Ossë
| Ossë | |
|---|---|
| Tolkien's legendarium character | |
| Aliases | Balar, Gaerys, Yssion |
| Race | Ainur |
| Book(s) | The Silmarillion (1977) |
Ossë ([ˈosse]; from the Valarin Ošošai, Oššai) is a fictional character in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as an angelic being known as a Maia, associated with Ulmo, one of the Valar (analogous to archangels).
A spirit of the sea in the service of Ulmo, Ossë guarded the waters around Middle-earth. He was married to Uinen, and he was a friend of Círdan the Shipwright. During the Years of the Trees, he briefly entered into the service of Melkor and began causing wanton storms which made traveling by sea particularly unsafe. He was persuaded to stop by his spouse Uinen, upon the prayer of the Vala Aulë, but Ossë's taste for storms did not quite disappear.
Ossë was a friend of the Sindar, and was valued as high as the Valar by them. This relationship started before the coming of the Sindar to Valinor, while they dwelled on shores of Middle-earth, waiting for their leader. It was against Ossë's will that they ever went to Valinor.
In older versions of The Silmarillion, Ossë was a Vala in his own right, and often opposed a Maia of Ulmo.
References
- Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The Silmarillion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, ISBN 0-395-25730-1