Ossë
Encyclopedia
Ossë is a fictional character in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
. She is introduced in The Silmarillion
as an angelic being known as a Maia
, associated with Ulmo
, one of the Valar (analogous to archangel
s).
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 Uinen, but his 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 go to Valinor.
In older versions of The Silmarillion, Ossë is a Vala in his own right, and often opposed a Maia of Ulmo.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
. She is introduced in The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
as an angelic being known as a Maia
Maia (Middle-earth)
The Maiar are beings from J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy legendarium. They are lesser Ainur who entered Eä in the beginning of time. Tolkien uses the term Valar to refer both to all the Ainur who entered Eä, and specifically to the greatest among them, the fourteen Lords and Queens of the Valar...
, associated with Ulmo
Ulmo
Ulmo is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He first appears in The Silmarillion as a god or Vala of the Elven pantheon. Ulmo is a title, which means He who pours. He is also known as King of the Sea and Lord of Waters...
, one of the Valar (analogous to archangel
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
s).
A spirit of the sea in the service of Ulmo, Ossë guarded the waters around Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
. He was married to Uinen
Uinen
Uinen is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. A Maiar spirit known as "The Lady of the Sea".Her hair lies spread throughout all waters, and her love is given to the creatures that live in salt streams and also the weeds that grow there...
, and he was a friend of Círdan
Círdan
Círdan the Shipwright is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. He was a Telerin Elf, a great mariner and shipwright, and lord of the Falas during much of the First Age. He was the bearer of the Great Ring Narya, which he in turn gave to Gandalf.He had a beard, which was rare for...
the Shipwright. During the Years of the Trees, he briefly entered into the service of Melkor
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
and began causing wanton storms which made traveling by sea particularly unsafe. He was persuaded to stop by Uinen, but his taste for storms did not quite disappear.
Ossë was a friend of the Sindar
Sindar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the fictional Sindar are Elves of Telerin descent. They are also known as the Grey Elves. Their language is Sindarin...
, and was valued as high as the Valar by them.
This relationship started before the coming of the Sindar to Valinor
Valinor
Valinor is a fictional location in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the realm of the Valar in Aman. It was also known as the Undying Lands, along with Tol Eressëa and the outliers of Aman. This is something of a misnomer; only immortal beings were allowed to reside there, but the land itself,...
, while they dwelled on shores of Middle-earth, waiting for their leader. It was against Ossë's will that they ever go to Valinor.
In older versions of The Silmarillion, Ossë is a Vala in his own right, and often opposed a Maia of Ulmo.