Namo Mandos

Mandos was an Ainu, one of the Aratar, and a Vala who was responsible for the judgement of the Spirits (or Fëa) of all Elven dead. He also had responsibility for pronouncing the dooms and judgments of Eru Ilúvatar under Manwë. His real name was Námo, but was later known to the Elves as Mandos after his sacred Halls of Mandos, over which he presided, and where Elves would go when slain.

Mandos was the sixth greatest of the Lords of the Valar, and the fifth greatest Aratar

Mandos was the brother of Irmo (Lórien) and Nienna in the mind of Eru Ilúvatar. He and his brother Lórien were the "Fëanturi", the Masters of Spirits. His wife was Vaire the Weaver.

It was he who pronounced Manwë's Doom concerning the espousals of the Eldar in YT 1172, when Finwë asked counsel for a second marriage after the death of his wife and her passing to the Halls of Mandos.

When Melkor began marring Arda before the coming of the Elves, Tulkas arrived and wanted to make war swiftly. At the bidding of Manwë, Mandos pronounced the doom of the Firstborn. After the captivity of Melkor, Mandos had once again pronounced the Doom.Melkor spent three Ages in the duress of Mandos thereafter,guarded by his hound Gorgumoth in Lumbi.Mandos judged Fëanor to leave Tirion for twelve years after Fëanor's drawing of his sword against Fingolfin. After the destruction of the Two Trees, Yavanna asked for the light of the Silmarils, which Fëanor denied and he shall be slain, the first in Aman; but Mandos had spoken and revealed that Finwë was the first, having been slain at the steps of Formenos by Melkor. When the Ñoldor revolted against the Valar, Mandos appeared before them and pronounced the Doom of the Ñoldor.

Finwë, the first to be slain in Aman, then approached Mandos in his halls and begged for his wife Miriel to return to life. In exchange Finwë could never be reincarnated like other elves, and had to remain in The Halls of Awaiting forever. Mandos granted Finwë his wish.

Only once was Mandos moved to pity, when Lúthien sang of the grief she and her lover Beren had experienced in Beleriand. Then, with the Elder King's approval, he released them to Middle-earth to begin their second life there as mortal beings with no certitude of life.When Eärendil arrived in Aman to beg for assistance from the Valar, Mandos considered Eärendil and Elwing's fate as Half-elven and gave them and their descendants a choice: to be counted among either Elves or Men.

Art by Middle Earth Tolkien Fantasy art by Corinna Springl