Máhanaxar
Máhanaxar, also called Rithil-Anamo,[1]:401 was the Ring of Doom, probably a hall or court where the Valar held their councils.
The Ring was outside the golden western gates of the city of Valmar, not far from the hill Ezellohar, with the thrones of the Valar arranged in circle.[2]
The Valar were sitting on their thrones while watching Yavanna chanting, bringing the Two Trees to life upon Ezellohar.[2] Ever after, the Powers sat bathed in the light of the Trees to hold their great councils, and here some of the most momentous decisions of Eä's history were made.
In the Later Quenta Silmarillion, as Melkor came through Aman and filled it with darkness and dread, he entered the Ring of Doom and cursed it, defiling Manwë's seat of judgement and casting down the thrones of the other Valar.[3]
Etymology[edit]
The name Máhanaxar is how the Amanyar called the Ring of Doom in Quenya. It contains the word Máhan "chief Vala", itself a loan from Valarin māchanāz[1]:402 "Authority".[1]:399
All in all, Máhanaxar is said to be derived from Valarin Māchananaškad, a compound that includes the aforementioned māchanāz. It has been suggested that the second element might mean "ring" and is related to Black Speech nazg.[4] Cf. also NASAG.
The word was translated as Rithil-Anamo in the Quenya of Aman. The word rithil, that probably means "ring", is otherwise unattested. The second word might be the genitive form of an otherwise unattested noun *anan (or less probably *anama), itself probably derived from root NAM (cf. Námo, the name of Mandos).[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Of the Darkening of Valinor"
- ↑ "Valarin", Ardalambion (accessed 10 March 2020)
- ↑ Helge Fauskanger, "Quettaparma Quenyallo", Ardalambion (accessed 20 March 2023)
