Mandos

From the name Namo, it means a judge or an ordainer. The Elves also know him as Mandos. The name Mandos symbolizes a prison fortress. His name took after his holy Halls of Mandos. He headed these halls and this place sheltered dead Elves. He was an Ainu and an Aratar. Besides, he was a Vala, in charge of the Spirits' (Fea) verdict of the dead Elves. He had the duty of proclaiming the rulings and fate of Eru Iluvatar. This happened under Manwe's leadership. When it comes to the designation, he was the 5th highest Aratar. He also ranked 6th among the supreme Lords of the Valar. Mandos was the spouse of Vaire the Weaver. He was Irmo's (Lorien) and Nienna's brother as well. Masters of the Spirits (also known as Feanturi) was the term to describe Mandos and Lorien. In YT 1172, he proclaimed Manwe's destiny about the promotion of the Eldar. Unfortunately, Finwe's spouse died (Finwe was the first king of the Noldor).

The death happened while his wife went through the Halls of Mandos. It was then that he requested advice on remarrying. Before the elves came, Melkor started the Valar and the Melkor wars. Later on, he destroyed Arda. This was before the coming of the Elves. At this point, Tulkas made known his presence. He hoped he would start combat fast. Mandos proclaimed the Firstborn's doom. This happened under the command of Manwe. Pronouncing the Doom came again after Melkor's capture. With much pressure, Malkor coerced with Mandos for a total of 3 Ages. While in Lumbi, he was with his faithful companion, Gorgumoth. There was a time when Feanor threatened Fingolfin with a sword. This prompted Mandos to let Feanor flee Tirion.

This lasted 12 years. Also, the destruction of the Two Trees drove Yavanna to ask for Silmarils' light. Feanor did not grant this request. Thus, leading to his death. This was a first in Aman allegedly. Yet, according to Manwe, Finwe was first. Melkor soon killed him at the Steps of Formenos. Later on, there was a revolution between Valar and Noldor. Mandos then declared the Doom of the Noldor. With this, Finwe was desperate and went to Mandos. Reincarnation then was common to elves. He pleaded him to bring back his wife, Miriel from the dead. As described, Mandos was a difficult character. It was uncommon for him to show emotion. What happened was like an exchange deal. The agreement was Finwe will never have a chance at reincarnation, unlike the elves.

Moreover, he must remain in the Halls of Awaiting for the rest of eternity. The story says Mandos showed emotion once. One day, Luthien sang a song. It narrates the sorrow she and Beren (her lover) had undergone in Beleriand. Soon, Elder King finally freed them. They had the chance to go to Middle-earth. There, they started a new life as mortals. Yet, there was no life assurance. A time came when Earendil went to Aman. Earendil asked help from the Valar. This time, Mandos proclaimed Elwing and Earendil as Half-elven. They, together with their successors, would belong to either the Men or Elves.

Noldor saw Mandos as a loud, black character. He was dreadful but dignified. He was someone who always remembers, hard and violent. He was the same Vala denouncing the Noldor who left Aman. Mandos restricted their return too. His Dooms are not that harsh. This, somehow, is the exact opposite of Morgoth's. The story says these are according to Eru's requests. He does not even communicate with them except when Manwe instructs him to.

The name Mandos implies prison fortress. Its origin is from Mandost which means castle of custody. It also means osto (which means fortified building) and mbando, meaning custody. Namo, which is his actual name, means a judge or ordainer in Quenya.

The translation in old English is Nefrea signifying corpse-ruler. In detail, neo means corpse. Frea means lord. Thus, having the designation Neoaerna hlaford. In other words, Master of the House of the Dead. He was also known as the Dark Mando (Morimando). This was contradictory to Manwe's Kalamando which means Light Mando. Instead of Mandos, Vefantur was his name in Tolkien's previous writings.

According to Tolkien, Vefantur had a spouse known as Fui Nienna. With this, both of them earned the title Gods of Death. They had chambers and these were at the foot of the Valinor Mountains. Namo means to judge or ordained. He was Mandos to the Elves. His name took after his holy Halls of Mandos. He headed these halls. It was the same place where they put deceased Elves. Mandos also means prison fortress. He was an Ainu and an Aratar. Besides, he was a Vala in charge of the Spirits' (Fea) verdict of the dead Elves. He also had the duty of proclaiming the rulings and fate of Eru Iluvatar. This was under Manwe's leadership. He was the 5th highest Aratar. He also ranked 6th among the supreme Lords of the Valar. Mandos was the spouse of Vaire the Weaver.

He was Irmo's (Lorien) and Nienna's brother as well. To the land, Mandos and Lorien were the Masters of the Spirits (also knows as Feanturi). In YT 1172, he proclaimed Manwe's destiny about the promotion of the Eldar. It was unfortunate that Finwe's spouse died. This happened while going through the Halls of Mandos. It was then during this period that he requested advice on remarrying. Melkor soon had a war with the Valar. Later on, he destroyed Arda before the Elves came. Tulkas made known his presence. He hoped he would start combat fast. Mandos proclaimed the Firstborn's doom. This happened under the command of Manwe. Pronouncing the Doom came again after Melkor's capture. Mandos led Malkor for 3 Ages. While in Lundi, he was with his canine friend Gorgumoth. There was a time when Feanor threatened Fingolfin with a sword. This prompted Mandos to let Feanor flee Tirion. This lasted 12 years.

Also, the destruction of the Two Trees drove Yavanna to ask for Silmarils' light. Feanor did not grant this, leading to his death. This was a first in Aman allegedly. However, according to Manwe, Finwe was first. Melkor killed him at the Steps of Formenos. There was a revolution between Valar and Noldor. Mandos declared the Doom of the Noldor. [1] With this, Finwe was desperate and went to Mandos. Reincarnation then was common to elves. He requested him to bring back his wife, Miriel from the dead. It was like an exchange deal. The agreement was Finwe will never have a chance at reincarnation.

Moreover, he must remain in the Halls of Awaiting. As described, Mandos was a difficult character. It was uncommon for him to show emotion. One day, Luthien sang a song. It was about the sorrow she and Beren (her lover) undergone in Beleriand. Soon, Elder King freed them to go to Middle-earth. There, they started a new life as mortals. However, there was no life assurance. A time came when Earendil went to Aman. Earendil asked help from the Valar. This time, Mandos proclaimed Elwing and Earendil as Half-elven. They, together with their successors, would be belonging to Men or Elves.

Noldor saw Mandos as a loud, black character. He was dreadful but dignified. He was someone who always remembers, hard and violent, the same Vala denouncing the Noldor. This happened while they were fleeing Aman. Mandos restricted their return too. His Dooms are not that harsh. This, somehow, is the exact opposite of Morgoth's. The story says these are according to Eru's requests. He does not even communicate with them except when Manwe instructs him to.

The name Mandos means prison fortress. Its origin is from Mandost which means castle of custody. It also means osto (which means fortified building) and mbando, meaning custody. Namo, his actual name, means "judge" or "ordainer" in Quenva.

The translation in old English is Nefrea signifying corpse-ruler. In detail, neo means corpse. Frea, on the other hand, means lord. Thus, having the designation Neoaerna hlaford ( Master of the houses of the dead). He was also known as the Dark Mando (Morimando). This was contradictory to Manwe's Kalamando which means Light Mando.

Both he and his spouse Fui Nienna were Vefantur. With this, both of them earned the title Gods of Death. They had chambers and these were at the foot of the Valinor Mountains.

1. ^Doomsman of the Valar.