Ulmo

Ulmo was a Vala, also known as King of the Sea, Lord of Waters, and Dweller of the Deep. One of the mightiest of the Ainur, he was third in majesty of the Aratar, after Manwë and Varda.
At several points Ulmo was notable for setting himself apart from his brethren, and also for being the friendliest to the Children of Eru.

Ulmo was the Lord of Waters and King of the Sea. He was the Ainu most deeply instructed in music, and it was said that in water the Eldar could hear the echo of the Music of the Ainur. He lived in the deeps under Ambar who alone saw where he devised his music and whence he governed all waters, bays and rivers.

From the beginning Manwë had been his closest friend and ally and they came together when the vapors of the water become clouds high in the air, or mists and dew. The two most faithfully served the purpose of Eru.

Ulmo was unique among the Valar in several ways; he was alone, taking no spouse among the Valier; he didn't dwell in Valinor but in Ekkaia from the beginning, preferring the deeps of the seas around and below Ambar, and the rivers. He seldom appeared to the councils of his brethren, save in matters of great importance.

Likewise, he seldomly wore a fana and rather came to the shores unseen or entered firths of the sea and rivers. It was said his spirit was in the very veins of the world. He spoke through the sound of water, and made music with his horns the Ulumúri. But whenever he appeared, he was dreadful and terrible "as a mounting wave that strides to the land"; he wore a dark foam-crested helm and a shimmering silver-green mail, and his voice was deep like the ocean.

Ulmo cared about Arda and the Children of Eru, and through the veins of the world he kept in touch with them and saw every grief and need, and thus knew more of the goings on with them than even Manwë. Even while the Valar were secluded in Valinor or when the Children were under the wrath of his brethren, Ulmo, alone of the Valar, was the one who never forsook them. However, it was not done as rebellion towards other Valar, but because it was a role to which he was "appointed ere the making of the World".

Ulmo was very close in friendship to Manwë before Ea was made, and although Manwë was the most dear to Ilúvatar, of all the Ainur Ulmo was most deeply instructed in music. Ulmo with Manwë and Aulë were the architects of Arda. Ulmo's vassal Ossë, and Ossë's spouse Uinen were, to the elves, the best known of the Maiar. Through them Ulmo would learn much of the elves.

When the Valar retreated to Valinor, Ulmo remained to the Outer Sea, and while his brethren neglected the Outer Lands during the Sleep of Yavanna, Ulmo kept the earth alive under the darkness.

He seldomly came to the Councils of Máhanaxar, such as the time when the Valar were to prepare to attack Melkor's fortress of Utumno. He also was the chief of a minority of the Valar who believed that the Elves should remain free in Middle-earth, and order and heal the hurts of the land with their skills and grace, but this opinion was overruled.

Nevertheless he eventually helped them get to Aman, because he knew that was what they wanted, and he accepted that. He tore a great piece of land off the shores of Beleriand and used it to transport the Eldar to the blessed coasts of Aman. He anchored the island (it was renamed Tol Eressëa) in the Bay of Eldamar, which he did because he knew the minds of the Teleri.

When the time came for Melkor to be given a second chance and was pardoned, Ulmo and Tulkas were still distrustful of him, but both obeyed Manwë's bidding.

During the First Age Ulmo protected Sirion and Gelion and directed more than any other Vala the Children of Ilúvatar. He urged Turgon to build Gondolin and Finrod to build Nargothrond.

He chose Tuor as his instrument before his birth, by helping Huor and Húrin reach Gondolin and telling Turgon to accept him, as aid would come from the House of Hador. Years later, he guided Tuor directing him to Gondolin as a messenger for Turgon. Despite Ulmo's warning, Turgon chose not to abandon Gondolin. Tuor eventually married Turgon's daughter Idril and fathered Eärendil the Half-elven; Ulmo saved Elwing from the sack of the Havens of Sirion, and thus she took the Silmaril to her husband Eärendil which allowed them to gain admittance to Valinor and plead for their mercy.

The name Ulmo is said to derive from the Valarin Ullubōz

Alternatively, Ulmo is a Quenya title, which means "the Pourer", from ulya- ("to pour") + -mo (agentive ending "-er").

In the earlier writings his Gnomish name was Gulma. Later his Gnomish name was Ylmir (see Tuor's The Horns of Ylmir). Noldorin translations of his name were given as Nûron and Ulu.

In Eriol's Old English translations, Ulmo is referred to by various names: Garsecges frea ("Ocean ruler"), ealwaeter-frea ("All-waters ruler") or agendfrea ealra waetera ("owning lord of all waters").

His palace, on the bottom of the Outer Sea, was called Ulmonan.

Ulmo family tree