The Prophecies of Mandos

[Erestor Arcamen]

Hey all I keep reading in the Silmarillion and a bunch of the other books in the History of Middle Earth of Mandos' prophesies, and I believe there were 7(? maybe more or less). Does anyone know what they actually were? I think one was that Morgoth would, near the end of time like break out of the outer darkness and return to the world? I may be wrong, but I don't know. If anyone has information on this I'd appreciate it.

 

[Ithrynluin]

I'm not sure about there being 7 prophecies (sounds a bit much?! - what would they prophesy?), but regarding the one you gave a brief description of, that is the Dagor Dagorath, the final battle:

The History of Middle-earth V: The Lost Road
Thus spake Mandos in prophecy, when the Gods sat in judgement in Valinor, and the rumour of his words was whispered among all the Elves of the West. When the world is old and the Powers grow weary, then Morgoth, seeing that the guard sleepeth, shall come back through the Door of Night out of the Timeless Void; and he shall destroy the Sun and Moon. But Earendel shall descend upon him as a white and searing flame and drive him from the airs. Then shall the Last Battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor. In that day Tulkas shall strive with Morgoth, and on his right hand shall be Fionwe, and on his left Turin Turambar, son of Hurin, coming from the halls of Mandos; and the black sword of Turin shall deal unto Morgoth his death and final end; and so shall the children of Hurin and all Men be avenged.

Thereafter shall Earth be broken and re-made, and the Silmarils shall be recovered out of Air and Earth and Sea; for Earendel shall descend and surrender that flame which he hath had in keeping. Then Feanor shall take the Three Jewels and bear them to Yavanna Palurien; and she will break them and with their fire rekindle the Two Trees, and a great light shall come forth. And the Mountains of Valinor shall be levelled, so that the Light shall go out over all the world. In that light the Gods will grow young again, and the Elves awake and all their dead arise, and the purpose of Iluvatar be fulfilled concerning them. But of Men in that day the prophecy of Mandos doth not speak, and no Man it names, save Turin only, and to him a place is given among the sons of the Valar.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Thanks. I havent gotten to that edition in The History of Middle Earth yet, but I will get there soon. Thanks again!

 

[MichaelMartinez]

Thanks. I havent gotten to that edition in The History of Middle Earth yet, but I will get there soon. Thanks again!

Just keep in mind that Tolkien dropped the Second Prophecy of Mandos from his Silmarillion mythologies. Eventually, as Christopher documents in The Peoples of Middle-earth, the idea that Turin would return was to be altered. The prophecy would be spoken by Andreth (a Beorian Wise Woman who is introduced to Tolkien readers in Morgoth's Ring), and Turin was only to return at the end of the First Age for a brief time -- long enough to help defeat Morgoth, before finally dying permanently as is normal for Men.