Manwë

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Manwë
Vala
Alice Falto - Manwe.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesMānawenūz, Súlimo, Elder King, Aran Einior, Manweg
TitlesRuler of Arda
PositionLord of the Breath of Arda
LocationIlmarin, Taniquetil
AffiliationEönwë, Olórin and the Eagles
Family
SiblingsMelkor
SpouseVarda
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Manwë

Manwë Súlimo (Quenya, pronounced [ˈmanwe]) was the King of the Valar, husband of Varda Elentári, brother of the Dark Lord Melkor (Morgoth), and King of Arda. He lived in his halls atop Mount Taniquetil, the highest mountain of the world. The winds and airs were his servants. He was the greatest of the Ainur in authority, but not in power.

History

Manwë was (after Melkor) the eldest of the Ainur[source?], and the one that best understood the will of Eru. When Melkor created the discord in the Music of the Ainur, Manwë took over leading the song.

When Arda was formed, Manwë was appointed Ruler of Arda, hence his most common title, the Elder King. He is sometimes referred to in Middle-earth as the Lord of the West. Manwë was a kind, compassionate ruler, unconcerned with his own power.

But he did not understand evil, even in the form of his own brother. He released Melkor from Mandos, thus allowing him to cause the distrust of Fëanor, the Poisoning of the Two Trees, the murder of Finwë, the theft of the Silmarils, and the revolt of the Noldor.

To hearten the Eldar, he had Aulë fashion the Sun and the Moon, for he knew the rising of the Atani was coming soon, and sent Thorondor and the Great Eagles to watch them. Of all the Eldar, the Vanyar were closest to his heart, and he delighted in their songs and poetry. All things that flew in the light were servants to Manwë and brought him news from the farthest and deepest places of the world, save dark places that were hid by the black thought of powerful evil.

After Morgoth's fall, Manwë cast him into the Void. In the Final Battle, when Melkor escapes, it is said that the Elder King and the Dark Lord will battle on the Plains of Valinor, but that they will not slay each other.

Appearance

Manwë dressed in blue robes and had blue eyes. He wielded a scepter of sapphire made for him by the Ñoldor. The Vanyar were his favorite Elves, and they lived with him and Varda on Mount Oiolosse.

Etymology

Manwë is intended to mean "Blessed One" in Quenya, from root MAN plus the male ending -wë. However it is said also to be a version of the Valarin name Mānawenūz.

Súlimo is an epithet meaning "Breather".[1] His titles include Elder King, High King of Arda, King of Arda, Lord of the Breath of Arda and Lord of the West.

His name in Sindarin is Aran Einior, "Elder King" and in Adûnaic Amân.

In Eriol's Old English translations, Manwë is referred to as Wolcenfrea "Welkin-ruler".[2]

In an early manuscript called "Valar name-list", Manwë has the additional Qenya names Taimo (masculine form of Taime, "the sky") and Valtur ("King of the Valar").[3]

Inspiration

Compared to real mythologies, Manwë represents possibly a sky father like Zeus/Jupiter of the Greco-Roman mythology. Like Zeus, Manwë is both a sky "deity" and a leader of his pantheon and is associated with the eagle.

See also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Qenya Noun Structure", in Parma Eldalamberon XXI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Patrick H. Wynne and Arden R. Smith), p. 85
  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"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 12
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