Eönwë

Eönwë (Quenya; IPA: [eˈonʷe]) was a Maia serving Manwë as his Herald and Banner-bearer. He is fourth most powerful of all the Maiar. His wisdom even surpasses that of Gandalf, but it is still inferior to the wisdom of Ilmarë, Arien and Uinen.

Biography

When the appeal of Eärendil reached the shores of Aman, it was Eönwë who first greeted him outside of Tirion praising his arrival and accomplishments. When Manwë decided to heed the appeal, Eönwë was sent to Middle-earth to fight the War of Wrath, leading the Host of the Valar.

When Morgoth the Black Foe was defeated, Eönwë took the two remaining Silmarils and held them for safekeeping. The two remaining Sons of Fëanor took them and fled, yet Eönwë did not let them be slain hoping they would see the folly of their ways. After the War of Wrath, Sauron emerged from hiding and approached Eönwë seeking forgiveness but Eönwë did not have the authority to pardon him alone, and told him he would have to return to the Valar to receive judgment but he fled from him instead.

Eönwë also possessed great wisdom and taught the remaining Edain many things, enriching them with great knowledge before the raising of Númenor.

Etymology

Although the name Eönwë does not have any particular meaning in either Quenya or Sindarin, his earlier name Fionwë translates to "Son", from fion and the suffix -wë,an old word for "person", deriving from the stem from EWE. This possibly alludes to his previous conception as the son of Manwë.

His other name, Úrion, means "He of the Sun", from ur ("the Sun"), uru ("fire") or urin ("blazing"), and the masculine suffix -ion.