6 Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië

[ArcusCalion]

We had discussed the question of the word "Máyar" and I have just found this in Words, Phrases, and Passages:

√AYA-N treat with awe/reverence. Cf. especially ainur "the Holy Ones" (plural of *ainu < adjective aina 'revered').
This ainur only appears in plural since after the Creation all those known were máyar. Máyar includes Valar and their lesser kin, but not those who either did not take part in the Great Theme, or else did not enter into Eä. So The Ainur is used only of the Spirits before Creation, or of those unnamed who are not concerned with it.

In this same essay the term "Maiar" is used later on, so it would seem that these terms might have been contemporary. However, this document is composed in several stages of composition, and the occurrence of the word "Maiar" is in the later stage than the occurrence of "Máyar." In addition, further on we have:

√MAY- excellent, admirable. [Cf. máya/maia, name of the Kin of the Valar, but especially of those of lesser power than the 9 great rulers.

This alone would settle the debate that the two are interchangeable, but even after this the entry was edited to say

Cf. Maiar

I think this proves it.

Sidenote: There is this sentence in the entry on "Calacirya"

Many jewels were embedded in the rocks of its walls.

Do we want this in the chapter? or is it too minor a detail to include?