Oromë
Mighty hunter of the Valar. Orome had a sister named Nessa and a wife named Vana. Orome enjoyed hunting in Middle-Earth, and he still hunted there even after the other Valar had withdrawn to Aman. As the Vala of the hunt, Orome was also lord of all forests. Orome had a great steed called Nahar, and he bore a horn called Valaroma. In Aman, Orome dwelt in the House of Orome and the Woods of Orome, both located in Valinor.
During the Years of the Trees, the Valar retreated to Aman due to the growing power of Melkor in Middle-Earth. Yet Orome occasionally visited Middle-Earth in order to hunt there, and he did not fear Melkor. Orome witnessed the awakening of the Elves in Cuivienen during one of his visits to eastern Middle-Earth. Orome called the Elves the Eldar, a name that would come to be widely used as n alternative name for the Elven race. Because Melkor's power was ever growing and Orome knew the dark lord would try to kill the Elves once he learned of their existence, Orome guided the Elves into Beleriand. He was active in the war against Melkor that was to come, and he and the other Valar were persuaded to defeat Melkor in the War of Wrath.
During the Years of the Trees, the Valar retreated to Aman due to the growing power of Melkor in Middle-Earth. Yet Orome occasionally visited Middle-Earth in order to hunt there, and he did not fear Melkor. Orome witnessed the awakening of the Elves in Cuivienen during one of his visits to eastern Middle-Earth. Orome called the Elves the Eldar, a name that would come to be widely used as n alternative name for the Elven race. Because Melkor's power was ever growing and Orome knew the dark lord would try to kill the Elves once he learned of their existence, Orome guided the Elves into Beleriand. He was active in the war against Melkor that was to come, and he and the other Valar were persuaded to defeat Melkor in the War of Wrath.
Names & Meanings
The name Oromë is said to be derived from Arōmēz, Orome's name in Valarin, the Eldest Speech. Oromë also translates into Quenya as "Loud Trumpeter," possibly a reference to the fact that Orome bore a great horn. Quenya-speaking Elves also called him Aldaron, meaning "Lord of Trees." Orome's name translates into Sindarin as Araw, and the Sindar Elves also called him Araw Tauron, the epithet Tauron meaning something like "Lord of Forests" or "The Forester." The language from which the name Tauron originated is not known. It is not Sindarin, but it may come from the Noldorin word Tauros meaning "Forest-Dread."
The Northmen called Orome Béma, which comes from the Old English word béme meaning "trumpet."
The Northmen called Orome Béma, which comes from the Old English word béme meaning "trumpet."
References
The Silmarillion: "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor," passim; "Of the Valar," passim; "Index of Names"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume I, The Book of Lost Tales: "Appendix," page 267; "Index," page 288
The History of Middle-earth,Volume III, The Lays of Beleriand: passim
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," page 391
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", page 358
"Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings," in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), page 96
"Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings," in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), page 153
"From Quendi and Eldar, Appendix D" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 39, July 1998, page 10
The History of Middle-earth, Volume I, The Book of Lost Tales: "Appendix," page 267; "Index," page 288
The History of Middle-earth,Volume III, The Lays of Beleriand: passim
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," page 391
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", page 358
"Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings," in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), page 96
"Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings," in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), page 153
"From Quendi and Eldar, Appendix D" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 39, July 1998, page 10
All Pages Copyright © 2010, The Middle-Earth Encyclopedia