essë

From Tolkien Gateway

essë (pl. essi) is a noun meaning "name" in Quenya.[1] Compare with eneth in Sindarin.

Elvish Naming[edit | edit source]

According to the naming traditions of High Elves, an Elf can have four types of names, acquired at various times of their lives. The three first names are called the anessi ("given-names"): the father-name[note 1], the amilessë ("mother-name"), and the epessë ("after-name" or honorary title). The last type of name is called the kilmessë: the chosen-name ("self-name").[2]

Anessi[edit | edit source]

  • Father-name: chosen by the father and often based on the father's own name or derived from old legends. Given at or near birth.
  • Amilessë: chosen by the mother and often prophetic in nature. Given sometimes at or near birth but often bestowed years later.
  • Epessë: often acquired by an Elf as an honorific later in life.

Kilmessë[edit | edit source]

  • Kilmessë: a name chosen by an Elf for him- or herself as a disguise or to refer to deeds, talents and personal history.

The father-name and the amilessë were the Elf's 'true names' and were public names. The father-name is the name an Elf used in public until an epessë was chosen.[3] In The Silmarillion, when an Elf does not yet have an epessë, the Sindarin version of his mother- or father-name is used instead.

Examples[edit | edit source]

  • Ereinion Gil-galad: The son of Orodreth was given the essë Ereinion ("Scion of Kings").[5] His epessë was Gil-galad ("Star of Radiance") given to him because his armour and shield were overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars, shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight and could be seen by Elvish eyes at a great distance if he stood upon a height.[6]
  • Finrod Felagund: The son of Finarfin was given the essë of Findaráto ("Golden-haired Champion"). His amilessë was Ingoldo ("The Noldo", singular for Noldor).[7] He is usually referred to as Felagund ("Hewer of Caves"),[8] originally a derogatory nickname given to him because of his dwelling at Nargothrond. Finrod adopted the name as his epessë and made it a title of honour. The name Finrod is the Sindarin version of his father-name.
  • Galadriel: The only daughter of Finarfin was given the essë of Artanis ("Noble Woman") and the amilessë of Nerwen ("Man-maiden") because of her height and strength.[7] Her epessë, Alatáriel ("Maiden Crowned with Radiant Garland"), was given to her by her husband, Celeborn. The name Galadriel is the Sindarin version of her epessë.[6]
  • Amras: The last son of the House of Finwë was given the essë Telufinwë, ("Last [of] Finwë"). His first amilessë was Ambarussa ("Top-russet" referring to his hair), his twin-brother Amrod had the same amilessë. To distinguish the two Amrod was given a second amilessë: Umbarto ("The Fated").[4] His mother's choice was prophetic, because Amrod was the first of the sons of Fëanor to die, accidentally killed in the swan ships of the Teleri when his father ordered them to be burnt at Losgar. The name Amras is the Sindarin version of Ambarussa.

Tengwa[edit | edit source]

Essë.gif

Essë is also the name in later Quenya of the thirty-first letter of the Tengwar alphabet, representing SS. The original name of this letter was Áze, but over time the phonemes for "z" and "r" merged and the letter was renamed Áre. Since Óre (letter 21) represents untrilled "r" and Rómen (letter 25) represents trilled "r", Áre became superfluous. This letter was then renamed Essë and represents "ss", but only in written Quenya.[1]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. There is no attested Quenya term for this name, but we can conjecture it is ataressë.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar, Of Naming", pp. 214-7
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "Note on Mother-names", p. 339
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of the Sons of Fëanor", p. 353
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The parentage of Gil-galad", p. 350
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", p. 347
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", p. 346
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The Dwarvish origin of the name Felagund", p. 351-2