Avathar
Avathar | |
---|---|
Region | |
General Information | |
Other names | Avaþar |
Location | Southernmost part of Aman |
Type | Region |
Description | dark strip of land at the southern feet of Pelóri |
Inhabitants | Ungoliant |
Gallery | Images of Avathar |
Avathar or Avaþar (Vanyarin Q, pron. [ˈaβaθar]) was the dark strip of land at the feet of the southern Pelóri Mountains in Aman. It was the home of Ungoliant before she went to Middle-earth with Melkor.[1]
Etymology
The name "Avathar" has conflicting translations. In "The Later Quenta Silmarillion" section of Morgoth's Ring, Tolkien translates Avathar as "The Shadows" in "ancient" Quenya[2] (this translation also appears in The Silmarillion[3]). However, in the "Quendi and Eldar" section of The War of the Jewels, Tolkien states that Avathar has no Elvish translation, meaning that it must have been adapted from its Valarin name[4] (however, in the Index to this book it still says "The Shadows" in a short description[5]).
In the Quenya of the Noldor, the name must have become Avasar (pron. [ˈavasar]) because of the loss of þ/th in Noldorin Quenya.[source?]
Other versions of the legendarium
In early versions of The Silmarillion, the region where Ungoliant dwelt prior to the Darkening of Valinor was called Arvalin.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor"
- ↑ 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", p. 284
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", Avathar
- ↑ 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'", p. 404
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Index"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §105