Only One Elf in Lord of the Rings Has a Beard

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Nature of Middle-earth,” he clearly states, “the Elvish race has no beards.” This is one of several mentions throughout his writings. Additionally, Tolkien notes that when Elves and Humans occasionally marry, their male descendants typically don’t have beards either, which explains why Aragorn is always depicted beardless.

However, the notable exception to this rule is explained through the character Círdan, who does have a beard. Tolkien, known for being inconsistent with his unpublished writings, provides an explanation in the scholarly journal “Vinyar Tengwar” issue 41. He writes, “Elves did not have beards until they entered their third cycle of life.” This statement is part of Tolkien’s intricate and often contradictory theories on Elvish aging and life cycles. Essentially, Círdan is one of the oldest Elves in Middle-earth. While the exact number is unclear, he is over 11,000 years old by the time he joins Frodo and Bilbo on their journey to the Undying Lands in the West, a couple of hundred years after the events of “The Lord of the Rings.”

According to some of Tolkien’s writings, by this time, Círdan is well into his third and final life cycle, which allows him to grow facial hair. In “Vinyar Tengwar 41,” Tolkien mentions another Elf named Mahtan, who begins to grow facial hair in his second life cycle. However, this is highlighted as an exception to the rule. Since most Elves cannot match Círdan’s incredible age, he remains the only Elvish character in “The Lord of the Rings” who is old enough to have grown a beard.

Source:
“The Nature of Middle-earth” by J.R.R. Tolkien
“Vinyar Tengwar” issue 41