#vardamir

Monogram of Elros Tar-Minyatur

An early monogram, displaying few of the features conventionally associated with later devices, or only in germ. The name of the king is in black (Tar-Minyatur) while 'Elenna' is written in red.

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Monogram of Tar Vardamir, named Nólimon

This is certainly an invention of a scribe working long after the death of Vardamir, as the presence of features adopted much later attest - doubtless because the nominal second ruler of Númenor never reigned.

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Monogram of Tar Amandil

In this monogram, the star shape is more pronounced; the tehta representing the 'a' of 'Elenna' has also been moved to the centre of the device - representing, naturally, the summit of Meneltarma.

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Monogram of Tar Elendil

The conventional features are now all present: the star shape is evident, and only the tehtar representing the 'a' in 'Tar' and 'Elenna' have been retained, in symbolic positions, one representing Meneltarma and the other the promontory of Forrostar or, in some interpretations, the stars (clearly the choice made by the scribe who invented the device of Vardamir, perhaps in reverence towards the Valië for whom the king was named).

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Monogram of Anardil, Tar Aldarion

In this monogram the tehtar are now circumflexes. The king's two names are present, one on land, the other at sea. A ship has been added.

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Monogram of Tar Ancalimë

The names of both of the Ruling Queen's parents have been included in this monogram, one that is particularly ornate for the period.

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explanation: ever since visiting Istanbul a year ago I've been interested in the tughra, a calligraphic monogram used by Ottoman sultans, much as seals were elsewhere (to authentify the sultan's correspondence or official documents), and also on a variety of objects, e.g. here on a wall at Topkapı palace or here on a coin). They started out fairly simple but some ended up being very ornate and gorgeous; and they typically contained the name of the sultan, that of his father, as well as things like epithets and prayers, and also had some conventional features which made them easy to recognise - the beyze (egg), i.e. the loops on the left hand side, and the three tuğ (flagstaff) at the top.

Anyway I've been trying to come up with a Númenorean version and ended up with this, combining some form of the prefix 'Tar' and the name 'Elenna'. As it happens the Ottoman tughra may have had a cartographic element as well - the loops on the left are said to possibly symbolise the two seas - Black Sea, Mediterranean - on whose shores they ruled. Hence the star shape (which I wanted from the start really) and Meneltarma.

Well, here's my first ever piece for @tolkienrsb

I never gave it a proper name, but the idea was Elros teaching Vardamir about their family history, specifically about Eärendil.

Here they are from left to right: Atanalcar, queen of Numenor, Tindomiel, Elros, Vardamir and Manwendil

So, another joke about Middle-earth and light bulbs, but this time with Vardamir in the lead role, because why not?"An outstanding scientist" is a thing.

Vardamir: Idea! So, there's Arien, she flies around with the Laurelin fruit, and it's bright here during the day, right? What if we could somehow make lots of these constantly glowing little Laurelins and not waste so many candles?

-...

Manwendil: And how do you imagine that?

Vardamir: You're so boring!

Reunion

Elrond visit the family of Elros in palace of Numenor

Eärendil was only 39 when he came to Valinor. He was not allowed to return to Middle-earth, but he obtained the grace (from Eru via Manwë) that his children, being half-elven on both sides – descendants of Idril and of Lúthien – should (a) have a choice of which kindred they would belong to, and (b) should in each kind have “a long and fair youth” – sc., should only slowly reach maturity – and that this should extend to the second generation: thus Elrond : Arwen and Elros : Vardamir.

[As first written, this passage read: and that this should extend to the third generation: thus Elrond : Arwen : Eldarion and Elros : Vardamir : Tar-Amandil.]

Eldarion was mortal and was not by promise included in the “grace of Eärendil”, but he had in fact a long youth: which took the form of remaining like a young man from maturity at 20 until 60 without change. He then lived another 65 years: making him 125, but in life-age 20 + 65 = 85. His descendants became normal, but long-lived.

- The Nature of Middle-earth: XI: Aging of Elves

Which appears to contradict The Lord of the Rings: The Appendix: The Númenorean Kings where no choice is specified:

Elros was the first King of Númenor, and was afterwards known by the High-elven name Tar-Minyatur. His descendants were long-lived but mortal.

"But to Elros, who chose to be a king of Men, still a great span of years was allotted, many times that of the Men of Middle-earth; and all his line, the kings and lords of the royal house, had long life even according to the measure of the Númenóreans. But Elros lived five hundred years, and ruled the Númenóreans four hundred years and ten." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth"

@halfelvenweek day 3 ⇢ heritage + númenoreans || THE LINE OF ELROS

[ID: four graphics in shades of brown and desaturated dark blue.

1: A large image of Cherokee Jack framed by a brown rectangle covers the left side of the graphic. He is an aniyunwiya model with light brown skin and long, straight, dark brown hair. He is shown in profile, facing left and looking slightly down. The right side of the graphic shows a diamond-shaped image of ocean surf and rocks, divided into four sections and framed in brown. Below that, white serif text reads "Elros, later called Tar-Minyatur, was the first and founding king of Númenor. Born of Elwing of the line of Lúthien and Eärendil the Blessed, he chose to be numbered among the Edain and led his people to the hallowed island of Elenna. Elros was long-lived, as were all of his House, and he ruled for many years in great splendour and wisdom. He was exceedingly devoted to his spouse Saelhenien and their children, as well as to his brother Elrond."

2: Same format as Image 1, but the sides are switched. The large image shows indian model Shonali Singh. She has brown skin and black hair tied back in a bun, and is looking to the side. The small image shows birds flying over the ocean, and the text below it reads "Saelhenien, a descendant of Bëor, was gentle and wise, though firm of will. As queen of Númenor, she took the name Tar-Maiwendë, but though Saelhenien occupied her role with grace, she knew herself to be at heart a man. Elros her husband encouraged Saelhenien to live as his true self, but Saelhenien feared civil unrest, and remained Tar-Maiwendë for the sake of practicality. To honor this sacrifice, Elros gave his spouse a new name in secret: Meldaro, he who is beloved."

3: The whole graphic is framed in brown, and contains two smaller rectangular images each with their own frame. The image on the right side shows Reef Titcomb, a young man with brown skin and dark curly hair, facing to the side with his eyes closed and head lifted. White text below the image reads "Vardamir Nólimon was the eldest child of Elros and Saelhenien, and first heir to the throne of Númenor. He preferred scholarship to politics, however, and largely deferred to his sister Tindómiel in matters of state." The second image shows Logan Alcosiba, a native hawaiian/filipino/mixed european model with freckled brown skin and straight dark hair. She is looking at the viewer intently, turned slightly to one side. Text below the image reads "While still young Tindómiel declared her affinity as a woman, to the great joy of her parents, especially Saelhenien. She proved an adept and clever diplomat, and helped to construct the earliest Númenorean courts of law." Between the two pictures is a small drawing of a white crown.