Olwë

Olwë is a figure in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium, an Elf-lord of the Teleri and the elder brother of Elwë Singollo (often called Thingol). He is presented as a prince of the Teleri who dwelt in Aman and a participant in the early history of the Elves's Great Journey to Valinor.

In the narratives, Olwë is described as the ruler of the Teleri who remained in Aman during the early years of the Great Journey. When Elwë led part of the Teleri toward Middle-earth and later disappeared in Beleriand, Olwë is said to have continued to govern the Teleri in Valinor. The broader split among the Teleri—leading to the Sindar of Beleriand under Thingol—reflects the complex early histories of the Elven kindreds, and Olwë’s position helps frame that division.

Olwë is mentioned primarily in The Silmarillion and related genealogical material, and he is not a central protagonist in the narratives. Consequently, there is limited detail about his deeds or exact actions, beyond his role as a noble elven leader and his place in the family lineage that connects the Teleri of Aman with the Sindar of Middle-earth.

In reception and interpretation, Olwë is often treated as a relatively minor but historically significant figure for understanding the origins and leadership of the Teleri and the early branching of Elven kindreds. Some editions and drafts offer variations in genealogies and geography, but the core idea remains: Olwë as the elder brother of Thingol and as a key early ruler among the Teleri.