Quote:
The History of Middle Earth XI: The War of the Jewles; Commentary to the Grey Annals
The name Beleriand is drawn from the tongue of the Sindar, the Grey-elves that long dwelt in that country; and it signifies the land of Balar. For this name the Sindar gave to Osse, who came much to those coasts, and there befriended them. In ancient days, ere the War of Utumno, it was but the northern shoreland of the long west-coast of Middle-earth, lying south of Eryd Engrin (the Iron Mountains) and between the Great Sea and Eryd Luin (the Blue Mountains).
Do you think Beleriand is a fitting name for this country? It was named after Ossė, who came to the coasts.Quote:
The History of Middle Earth XI: The War of the Jewles; Commentary to the Grey Annals
In the List of Names of the 1930s (V.404) 'Beleriand' was said as in GA 2 to have been originally the 'land about southern Sirion'; but is there said to have been 'named by the Elves of the Havens from Cape Balar, and Bay of Balar into which Sirion flowed'. In the Etymologies (V.350, stem BAL) Beleriand was likewise derived from (the isle of) Balar, and Balar in turn 'probably from *balare, and so called because here Osse visited the waiting Teleri.' At that time Osse was a Bala (Vala).
There is no mention of Ossė journeying inland, rather loving the shallow waters of the seas:
Wouldn't it be more proper then if only the coasts were named Beleriand, and 'Beleriand proper' be given a more fitting name?Quote:
The Silmarillion: The Valaquenta
Ossė is a vassal of Ulmo, and he is master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle-earth. He does not go in the deeps, but loves the coasts and the isles, and rejoices in the winds of Manwė; for in storm he delights, and laughs amid the roaring of the waves.
