Will You Look Into The Mirrior

Galadriel, the Lady of the Golden Wood of Lothlorien, was the most powerful Elf in Middle-earth in the Third Age. She had been one of the leaders of the Noldor who left the Undying Lands in defiance of the Valar, and she was the last of them to remain in Middle-earth. Galadriel rejected the chance to take the One Ring and claim power for herself, and at last she was able to return into the West.

Galadriel's father was Finarfin and her mother was Earwen. On the Great Journey to the Undying Lands, Finarfin's father Finwe led the Elves known as the Noldor and Earwen's father Olwe became the leader of the Teleri. Galadriel was born in the Undying Lands around the year 1362 of the Years of the Trees, before the First Age began. She had four older brothers: Finrod, Orodreth, Angrod, and Aegnor.

As was customary among the Elves in the Undying Lands, Galadriel was given a name at birth by her father and another name by her mother. Her father-name was Artanis, meaning "noble woman," and her mother-name was Nerwen, meaning "man-maiden." The mother-name was generally chosen with insight into the type of person a child would become. Galadriel grew to be six feet, four inches in height - unusually tall for a female Elf - and she was strong and athletic.

It is said that in time Galadriel became the greatest of the Noldor, except perhaps for her uncle Feanor, the creator of the Silmarils. Galadriel was very wise. While living in the Undying Lands, she learned much from Yavanna, the Vala of growing things, and Aule, the master of crafts. Galadriel had great insight into other people's minds and she was understanding and merciful, but she was also proud and willful.

Galadriel was incredibly beautiful. Her hair was a magnificent gold touched with silver, and it seemed to shine with the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. It is said that Feanor requested a strand of Galadriel's hair, but she refused. It may be that Feanor was inspired by Galadriel's hair when he captured the light of the Two Trees in the Silmarils.