Taniquetil

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The name Holy Mountain refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Holy Mountain (disambiguation).
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Taniquetil
Mountain
J.R.R. Tolkien - Taniquetil.jpg
"Taniquetil" by J.R.R. Tolkien
General Information
Other namesOiolossë, Elerrína, Amon Uilos (S), etc.
LocationPelóri, Central Aman
TypeMountain
DescriptionTallest mountain peak in Arda
InhabitantsValar, Maiar, Vanyar
GalleryImages of Taniquetil

Taniquetil or Oiolossë, the great Holy Mountain, was the highest of the mountains of Pelóri and the tallest peak in Arda. On its summit was raised Ilmarin, the mansions of Manwë and Varda.[1]

According to The Annals of Aman, it was raised 3,450 Valian Years (or 33,000 solar years) after the Valar arrived in Aman.[source?]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Taniquetil (or Taníquetil) is Quenya (pronounced [taˈnikʷetil]) and means "high-snow-peak"[2] or "High White Peak".[1] The name can be analyzed as ta- (cf. tára) "high", nique "white" and til "point".[3]

Other names[edit | edit source]

The mountain was also called Amon Uilos, the White Mountain, the Mountain of Manwë,[1] Arfanyarassë (or Arfanyaras; Q. "High shining white peak"),[4] Taniquetilde Tára,[source?] and Elerrína.

Taniquetil is also called Oiolossë (also spelled Oiolosse),[5] which is Quenya and means "Ever-snow-white",[1] "Everwhite/snowy",[5] or "Everlasting snow".[6] The name seems to consist of oio "ever" (cf. root OY-)[5][6] and losse "snow".[1]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Oiolossë is referred to as Sinsnáw, Sinsnǽwen "Ever-snow".[7]

In the Song of Eärendil it is named Hill of Ilmarin.[8]

In Valarin it was called dāhan-igwiš-telgūn, or less properly Dahanigwistilgūn.[9]

Elerrína was another name for Taniquetil, translating to "Crowned with Stars" (elen + rína).[10]It is spelt "Elerína" in Etymologies.[11]

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson) pp. 26, 168
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'", pp. 403, 416
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 26
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 379
  7. 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"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Author's Notes to Quendi and Eldar", pp. 416-7 (note 36)
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", EL-