Gimli Lived Three Lives of Bilbo and Two Human Lives: How Long Do Dwarves Live — and Why Their Age Isn't Visible Behind Their Beards
They are not immortal like elves, but they age with dignity.
In the Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings, age is a relative concept. Humans rarely live to be a hundred, hobbits live a little longer, elves can exist for millennia. And the dwarves are somewhere in the middle. Not eternal, but stubbornly long-lived, they see the change of eras and remain almost unchanged.
Gimli, son of Gloin, lived to be 262 years old. For comparison: Bilbo Baggins, the record holder among hobbits, lived to be 131 years old. That is, one Gimli is almost three live of Bilbo, or two human lives by Gondor standards.
Longevity hidden in the beard
Tolkien indicated that most dwarves live to be 240-250 years old. Thorin I, the ancestor of Thorin Oakenshield, lived to be 254 years old. This is the norm for the House of Durin.
Gimli, at 139, looked and acted like a young warrior — and that, by Dwarven standards, is true. Their maturity comes early, and after that their appearance changes little.
Why is the age of the Dwarves not visible behind the beard?
Because the beard is the Dwarf's calling card from youth. Wrinkles, massive facial features and a serious look appear early and remain for centuries. That is why an 80-year-old and a 180-year-old Dwarf can look the same.
For them, old age is not in the body, but in memories.
More than just long-livers
Dwarves not only live longer, but also preserve history longer. They outlive states, remember defeats, restore what was destroyed — and do it for generations.
After the War of the Ring, Gimli became the first Dwarf to be allowed into Valinor — it was a sign of recognition. Not immortality, but respect, suffered over centuries.
