 | |
| Vala | |
| Irmo | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Pronunciation | Q, [ˈirmo] |
| Other names | Lórien (Q) |
| Position | Master of Visions and Dreams |
| Location | Lórien, Valinor |
| Family | |
| Siblings | Mandos and Nienna |
| Spouse | Estë |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Irmo |
Irmo the younger is the master of visions and dreams. In Lórien are his gardens in the land of the Valar, and they are the fairest of all places in the world, filled with many spirits.
Irmo, commonly called Lórien after his place of dwelling, was a Vala who was known as "the master of visions and dreams."
History
Irmo was the younger brother of Námo, who was also more commonly known by the name of his dwelling place, Mandos. Irmo and Námo were known collectively as the Fëanturi, the masters of spirits.[1] Their sister was Nienna, the Valie of pity and sorrow.
Irmo lived in his gardens with his spouse Estë with their dwelling lying west of Valimar.
Irmo tended to and provided refuge to the Elves of Valinor in Lórien, where he would guide the Eldar through visions and dreams.[1] When Míriel lost strength after giving birth to Fëanor, she was brought to Lórien for rest. Her spirit later departed to Mandos and refused to return.[2]
When the Sun and Moon were created, Varda purposed that the two vessels should journey in Ilmen and mingle their light as the Two Trees once had. However, Irmo and Estë asked her to reconsider as "sleep and rest had been banished from the Earth."[3] Therefore, Varda changed her council and created twilight.[3]
Etymology
Irmo is a Quenya name meaning "Desirer" or "Master of Desire".[4] His common name Lórien (Quenya; [ˈloːri.en]) means "Land of Dreams".
In The Etymologies, Lhuien is given as a Noldorin cognate of Lórien.[5]
In Eriol's Old English translations, Irmo is referred to as Swefnfréa "Dream-ruler".[6]
Other names
In early versions of the legendarium, this Vala (variously spelt Lorien and Lôrien) was given various surnames: Qenya Olofantur (the element fantur, a derivative of the root FANA, refers to "visions, dreams, falling asleep"),[7] Qenya Fulmur (probably from the root FUMU, "sleep"), and Gnomish Losfan (consisting of oloth "a dream, apparition, vision" + ending -fan, thus (o)loth-fan > Losfan).[8] Gnomish renderings of his first name included Glurim (containing the element lûr "slumber") and Lûriel or Lúriel (> Lúrin).[7][8][9]
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
The Book of Lost Tales
In The Book of Lost Tales, Lórien Olofántur (Fantur of Dreams) was the lord of dreams and imaginings, and loved twilight and flittering shadows, and sweet scents borne upon evening winds. He was one of two Fánturi, with the other being his brother Vefántur Mandos (Fantur of Death).[10]
He arrived in Middle-earth in the fifth wave of Valar, along with Tulkas, Mandos, Fui Nienna (spouse of Mandos), and Vána (spouse of Oromë). The earlier waves were Melko; then Manwë, Varda, and their folk; then Aulë, Yavanna, Ulmo, and their folk (though only Salmar accompanied Ulmo); then Ossë, Ónen, and their troops. The later waves were Makar and Meássë; and then lastly Ómar.[10]
Following the destruction of the Two Lamps, Aulë fashioned two great cauldrons to hold the remaining light in the world: Kulullin for the gold, and Silindrin for the silver, They then dug two great pits in preparation for the Two Trees. In the second pit was cast three huge pearls found by Ossë, and a small star cast by Varda, and it was then covered with foams and white mists and sprinkled lightly with earth. Lórien then sat near and whispered swift noiseless words while his sprites played half-heard tunes beside him. The Valar then poured upon it silver light from Silindrin.[10]
Through the efforts of Yavanna, the Two Trees then sprang up. On beholding the silver tree, Silpion, Lórien could not contain his joy. When Yavanna instructed that the dew of the trees must be gathered, and then used to water the trees themselves, Lórien bade Silmo, a youth he loved, to the task of refreshing Silpion.[10]
While many of the Valar had dwellings built in Valmar, Lórien dwelt far to the south in a placed he called Murmuran. Around his abode were wide gardens, which contained many types of trees and fumellar, poppies which Lórien used in his enchantments. These gardens stretched even to Silindrin, where Lórien would gaze and see many visions of mystery.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Qenya Noun Structure", in Parma Eldalamberon XXI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Patrick H. Wynne and Arden R. Smith), p. 85
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "LOS"
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, pp. 253, 259
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 18
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor"
| Ainur | ||
|---|---|---|
| Valar | Lords | Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · |
| 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 | |