Mandos: Difference between revisions

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| othernames=Námo, Bannoth, Badhron, The Judge, The Just
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| coming=[[Years of the Lamps]] 1
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'''Mandos''' was the [[Doomsman of the Valar]] and keeper of the slain in his [[Halls of Mandos|Halls]] in the west of [[Valinor]]. [[Vairë]] the Weaver is his wife. His actual — less common — name was '''''Námo''''', "Mandos" being the name of his dwelling place.
'''Mandos''' was the Doomsman of the Valar and keeper of the slain in his [[Halls of Mandos|Halls]] in the west of [[Valinor]]. [[Vairë]] the Weaver is his wife. His actual — less common — name was '''''Námo''''', "Mandos" being the name of his dwelling place.


Mandos was the brother of the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Irmo]] (also called ''Lórien''). Together, Mandos and Irmo are called the [[Fëanturi]] ([[Quenya|Q]]: "Masters of Spirits"). Their sister is [[Nienna]].
Mandos was the brother of the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Irmo]] (also called ''Lórien''). Together, Mandos and Irmo are called the [[Fëanturi]] ([[Quenya|Q]]: "Masters of Spirits"). Their sister is [[Nienna]].

Revision as of 23:08, 1 April 2012

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Mandos
Vala
Ted Nasmith - Lúthien's Lament Before Mandos.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesNámo, Bannoth, Badhron, The Judge, The Just
Family
SiblingsIrmo and Nienna
SpouseVairë
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Mandos

Mandos was the Doomsman of the Valar and keeper of the slain in his Halls in the west of Valinor. Vairë the Weaver is his wife. His actual — less common — name was Námo, "Mandos" being the name of his dwelling place.

Mandos was the brother of the Vala Irmo (also called Lórien). Together, Mandos and Irmo are called the Fëanturi (Q: "Masters of Spirits"). Their sister is Nienna.

Mandos is said to be the grimmest of the Valar. However, this in no way implies that Mandos is dark or evil. His grimness is wholly part of his nature, coming (one must assume) from that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he was created. Neither is Mandos willful or malevolent in declaring the fates of Arda. Only at the bidding of Manwë will Mandos ever pronounce his dooms. Mandos and Manwë have always been allied since their entering into , and together they understand most clearly the Vision of Ilúvatar more than any of the other Valar. Together they know nearly all of what is to come within the realm of Arda, though not all. Only Ilúvatar knows with full certainty what the full doom of Arda will be, and he will not reveal it all, even to Mandos or Manwë.

Etymology

Námo (pron. [ˈnaːmo]) in Quenya means "Judge" or "Ordainer", from root NAM. The Sindarin equivalent is Badhron ([ˈbaðron]).[source?]

Mandos ([ˈmandos]) is a Quenya name meaning "Prison-fortress".[source?] It derived from the early Elvish Mandostŏ.[1] The Sindarin name for Mandos is Bannoth ([ˈbanːoθ]).[source?]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Mandos is referred as Nefrea "Corpse-ruler" and neoaerna hlaford "master of the houses of the dead".[2]

Other names

  • Doomsman of the Valar, an epithet given to Mandos, since he was given the power to pronounce judgement in matters of fate.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, "From Quendi and Eldar, Appendix D" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 39, July 1998, p. 6
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names"
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