A Guild (S.: Gwaith) is an organized body of persons, an Association, Fellowship or Confraternity (brotherhood).
The Gwaith
Among the Elves 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.
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 Kuruvari, Gollorrim or Saironath, the Ingolmor and the Tengwardain.
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 prefossions are known as the Sloga.
Known Guilds
- Actors
- Alchemists
- Apothecaries
- Armourers
- Artists
- Astrologers
- Atheldain - Herbalists
- Attorneys
- Basket-Makers
- Bassdain - Bakers
- Bechyr and Bengyr - Grocers, Traders and Peddlars
- Beggars
- Blacksmiths
- Bradadain - Wainwrights
- Caravanmasters
- Cartographers
- Celerdain - Lampmakers
- Chandlers or candle-makers
- Cinnain - Potters
- Cinyr - Seers
- Cirdain - Shipwrights
- Condirrim - Administrators
- Cooks
- Coopers
- Crist Agarwaen - Butchers
- Cutlers
- Doorwardens
- Dyers
- Enbalmers
- Faroth - Hunters
- Foodmerchants
- Gelyr - Farmers
- Goldsmiths
- Grain-Merchants
- Greengrocers
- Gydyr - Technicians
- Habaddain - Shoemakers
- Habodain - Clothiers or Clothwrights, Tailors and Sewers
- Hebedyr - Leathersmiths, Leatherwrights or Cobblers
- Heledain - Glassblowers, Glassmakers or Glaziers
- Hemyr - Chairmakers
- Hiswadain - Fishermen
- Hostelers
- Ingolmor or Sages
- Ironsmiths
- Iuldain - Brewers
- Lainyr - Spinners
- Lindamel - Sweetsingers
- Locksmiths
- Mesta - or Shepherds of Pinnath Gelin
- Metalsmiths
- Midwives
- Millers
- Milwin - Love Maidens
- Miners
- Mirdain - Jewelsmiths and Jewellers
- Moneylenders
- Nethyr - Weavers
- Nistyr - Healers
- Notaries
- Ondridain - Stonewrights or Masons
- Orthelyr - Roofers, Roofwrights or Tillers
- Outfitters
- Painters
- Pengdain - Fletchers
- Pervyr - Librarians
- Pilots
- Playman's Guild
- Porters
- Potters
- Privateers
- Rachdain - Cartwrights
- Raphdain - Ropers or Cordwrights
- Rugmakers
- Saddlers
- Seamstresses
- Shippers
- Skinners
- Smiths
- Street-Traders
- Tanners
- Tauryn - Foresters
- Telardain - Bricklayers
- Tengwardain - Scholars or Scribes
- Theniddain - Lawyers
- Thevryn - Carpenters or Woodwrights
- Tincociri - Metalworkers
- Tyrndain - Gravediggers
- Vechyr or Traders and Mercants
- Waterwrights
- Weaponsmiths
- Woodcrafters
- Yrybedain - Guides
- Ysgeryr - Surgeons