settled in the woods of the Vale of Auduin; and it extended into the forests on both sides of the Great River, including the region where afterwards was Dol Guldur. THese elves had no princes or rulers, and led their lives free of care while Morgoth's power was concentrated in the North-west of Middle-Earth, 'but many Sindar and Noldor came to dwell among them." (p.236)

Where does it say that Oropher is a Sindarian Elf? It says he is "akin" to the elves in Lorien, who were not completely Sindarian.

I know that doesn't mean he isn't a Sindarian Elf, but for the sake of arguing...

no wait you are right. I am wrong. Legolas is a Sindarian Elf

Oropher came from Doriath I believe, which was almost entirely inhabited by Sindar.

Sure. The Noldor ruled the Silvans in Lindon, Rivindell, Eregion, and Lothlorien (via Galadriel), with Sindar ruling the Silvans in Mirkwood and Lothlorien (via Amroth and his father, and Celeborn).

Thranduil was a Sindar of Doriath, and Legolas a Sindar also.


@Gobbledydook
Galadriel was described as the second most powerful of all the Noldor; behind only Feanor. The light of the two trees was caught within her hair and inspired the creation of the Silmarils by Feanor. So her destroying Dol Guldur via outright magic is actually plausible.

"...Silvan Elves in origin, but ruled by princes of Sindarian descent (as was the realm of Thranduil...)"

sorry guys. carry on debate about how Legolas wins anyway

@KC no Oropher came from Lorien, but he is Sindarian anyway so it doesn't matter.

The Sindar and Silvans who settled Lorien originally came from Doriath, if memory serves.

Celeborn and Galadriel came from Doriath bringing Sindarian elves with them to the Silvian elves already there. Oropher (one of those Sindarian elves) came from Lorien and went north to the Silvian elves of Greenwood the Great.

so yes, Oropher came from Doriath indirectly.

If I recall correctly, all of the Noldor are dead or gone from Middle Earth. Only Galadriel remained after the death of Gil-Galad in siege of barad-dur.
Lorien, the grey havens and Rivendell used to all be Noldor strongholds and havens, but they have all since departed to the west. All the elves that remain are Sindar and Silvan.

Not if we count Arwen among the Noldor

Also does anyone think Luthien could beat Galadriel

I mean, anyone who can put Morogoth and his court to sleep, has a little too much power than is could for her.

I don't think Elrond and Earendil were Noldor

But I agree about Luthien. She's half maiar, and could steal from one of the most powerful beings in all of arda. I'd say that would put her above Galadriel's level.

Glorfindel was Noldor.

And yeah, Luthien would beat Galadriel. By that logic, would Gandalf beat Galadriel? He is a Maiar as well, though perhaps a weaker one.

Earendil was the son of Tuor and Idril (the daughter of Turgon, the king Gondolin) yes who and his son Elrond were Noldor.

...*he* and his son were Noldor

There are two Glorfindels. One dies in the escape from Gondolin fighting a balrog. The name also appears when a high elf of that name takes Frodo to Imladris. I believe Christopher Tolkien mentions somewhere that JRR ment them to be the same person, and must have forgotten that he made Glorfindel die.

Gandalf the Grey might not be able to match Galadriel. Holding back is part of his Istari contract.

Gandalf the White? Wins.