Eönwë

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Eönwë
Maia
Tuuliky - Lord of the Eagles.jpg
"Lord of the Eagles" by Tuuliky
Biographical Information
PositionHerald of Manwë, Chief of the Maiar
AffiliationManwë
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Eönwë

Eönwë (Q, pron. [eˈonwe]) was the banner-bearer and herald of Manwë, and Chief of the Maiar along with Ilmarë. Eönwë was the best with weapons in all Arda, though not necessarily the most powerful.[1]

When Eärendil reached the shores of Aman, it was Eönwë who first greeted him and summoned him to come before the Powers of Arda. When Manwë decided to heed the appeal, Eönwë was sent to Middle-earth to fight the War of Wrath, leading the Vanyar.[2]

When Morgoth was defeated Eönwë played a key role in the aftermath. He took the two remaining Silmarils and held them for safekeeping, but when the two remaining Sons of Fëanor stole them and fled, Eönwë did not allow them to be slain.[2] Sauron did obeisance to Eönwë and abjured all of his evil deeds. But because Eönwë had not the power to pardon Sauron, he commanded him to return to Aman to receive Manwë's judgement. Unwilling to receive humiliation and sentencing, when Eönwë left Sauron hid in Middle-earth and fell back into evil.[3]

At the dawn of the Second Age, Eönwë came among the three faithful houses of Edain and taught them many things, blessing them with wisdom and power and longer life-spans. These became the High Men of Númenor.[4]

Etymology

The name Eönwë is Quenya in form[5][6] however the ancient Loremasters knew no Elvish etymology of the name, suggesting that it is probably of Valarin origin.[7][8]

See also the Quenya ending -wë.[9] an old word for "person", deriving from the root from EWE.[10]

Earlier names

In earlier works, such as The Book of Lost Tales, his name is Fiönwë which translates to "Son", from Qenya fion.[11] This possibly alludes to his previous conception as the son of Manwë. His other name, Urion, means "He of the Sun", from ur ("the Sun"), uru ("fire") or urin ("blazing"),[11] and the masculine suffix -ion.[12]

Other versions of the legendarium

In earlier conceptions of the legendarium, Eönwë was envisioned as the son of Manwë, but as the concept of the Valarindi (Children of the Valar) was abandoned, he was turned into Manwë's herald instead. [13] In some versions Eönwë is the one who will kill Morgoth for his love for Arien (previously named Urwendi), instead of Turin. This is said at the end of The Hiding of Valinor.

See also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Maiar"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  5. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry 'Eonwe'
  6. "Quettaparma", Ardalambion (accessed 19 March 2024)
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Author's Notes to Quendi and Eldar"; note that the original text discusses the character's earlier name, "Fionwe", which Christopher Tolkien considers a mistake.
  8. "Valarin", Ardalambion (accessed 19 March 2024)
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor"
  11. 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson)
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "II. The Music of the Ainur", p.58
Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar