Avathar
Avathar was a dark strip of land at the feet of the southern Pelóri mountain range in the continent of Aman.
Avathar was a dark strip of land at the feet of the southern Pelóri mountain range in the continent of Aman.
History
Avathar was a wasteland devoid of all life save for the Great Spider Ungoliant whose home was there before she agreed to go with Melkor to Middle-earth. After Melkor left Valinor, the Valar, believing that their foe had fled to Middle-earth to his old hiding places, did not think him still in Aman and did not find him here.
Etymology
Avathar is a Quenya word that meant 'shadows' or 'the Shadows'.
Earlier names
Tolkien's very first conception of Avathar, predating even the Lost Tales, was "Habannan", a place mentioned only in an early poem from 1915 entitled "Habannan beneath the Stars". Four name-changes then occurred before the publishing of The Silmarillion: Habannan was emended to Eruman, which became a name "interchangeable with Arvalin". These names appear throughout the tales contained in The Book of Lost Tales Part One. Eruman ultimately was changed to Araman. Araman and Arvalin shared slightly similar definitions: 'close to Aman' and 'beside Valinor'. The character Ungoliant was invented during the use of the name Arvalin, and her realm eventually was exclusively called Avathar.
