Horn of Valere
Encyclopedia
The Horn of Valere is a fictional object in Robert Jordan
's fantasy
series The Wheel of Time
. It is a horn that is able to call the heroes that are linked to it (the "Heroes of the Horn") back from the grave. Sounding the Horn bonds the horn to its sounder. Until that person's death, only he can use the Horn of Valere to summon the heroes. For anyone else, blowing the Horn will only make a beautiful noise.
Becoming a Hero of the Horn takes a feat of great bravery and self-sacrifice.
The Horn is curled and golden, with a line of script in silver inlaid around the rim. The Old Tongue
text reads "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin", commonly translated as "the grave is no bar to my call."
After the Breaking of the World began, the Horn was sealed in the Eye of the World. It was recovered about three thousand years later by Rand al'Thor
and taken to Fal Dara. Darkfriends stole the Horn, which fell under the control of Padan Fain
. He took the Horn to High Lord Turak of the Seanchan
. Meanwhile, a group led by Lord Ingtar chased the Darkfriends. They came to Falme and recovered the Horn, while Rand al'Thor killed Turak, a blademaster, in single combat.
Soon after, the party found themselves trapped between two armies: the Seanchan
, and a contingent of Whitecloaks. Mat Cauthon
then blew the Horn. As the Horn took effect, the Seanchan destroyed the Whitecloak army. The Heroes, led by Artur Hawkwing, destroyed the Seanchan invasion force in detail. After this the Horn was taken to Tar Valon and kept hidden in the White Tower, but few know of its location or even that it has been found.
The Horn of Valere is based on a similar horn in Norse mythology
, known as Gjallarhorn
. In Norse mythology the god Heimdall
is said to sound Gjallarhorn to herald the beginning of Ragnarök
, and to summon the rest of the gods to battle.
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
's fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
. It is a horn that is able to call the heroes that are linked to it (the "Heroes of the Horn") back from the grave. Sounding the Horn bonds the horn to its sounder. Until that person's death, only he can use the Horn of Valere to summon the heroes. For anyone else, blowing the Horn will only make a beautiful noise.
Becoming a Hero of the Horn takes a feat of great bravery and self-sacrifice.
The Horn is curled and golden, with a line of script in silver inlaid around the rim. The Old Tongue
Old Tongue
The Old Tongue is a fictional language from Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. It is depicted as a now-dead language, spoken only by scholars and certain nobles, but still plays a role in the plot of the books.-History:...
text reads "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin", commonly translated as "the grave is no bar to my call."
After the Breaking of the World began, the Horn was sealed in the Eye of the World. It was recovered about three thousand years later by Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
and taken to Fal Dara. Darkfriends stole the Horn, which fell under the control of Padan Fain
Padan Fain
Padan Fain is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Peddler and Darkfriend:Padan Fain was a peddler, who became a Darkfriend in his twenties, for the promise of immortality...
. He took the Horn to High Lord Turak of the Seanchan
Seanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
. Meanwhile, a group led by Lord Ingtar chased the Darkfriends. They came to Falme and recovered the Horn, while Rand al'Thor killed Turak, a blademaster, in single combat.
Soon after, the party found themselves trapped between two armies: the Seanchan
Seanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
, and a contingent of Whitecloaks. Mat Cauthon
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
then blew the Horn. As the Horn took effect, the Seanchan destroyed the Whitecloak army. The Heroes, led by Artur Hawkwing, destroyed the Seanchan invasion force in detail. After this the Horn was taken to Tar Valon and kept hidden in the White Tower, but few know of its location or even that it has been found.
The Horn of Valere is based on a similar horn in Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, known as Gjallarhorn
Gjallarhorn
In Norse mythology, Gjallarhorn is a horn associated with the god Heimdallr and the wise being Mímir...
. In Norse mythology the god Heimdall
Heimdall
In Norse mythology, Heimdallr is a god who possesses the resounding horn Gjallarhorn, owns the golden-maned horse Gulltoppr, has gold teeth, and is the son of Nine Mothers...
is said to sound Gjallarhorn to herald the beginning of Ragnarök
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...
, and to summon the rest of the gods to battle.