Irmo

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Irmo
Vala
Maureval - Irmo Lorien.png
"Irmo Lorien" by Maureval
Biographical Information
PronunciationQ, [ˈirmo]
Other namesLórien (Q)
PositionMaster of Visions and Dreams
LocationLórien, Valinor
Family
SiblingsMandos and Nienna
SpouseEstë
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages 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."
The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"

Irmo, more commonly known as Lórien, was a Vala, the master of visions and dreams. He maintained the Gardens of Lórien.

History[edit | edit source]

Irmo was the younger brother of Námo. Irmo and Námo were the Fëanturi, the masters of spirits.[1] Their sister was Nienna. Like his brother, Mandos, Irmo was typically known by the name of his domain, Lórien.

He lived in his gardens with his spouse Estë. His halls and extensive gardens were located away from Valmar, though still within Valinor. Irmo tended to, and provided refuge to the Elves of Valinor in Lórien. 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. But her spirit willingly departed to Mandos, refusing to return.[2]

When the Sun and Moon were originally set in their paths, 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[edit | edit source]

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]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vairë
 
Mandos
 
Nienna
 
IRMO
 
Estë
 
 
 


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

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).[8][7][9]

Poppies, the flowers of sleep "which the Gods called fumellar", were used in enchantments by Irmo. He descried many mysterious visions in the silvery light of the cauldron Silindrin, which contained the collected dew of Silpion.[10]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor"
  3. 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"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Qenya Noun Structure", in Parma Eldalamberon XXI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Patrick H. Wynne and Arden R. Smith), p. 85
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "LOS"
  6. 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. 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. 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
  9. 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. 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 · Melkor
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