THE EDAIN OF THE FIRST AGE

When the Edain entered Beleriand, they seem to have adopted the rules (and perhaps the very concept) of heraldry almost immediately. A forerunner of this was doubtless Beor, whose close friendship with Finrod gave him the oldest of the known Human devices. The first of these tended to use more warm and earth-like colours than their Elvish counterparts, and the designs were usually only symmetrical around the vertical axis, distinguishing them from the entirely symmetrical devices of the Elves. They also seem to have ignored the "point" symbology, with one exception. The illustrations below are all based on preserved devices.

Beor. Beor's device was probably the first to be created for a Man according to the Elvish rules of heraldry, and in many ways it is the most elf-like of the Human devices (not counting Earendil the Half-elf's device). It is entirely symmetrical and has the common Eldarin shape for males. Still it lacks the splendour of the Elvish devices, and seems more earth-bound with its warm and natural colours. [2]

Hador. The reason for the design of Hador's device is not clear. Hador was a great friend of Fingolfin, and one might perhaps discern the "fiery" colours of Finwe and his heirs in this device. The symmetry is vertical, even in the "spearhead" designs, the one at the bottom being more pointed than the one at the top. [2]

Beren. In the centre of Beren Erchamion's device is the Silmaril that Beren and Lúthien took from Morgoth. Above it the Thangorodrim looms, the three peaks of Angband, where the Silmarils were. Below the Silmaril is a red hand, seemingly stretched out to grab the stone. It may also symbolize the hand that Beren lost to Carcharoth. The meaning of the star at the top is unclear, unless it is a foreboding of the star of Earendil as the fate of the Silmaril. The device shows the vertical symmetry common for Men, broken only by the naturally assymetric hand. [2]

Earendil. The focus in Earendil's device lies in the Silmaril of Earendil depicted in the centre, radiating six light beams towards the edges. In the dark corners the moon in its phases is shown. The presence of the moon might reflect Earendil's destiny to become a star, but it is also the only thing that prevents this device from being entirely symmetrical. This perhaps distinguishes him as being Half-elven. The six light rays are accompanied by six others, that seem to go in the opposite direction. Thus forming twelve "points", a clear relatedness with Idril's device is seen (Idril being Earendil's mother), which is reinforced by the shared blue background of the two devices. [1]

The House of Haleth. The device of the Haladin shows a tree of an unspecified order, a pair of white flowers, and a number of orange dots that might be stylized nuts or leafs. The tree seems to be entwined with a trailer. The Haladin in general were fond of solitude and forests, which might be indicated in this device. It is notable that the device breaks the Elvish rules of heraldry, using a lozenge for an impersonal device. [2]

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