 | |
| Fortress | |
| Formenos | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Location | Northern Valinor |
| Type | Fortress |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Noldor |
| Created | Y.T. 1490[1] |
| Destroyed | Abandoned in Y.T. 1495[2] |
| Events | Murder of Finwë, theft of the Silmarils |
| Gallery | Images of Formenos |
Formenos was the mighty stronghold of Fëanor, his sons, and their followers in the north of Valinor, built after his banishment from Tirion. A great number of the Noldor, including their king Finwë, went with Fëanor into exile.[3]
Fëanor's treasury was in Formenos, and Melkor came to the stronghold searching for the Silmarils. Here he slew Finwë before stealing the Jewels and escaping to Middle-earth.[4]
Etymology
Formenos means "Northern Fortress" in Quenya (from formen = "north" and osto = "fortress"). Its Sindarin cognate is Fornost, the name of a different city.
Other versions of the legendarium
The precursor of Formenos is Sirnúmen, a location which appears in an early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.[5] In this version, Melko sows discord among the Noldoli, who are then ordered by Manwë to leave their home of Kôr and build a new dwelling elsewhere in Valinor. Their new dwelling, Sirnúmen, is later plundered by Melko, who kills Fëanor's father, Bruithwir, and steals the gems of the Noldoli, including the Silmarils.[6]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Fourth section of the Annals of Aman", §99
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Fifth section of the Annals of Aman", §122
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "VI. The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor": "Notes and Commentary", p. 158
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "VI. The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor"