Mandos

Mandos (Quenya; IPA: is the usual name for the Vala originally called Námo (Quenya; ; Judge). Námo was given this new name in honor of the Halls of Mandos, over which he presides, where elves go after they are slain (cf. Valhalla).

His wife is Vairë the Weaver.

Biography


Mandos is the brother of Lórien and Nienna in the mind of Eru Ilúvatar. He and his brother Lórien are the Fëanturi, the Masters of Spirits. Mandos is the sixth greatest of the Lords of the Valar and fifth greatest Aratar.

He was involved in Manwë's Doom concerning the espousals of the Eldar on YT 1172, when Finwë asked counsel for a second marriage, after the death of his wife's passing to the Halls of Mandos.

When Melkor began marring Arda before the coming of the Elves, Tulkas arrived and wanted to make war swiftly. At the bidding of Manwë, Mandos pronounced the doom of the Firstborn. After the captivity of Melkor, Mandos had once again pronounced the Doom. Melkor spent three Ages in the duress of Mandos thereafter, guarded by his hound Gorgumoth in Lumbi. Mandos judged Fëanor to leave Tirion for twelve years after Fëanor's drawing of sword against Fingolfin. After the destruction of the Two Trees, Yavanna asked for the light of the Silmarils, which Fëanor denied and he shall be slain, the first in Aman; but Mandos had spoken and revealed that Finwë was the first, having been slain at the steps of Formenos by Melkor. When the Ñoldor revolted against the Valar, Mandos appeared before them and pronounced the Doom of the Ñoldor.

Only once has he been moved to pity, when Lúthien sang of the grief she and her lover Beren had experienced in Beleriand. Then, with the Elder King's approval, he released them to Middle-earth to begin their second life there.

Character
Mandos, upon appearing before the Ñoldor, was described to be dark figure with a loud voice, solemn and terrible.

Mandos was described as being stern and dispassionate and never forgetting a thing. He was the Vala who cursed the Ñoldor leaving Aman, and counselled against allowing them to return (almost to the point of vindictiveness). But unlike Morgoth, his Dooms are not cruel or vindictive by his own design. They are simply the will of Eru, and he will not speak them unless he is commanded to do so by Manwë.

Etymology
His common name Mandos means "Prison-fortress", and his real name Námo means "Ordainer" or "Judge" in Quenya.

In Tolkien's earlier work, Mandos was named Vefantur.

Other Names
The Old English translation for Mandos is Nefrea "Corpse-ruler" from neo ("corpse") and frea ("lord"). His title is Neoaerna hlaford ("Master of the houses of the dead").

External link


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