The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Issued after the Darkening of Valinor, but before the first rising of the Moon and Sun1
Location
The northern borders of Valinor, where it gave way to the wastes of Araman
Races
Given by one of the Ainur to Elves
Divisions
The Doomsman of the Valar pronounced the Doom to Fëanor and the Noldor who followed him
Family
The Noldor were led by the sons of Finwë
Pronunciation
Valar is pronounced 'va'larr' (where 'rr' emphasises that the final r should be pronounced)
Meaning
'Doom' is used here in the older sense of a judgement; Valar means 'Powers'
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 24 July 2024
  • This entry is complete

The dreadful judgement of the Valar against the followers of Fëanor, delivered in the northern fringes of Aman, and more usually called the Doom of Mandos. According to that Doom, the Noldor were expelled from the Blessed Realm, and condemned to lives of hardship, sorrow and betrayal in Middle-earth. Centuries later, as these prophesies of the Valar came to pass, Turgon attempted to send ships into the West to beg for aid, but by the power of the Doom of the Valar the way back across the Great Sea had now been closed to the Noldor.


Notes

1

The Doom of the Valar was given to the Noldor (according to the Annals of Aman in volume X of The History of Middle-earth) in the Valian Year 1496. Valian Years were rather longer than solar years, and conversion is difficult, but this probably represents a time about ten years after the Darkening of Valinor and the setting out of the Noldor. The same calculation would place the Doom about thirty-eight years before the first rising of the Moon and Sun.

See also...

Doom of the Noldor

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 24 July 2024
  • This entry is complete

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