Eönwë

From Tolkien Gateway
Eönwë
Maia
Tuuliky - Lord of the Eagles.jpg
"Lord of the Eagles" by Tuuliky
Biographical Information
PronunciationQ, [eˈonwe]
PositionHerald of Manwë
Chief of the Maiar
LocationAman
Beleriand (during the War of Wrath)
AffiliationManwë
Notable forLeading the Host of Valinor in the War of Wrath
Physical Description
GenderMale
WeaponrySword of Manwë (during the War of Wrath)
GalleryImages of Eönwë
"Eönwë, the banner-bearer and herald of Manwë, whose might in arms is surpassed by none in Arda."
The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta"

Eönwë was the banner-bearer and herald of Manwë, and chief of the Maiar along with Ilmarë.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

First Age[edit | edit source]

"Eonwe" by Mysilvergreen

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, he gave his sword to Eönwë[2] and sent him to Middle-earth to fight the War of Wrath, leading the Vanyar.[3] It is said that it was Eönwë who overthrew Morgoth.[4]

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.[3]

Afterwards, Sauron paid 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.[5]

Second Age[edit | edit source]

At the dawn of the Second Age, Eönwë came among the three faithful houses of the Edain and taught them many things, blessing them with wisdom and power and longer life-spans.

These Edain eventually became the High Men of Númenor.[6]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name Eönwë is Quenya in form.[7][8] However the ancient Loremasters knew no Elvish etymology of the name, suggesting that it is probably of Valarin origin.[9][10]

See also the Quenya ending -wë.[11]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In the earlier conceptions of the legendarium, Eönwë was envisioned as the son of Manwë, but as the concept of the Valarindi (i.e. the Children of the Valar) was abandoned, he was turned into Manwë's herald instead.[12]

In some versions Eönwë was the one who would kill Morgoth for his love for Arien (previously named Urwendi), instead of Túrin.[13]

In both early and later versions of the Akallabêth it is revealed that it was Fionwë/Eönwë who overthrew Morgoth at the end of the War of Wrath, but Christopher Tolkien removed this reference in the published Silmarillion, believing that his father intended to diminish his role; however, Christopher Tolkien later felt the omission may have been an error on his part.[4]:143

Earlier names[edit | edit source]

In earlier works, such as The Book of Lost Tales, his name was Fionwë which translates to "Son", from Qenya fion.[14] This possibly alludes to his previous conception as the son of Manwë.

His other early name, Urion, means "He of the Sun", from ur ("the Sun"), uru ("fire") or urin ("blazing"),[14] + the masculine suffix -ion.[15]

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Maiar"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion", p. 246
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "V. The History of the Akallabêth"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  7. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry 'Eonwe'
  8. "Quettaparma", Ardalambion (accessed 19 March 2024)
  9. 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.
  10. "Valarin", Ardalambion (accessed 19 March 2024)
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "II. The Music of the Ainur", p. 58
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "IX. The Hiding of Valinor", p. 219
  14. 14.0 14.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I
  15. 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)
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