Life in an Elven Fishing Town

hides from the sea-mammals sure to be found along Middle-earth's northern shores. Farming and animal husbandry are not as important to the Eldar as raising gardens and orchards. Of the several occasions in The Lord of the Rings where Hobbits are given cheese or milk, it always comes from men. The Noldor raised horses, of course, but their lifestyle does not seem to include the typical farming lifestyle. The Elves probably raised gardens sufficient for their needs, hunted what they needed for meat and hides, and devoted the rest of their time to the arts and crafts which were the staples of their economies. A typical Elven homestead among Cirdan's people may have consisted of a house, perhaps with two levels, one or more workshops, a walled courtyard, a small orchard, a garden, and probably a small adjoining wood. They would not need a pasture for animals unless they had horses, but they might have had a few meadows in the area. The mariners would have been fishermen and divers. In Beleriand Cirdan traded in pearl with Thingol and possibly other Elven lords. Since agriculture was primarily overseen by Eldarin women the Elven mariners would have had more time to devote to the pursuits of arts and crafts. Their ships would, of course, be exquisitely designed and constructed with only the best materials and craftsmanship. The havens would have fisheries and mills for their chief industrial shops, with warehouses to store goods and materials. But there would also have to be furriers, tanners, weavers, sailmakers, rope-makers, barrel-makers, coopers, and net-makers. An Elvish waterfront need not be characterized by taverns and merchants, but Elves would need to socialize, too. If Elven halls were large and comfortable, then families could entertain each other. But if Elven-couples only raised one child at a time, their homes would not have to be large at all. Lavish accomodations would be the responsibilities of the lords and clan-heads. Elven merchants might have shops and hired help, but commerce may have been conducted more as a family or clan business. But where, and what, one may ask, is the Elvish equivalent of a church? It's not so much that the Elves have a place of worship as, in the Third Age, they have a special place of reverence, a sort of shrine. I refer to Elostirion, of course, the high tower which Gil-galad originally built for Elendil. Our only direct glimpse of Mithlond comes at

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