Question for hardcore LOTR readers...

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Who is older, Treebeard of Tom Bombadil?

 

In FOTR Elrond makes a reference to Bombadil being the oldest living thing in middle earth, but in TTT Treebeard tells Merry and Pippin that he was around before anything was really there.

 

Anybody able to help settle this thing for me?

[Guest raptor]

I always remember Bombadil being the oldest living thing. I don't remember that Treebeard remark, but he could be referring to being older than any of the human races. Bombadil wouldn't fall under that distinction.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Yeah, Elrond calls Bombadil "Oldest and fatherless" so I'm assuming it's him, but I could swear that Treebeard says something to Merry and Pippin about watching the Elves come the shores of middle earth in their ships in the first age during the wars of the simirali.

[Guest J*ingus]

Bombadil isn't an elf, though. As near as I can tell, he seems to be some sort of elemental force or spirit which has taken on human-like form. I'd vote for him over Treebeard (who apparently didn't get around very much back in the old days).

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Survey says: Bombadil