Soronúmë

From Tolkien Gateway

Soronúmë was one of the constellations that Varda traced in the sky with the dews of Telperion, before the Awakening of the Elves.[1] The name means "Eagle of the West" in Quenya (from soron, "eagle" and númë, "West").

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

The translation suggests a connection with the constellation we know today as Aquila, but this was never confirmed by Tolkien. The constellation now known as Lyra may also be considered, as its former name in Arabic was an-nasr al-wāqi‘ "falling eagle" (giving its name to its main star Vega).[2]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
  2. Identification with Aquila or possibly Lyra: Cf. for instance Kristine Larsen, "Myth, Milky Way, and the Mysteries of Tolkien’s Morwinyon, Telumendil, and Anarríma" in Tolkien Studies, vol. 7, 2010, p. 203. In her conclusion on p. 207, Larsen retains Aquila.
Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
Stars  Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til 
The Airs  Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista
Narsilion  Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion
See also  Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void