Among the Eldar and Dúnedain the Guilds were known as the "Gwaith" (literally "People") or sometimes ''Mellonath'' (literally "Friends").The best-known guilds in the history of [[Middle-Earth]] are the ''Guild of Weaponsmiths'', the ''Guild of Jewelsmiths'' (S.: [[Gwaith-i-Mîrdain]]) and the ''Guild of Venturers'' (S.[[Uinendili]]). At the beginning the guilds were formed preserve their art, but later they evolved into political representations of the [[Craftsmen]] and other fellowships and became more and more political interest groups, the Gwaith-i-Mîrdain even rose to the virtual government of [[Eregion]].
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Among the Eldar and Dúnedain the Guilds were known as the "Gwaith" (literally "People") or sometimes ''Mellonath'' (literally "Friends").The best-known guilds in the history of [[Middle-Earth]] were the ''Guild of Weaponsmiths'', the ''Guild of Jewelsmiths'' (S.: [[Gwaith-i-Mîrdain]]) and the ''Guild of Venturers'' (S.[[Uinendili]]). At the beginning the guilds were formed preserve their art, but later they evolved into political representations of the [[Craftsmen]] and other fellowships and became more and more political interest groups, the Gwaith-i-Mîrdain even rose to the virtual government of [[Eregion]].
Such Fellowships could also be Orders (Q.: ''Heren'') or Schools, for example [[Feanor]] founded the ''school of the [[Lambengolmor]]'' or ''Linguists'', other devoted schools of intellectuals were the [[Kuruvar]]i, [[Gollor]]rim or [[Sairon]]ath, the [[Ingolmo]]r and the [[Tengwardain]].
Such Fellowships could also be Orders (Q.: ''Heren'') or Schools, for example [[Feanor]] founded the ''school of the [[Lambengolmor]]'' or ''Linguists'', other devoted schools of intellectuals were the [[Kuruvar]]i, [[Gollor]]rim or [[Sairon]]ath, the [[Ingolmo]]r and the [[Tengwardain]].
Revision as of 10:52, 6 April 2014
A Guild (S.: Gwaith) is an organized body of persons, an Association, Fellowship or Confraternity (brotherhood).
Among the Eldar and Dúnedain the Guilds were known as the "Gwaith" (literally "People") or sometimes Mellonath (literally "Friends").The best-known guilds in the history of Middle-Earth were the Guild of Weaponsmiths, the Guild of Jewelsmiths (S.: Gwaith-i-Mîrdain) and the Guild of Venturers (S.Uinendili). At the beginning the guilds were formed preserve their art, but later they evolved into political representations of the Craftsmen and other fellowships and became more and more political interest groups, the Gwaith-i-Mîrdain even rose to the virtual government of Eregion.
Associations similar to the Gwaith were the Ndíli, Hildi and Ndúri (S.: "Friends", Children and "Servants"), confraternities devoted to the service of the Valar, for example the Aulendili or Artanor, Cemenduri or the Yavannildi.These were quasi-religious orders although not strictly Clerical organisations.
The Edfréas or Edhfreirs
Among the Northmen similar Guilds existed, the so-called Edfreahir or Edhfreiar, loose voluntary associations of merchants and craftsmen, often influencing the prices of various commodities.Often, there were several edhfreirs that served the same segment of society; the associations existed primarily to give folk plying similar crafts some bargaining leverage, access to apprenticeships, and a chance to socialize with like-minded people.
The Sloga
In Haradwaith associations of Craftsmen and other professions were known as the Sloga.
