Ossë
| Ossë | |
|---|---|
| Maia | |
 | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Yssion, Gaerys |
| Affiliation | Ulmo, formerly Melkor |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Ossë |
Ossë (Q, pron. [ˈosːe]) was a Maia of the Sea associated with Ulmo.
Attributes
Ossë is a vassal of Ulmo, but he loves the winds and prefers the coasts and isles to the deeps of his master. There is some darkness and violence in his spirit, presumably after his seduction by Melkor, and still enjoys raging in storms despite the will of Ulmo, and he is not trusted even by the mariners who love him. His wildness is restrained by his spouse, Uinen.[1]
History
In the early days of Arda, Ossë turned to Melkor for a time, but Uinen brought him back to the loyalty of Ulmo. However, Ossë's wild and wilful nature was still evident despite remaining loyal to Ulmo.[1]
Ossë was a friend of the Sindar, a kindred of Elves who lived by the shores of the Sea in Beleriand, and was respected as much as the Valar by them.[2]
After the Valar pronounced the Doom of the Noldor, Ossë helped guard the shores of Beleriand to keep the ships of the Noldor from reaching Valinor. His storms had a part in wrecking all the ships that they sent, and only one Elf from among their crews survived, by the will of Ulmo: Voronwë.[3] During the Second Age he rose the island of Elenna (Numenor) from the depths of the Sea.[4]
Etymology
At least two explanations exist for the name Ossë. In The Etymologies, it is understood as the Qenya word osse ("terror"), deriving from the root GOS ("dread").[5] A later note pertaining to the name instead suggests it is a name of non-Elvish origin, deriving from Valarin Oš(o)šai ("spuming, foaming").[6] The same later note mentions that Ossë's Sindarin names were Yssion and Gaerys.[7][6]
In Eriol's Old English translations, Osse is referred to as Saefrea "Sea-ruler".[8] However, this reflects his status as a Vala (Fréa) in the earlier Legendarium.
Other versions
In older versions of The Silmarillion as well as the Annals of Aman, Ossë (along with his spouse Uinen) were Valar in their own right, and often opposed the will of Ulmo.
Osse was also the name of a Tengwa similar to Roman c, which apparently had the value o.[9] However elsewhere, this letter is named Elwe and has the value of e. In the Mode of Beleriand this letter instead has the value a.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Maiar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 359
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar", p. 400
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", gaer
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003 p.15
| Ainur | ||
|---|---|---|
| Valar | Lords | Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · |
| 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 | |
