The Names of Sauron

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

This is one question I have been thinking about several times in the past. We are told that Sauron did not use the name "Sauron" for himself, for obvious reasons, however still it seems that the name was far more spread than any other names he might have made for himself - and that is, not only among his enemies (where it makes sense), but also among his own soldiers and followers. Let us make a quick recapitulation:

Originally Posted by TT, The Departure of Boromir

"S is for Sauron," said Gimli. "That is easy to read."
"Nay!" said Legolas. "Sauron does not use the Elf-runes."
"Neither does he use his right name, nor permit it to be spelt or spoken," said Aragorn.

Okay, so reputedly Sauron does not use his "right" name - that's one interesting point, since, is really "Sauron" his "right" name? More about that later. Secondly, let us note that Sauron does not even "permit it to be spelt or spoken". That is probably the most interesting contradiction.

Sauron is being referred to by his enemies as Sauron, or "the Enemy", or, more scarcely, "the Dark Lord". Of course Sauron's servants are not calling him "Enemy". The most "affectionate" term for Sauron is probably "the Great Eye", such as in:

Originally Posted by TT, The Uruk-Hai

"Is Saruman the master or the Great Eye?" said the evil voice. "We should go back at once to Lugbúrz."

Sauron is also being often referred to as "Him" by the Orcs. I think whereas "Great Eye" implies a show of honest admiration and respect in front of the authority (as in "O Great Caesar"), "Him" is just a colloquial form used while referring to Sauron in short, yet respectful enough tone, perhaps out of slightly metaphysical fear (like "we cannot call him anything else, because he would surely know and we'll have the Nazgul on our back in no time" - something similar to, say, using "You-Know-Who" instead of Voldemort in Harry Potter). This is exactly the case of for example Gorbag and Shagrat:

Originally Posted by TT, The Choices of Master Samwise

"But don't forget: the enemies don't love us any more than they love Him, and if they get topsides on Him, we're done too."

I could note that "Him" is a quite good neutral term (obviously, because of its simplicity), used also by Gollum and even Sauron's enemies sometimes.

So this far, it would all be very nice. For the Free Peoples, Sauron is mostly "Enemy" or "Sauron" for those, who have the Harry Potter syndrome and are not afraid to speak his name aloud, even though, as we heard from Aragorn, he really does not approve of that. Sauron's servants, on the contrary, call him "Great Eye" or simply "Him". But what to make of...

Originally Posted by ROTK, The Black Gate Opens

The Lieutenant of the Tower of Barad-dûr he was, and his name is remembered in no tale; for he himself had forgotten it, and he said: "I am the Mouth of Sauron."

This guy had been the closest to Sauron - yet he dared to use the name of his master, the name his master had forbidden to use, as part of his own name?? And there actually are two problems with his usage of the name Sauron, not just one, both could be explained, but that only raises other "but"s.

First question: all right, let us say, if this guy was really Sauron's right-hand man, perhaps he was such a favourite that Sauron did not mind that this guy would use his right name. This would, however, make sense let's say (to stick with the example I have already been using) in the case of Voldemort. But Sauron does not call even himself "Sauron", so why should he allow anybody to call him that? Aside from that, the etymology of the name Sauron (I assume everybody knows, but this is essential of course for this whole post):

Originally Posted by Valaquenta

Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron, or Gorthaur the Cruel.

Originally Posted by Silmarillion, Index of Names

Sauron - "The Abhorred" (in Sindarin called Gorthaur); greatest of the servants of Melkor, in his origin a Maia of Aulë.

Originally Posted by Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names

thaur - "abominable, abhorrent" in Sauron (from Thauron)

I think it is clear why nobody would want to use such a name for himself. By the way, that's another interesting aspect - Sauron called himself "Annatar" when dealing with the Elven smiths, to appear "nice"; apparently after that he ceased to care to make names for himself, just as long as he was not being called "Sauron" (but, see our problem with his Mouth). It would be also interesting to know what was Sauron's name "in the beginning" (as Aulë's Maia), but that we might possibly never learn...

Anyway, back to the original topic - definitely calling oneself "Mouth of Sauron" does not make sense. Well, I think we could still attempt to save it by saying that it was a "diplomatic title" - although that is the second problem, I really don't think the solution is perfectly "clean" either.

What I mean is, "and he said: 'I am the Mouth of Sauron'" could mean that the Mouth of Sauron used it only on the outside, i.e. while presenting himself (and his master) to the "outworlders". He was a diplomat, after all, and he was definitely using his master's "right" name in the negotiations:

Originally Posted by ROTK, The Black Gate Opens

"But this time thou hast stuck out thy nose too far, Master Gandalf; and thou shalt see what comes to him who sets his foolish webs before the feet of Sauron the Great."

It is necessary to note here that this is the first time in the whole dialogue when the name "Sauron" is said. Even the daring call of Gondor's herolds appeals on "the Lord of the Black Land" to come and surrender, so very "politically correct" approach, so to say (not like "you disgusting Sauron, crawl out of your hideout"). Speaking of that, "Sauron the Great" does not seem to be a title of respect, or if it was, I would be seriously worried - because the very same term is used by Gandalf the first time when we even hear Sauron's name:

Originally Posted by FOTR, The Shadow of the Past

"But last night I told you of Sauron the Great, the Dark Lord."

I guess "Great" here just refers to the fact that Sauron is the lord of half of the Middle-Earth, stating the fact, not saying whether it's positive or negative. I think it might be also possibly a translation of the Elvish term for Sauron, where "sauron" after all does not need to be a personal name (although most people probably know who they are talking about), but "the Great" is just used to signify that we are speaking about THE Sauron, and not just "my abhorrent neighbor, you know how I despise him".

Nevertheless, calling Sauron "Sauron" in diplomatic talks is slightly, well, inappropriate? Don't you think so too? If Gandalf was the one to use it, it would make sense, and then the Mouth of Sauron could shout "Hey, watch your mouth [sic], you grey Beard [sic ]". But if it is the Mouth of Sauron who calls Sauron Sauron, then it basically means "retreating" to the level of his opponents. Wouldn't that be a diplomatic faux-pas, showing weakness by speaking in the terms dictated by the opponents, but not himself?

It is true that in diplomatic talk with random Easterling or Southron barbaric tribes, who have heard of Sauron only as Sauron, it might be just easy to use the name for the sake of clarity. (An emissary coming with an offer such as: "Hello, I am emissary of... well, you know... and I would like that you join... well, you know... he is really strong, surely you have heard of him..." wouldn't probably rally many nations to his cause.) The policy might be as well: "Join Sauron the Great!" and only later: "Okay, so if you agree, let us sign this pact which consists of three points, 1. you will have our military aid, 2. we will have your military aid, 3. we will give your chieftain a cool ring, 4. you will not use the name 'Sauron' from now on." The usage of "Sauron the Great" in diplomatic talks is supported at least by Glóin's account of the emissary coming to Erebor:

Originally Posted by FOTR, Council of Elrond

"Then about a year ago a messenger came to Dáin, but not from Moria – from Mordor: a horseman in the night, who called Dáin to his gate. The Lord Sauron the Great, so he said, wished for our friendship."

I am not sure if this explanation is perfectly "clean" either. But I wonder if there are any better explanations possible.

This raises an interesting question, however. Even if the word "Sauron" was used only in the contact with the "outsiders", what was the Mouth called in the Barad-Dur hierarchy? "The Mouth of the Eye" sounds definitely poetic, but slightly confusing. "His Mouth" sounds almost comical, if there wasn't for this fear of punishment, I could imagine the Orcs secretly calling him "His Mouthness". Perhaps, as I have once seen in Middle-Earth playing cards, calling him "The Mouth" would be a good choice (and it would fit, something like "The Eye". The only thing that remains is to call the sniffing Khamul "The Nose" and we have almost complete face).

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

It would be also interesting to know what was Sauron's name "in the beginning" (as Aulë's Maia), but that we might possibly never learn...

Actually, we do know: according to a paper by Tolkien from the 1950s/60s,

Sauron’s original name was Mairon, but this was altered after he was suborned by Melkor. But he continued to call himself Mairon the Admirable, or Tar-mairon ‘King Excellent’, until after the downfall of Númenor.*

(quoted by Helge Fauskanger in this article on Ardalambion, which also discusses the changing etymologies for the name Sauron, none of them very flattering).
Then, of course, we have the name Annatar, "Lord of Gifts" (or, according to a later source, Aulendil) which Sauron used as an alias in his dealings with the Gwaith-i-Mirdain (and possibly the Númenoreans as well?).
All this makes the use of Sauron's 'right name' by his subordinates all the more puzzling. The need for clarity in diplomatic negotiations sounds like a good explanation to me, but I'd like to hear some other opinions.

*Afterthought: After the fall of Númenor, Sauron

was unable ever again to assume a form that seemed fair to men, but became black and hideous, and his power thereafter was through terror alone.

(LotR Appendix A) - so maybe even He himself decided he couldn't get away with using his former name anymore.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Actually, we do know: according to a paper by Tolkien from the 1950s/60s

Wonderful!!! That's exactly what I hoped might happen. Thanks! Well, if nothing else, this is good fruit of this thread. Nevertheless, that's really a minor by-the-way thing, and the major purpose is indeed solving this whole puzzle...

The need for clarity in diplomatic negotiations sounds like a good explanation to me, but I'd like to hear some other opinions.

Exactly, so that's what I'm hoping for and would like to hear here

so maybe even He himself decided he couldn't get away with using his former name anymore.

Yes, that's what I actually already had on my mind.

[Inziladun]

Nice thread, Legate. This is something I've wondered about from time to time.

As you note, Sauron was his name among all those in the West of Middle-earth. He would have had different names in the tongues of the Easterlings and Haradrim, and probably also in the Black Speech, but Sauron he was to all his enemies in the Third Age.
In the Elder Days, all the Valar and Maia known to the Elves of Valinor were given names. Sauron would have been a result of his association with Morgoth.

Of old there was Sauron the Maia, whom the Sindar of Beleriand named Gorthaur. In the beginning of Arda, Melkor seduced him to his allegiance.

Silmarillion Of the Rings of Power of the Third Age

So he'd had the moniker Sauron almost from the first. If he had been given any other name by the Eldar before that, it would only have been used a relatively brief time, before his service to Melkor became known. His 'original' name would possibly have made a reference to Sauron's beauty, or perhaps his service to Aulë (and I'm admittedly just guessing here). But would a name making reference to his being good have been appealing to him in the Third Age, when he was well aware he could no longer fool the West by appearing to be beautiful and good? On the contrary: he reveled in evil, relished the thought of crushing the West. Therefore, I think being called the abhorred was something that could have given him some perverse pleasure.
As to the Mouth's name in Sauron's forces, I think it might actually have been 'Mouth', or 'the Speaker', or something like that. After all, his original identity had been swallowed up, so what else would they have called him?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I think being called the abhorred was something that could have given him some perverse pleasure.

Well, that would be a good explanation for me too, had it not been for this note that Sauron does not allow anybody to use his name (the name "Sauron" itself, as logically follows Gimli's words and the meaning of the quoted paraghraph) - so it seems that he actually wasn't so happy about it. And Sauron really seems to have liked the "magnificant" titles rather than those that would make him seem downright horrible. For that matter, it is far more likely that the Mouth had some perverse pleasure in using the name "Sauron" as part of his name, he seems like a pretty perverted man in general.

As to the Mouth's name in Sauron's forces, I think it might actually have been 'Mouth', or 'the Speaker', or something like that. After all, his original identity had been swallowed up, so what else would they have called him?

Yes, agreed - I guess that's the point, there were no other names to call him by, and if he himself reputedly called himself as "the Mouth" (of Sauron??? Even inside Mordor???), why should the Mordorians even stop to think of a new name.

And Dakêsîntrah, thanks for posting the list too - good to have it here (although of course it does not say anything to the question as it is, that is, how was the name "Sauron" used and why especially in relation to people such as the Mouth).

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Well, that would be a good explanation for me too, had it not been for this note that Sauron does not allow anybody to use his name (the name "Sauron" itself, as logically follows Gimli's words and the meaning of the quoted paraghraph) - so it seems that he actually wasn't so happy about it.

Well, is it possible Aragorn was simply wrong about Sauron not allowing that name to be spoken? As has been noted, in addition to the Mouth, the emissary sent to Erebor used Sauron too. Could Aragorn's statement have been based upon outdated information, maybe from the Second Age, which was the last time the Elves and Dúnedain had been involved in close contact with Sauron's forces? Perhaps by the Third Age, Sauron was at the point he didn't care anymore what the West called him, as long as his servants still feared and obeyed him.

EDIT- had this thought also.

Sauron was known only by that name to the West.

2951- Sauron declares himself openly and gathers power in Mordor.

The Tale of Years

How would he have 'declared himself'? 'It is I, the one who you thought you beat in the Second Age. You took my Ring, but I'm back anyway. I will break you!' (couldn't resist the Rocky IV reference )
No. He would have named himself, by the moniker the west knew. 'I am Sauron. I will destroy you'.

I do think it likely he didn't want his own servants to use that name under normal circumstances. He was not only their ruler, but aspired to be their god as well. The generic names used by the Orcs, Him, the Top, etc., would have been adequate for them, and would have helped keep Sauron as a totem in their eyes, a figure they would only need to see as their Master.
But when dealing directly with those in the West, Sauron would suffice. Again, why not? The abhorred wasn't really all that demeaning, and it still seems likely Sauron would be amused by it, and probably proud of it.

[Dakêsîntrah]

Names of Sauron:

~ Annatar (Quenya "Lord of Gifts" -Sil, -UT) Name given to himself Second Age

~ Artano ("High Smith" -UT) Name given to himself Second Age -UT

~ Aulendil ("Servant of Aule" -UT) Name given to himself Second Age -UT

~ Dark Power (-LotR)

~ Enemy (-LotR)

~ Gorthaur the Cruel (Sindarin gor "horror, dread", thaur "abominable, abhorrent" -Sil)

~ Lord of the Rings (-LotR)

~ Necromancer (-LotR, -BoLT2)

~ Sauron (Quenya for "abominable"; "the abhorred"-Sil)

~ Sorceror of Dol Guldur

~ Tevildo Prince of Cats (early cat form that fought Huan -BoLT1)

~ Thauron (early Quenya)

~ Thu the Hunter (early Sindarin)

~ Thu the Necromancer (-BoLT2)

~ Tiberth (Noldorin/Gnomish name for Tevildo, replacing Tifil -BoLT2)

~ Tifil (BoLT2)

References: LotR, Sil, UT, BoLT 1 & 2



http://www.valarguild.org/varda/Tolk...auronNames.htm

[PrinceOfTheHalflings]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Okay, so reputedly Sauron does not use his "right" name - that's one interesting point, since, is really "Sauron" his "right" name? More about that later. Secondly, let us note that Sauron does not even "permit it to be spelt or spoken". That is probably the most interesting contradiction.

I started writing this a few hours ago, then got interrupted, so some of this is going to overlap a little with what has now been posted by Inziladun!

The easiest explanation is that Aragorn is wrong. He is the only character who makes this claim about Sauron's name. Certainly Gimli assumed that Sauron permitted the use of his name, so it definitely isn't exactly "common knowledge" that the use of Sauron's name is forbidden.

Note that the messenger of Sauron who visits Dain also refers to his master as "Sauron".

Three things occur to me:

1. Perhaps the use of "Sauron" was only forbidden when he was residing in Dol Guldur. His true identity was not known at that time, although it was suspected by the White Council. Instead he was referred to as the Necromancer. Aragorn was alive at this time (although much younger) so perhaps he thinks (erroneously) that Sauron still forbids the use of the name. Sauron required secrecy when he was based in Dol Guldur - after he returned to Mordor there was no longer a requirement for secrecy.

2. When communicating with people of the West it certainly makes sense for Sauron's emissaries to use the name by which he is commonly known in the West.

3. Many people in the West are reluctant to actually speak Sauron's name out loud, so for a feared servant of Sauron to use the dreaded name could well just be a psychological ploy.

As for Sauron's feelings about the meaning of the name, "The Abhorred", why would he be concerned? Surely he relishes the fact that he is regarded the most hated and feared individual in Middle Earth!

Another possibility is that Aragorn was partially correct. Perhaps regular Orcs are forbidden from mentioning the name of their Master. Certainly none of them do. However, the prohibition may not extend to Sauron's most trusted servants - some of whom are Men. If there is some special exception to the Rule then surely this would not be well-known, even to someone like Aragorn. I'm sure Aragorn isn't familiar with every Rule and By-law of Barad-dur!

Alternatively, Tolkien may have simply made a mistake. Aragorn's remark may be a leftover from an earlier draft that was left in due to an oversight. In fact, looking at what appears to be the original draft in HOME VII, The Treason of Isengard I see this:

'S is for Sauron,' said Gimli. 'That is easy to read.'

'Nay,' said Legolas. 'Sauron does not use the Runes.'

'Neither does he use his right name or permit it to be spelt or
spoken,' said Trotter. 'And he does not use white. The orcs of
his immediate service bear the sign of the single eye.' He stood
for a moment in thought. 'S is for Saruman, I guess,' he said at
last. (from XIX The Departure of Boromir)

So that is almost identical to the final version. Presumably the idea of the Mouth of Sauron came much later in the writing process. Still, I wonder about the earlier emissary of Sauron who went to Erebor? What did he say in the earlier drafts (if he was there at all)? Back to HOME again...