XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: mr@sandman.net   
      
   In article ,   
    "Clams Canino"  wrote:   
      
   > > That's what I think Aragorn was supposed to mean here, and that Sauron   
   > > was that name. But Tolkien let the name and Saurons history evolve over   
   > > time and his "right" or "true" name wasn't Sauron at all, if it ever was   
   > > anything.   
   >   
   > On what exactly do you base the assertion that Sauron was not his right and   
   > true name?   
      
   "Sauron" is Sindarin/Quenya for "the abominable" or "the abhorred", so   
   it's clearly a derogatory name not chosen by himself. It would be a bit   
   like your nickname being Asshole and your foremost captain calls himself   
   Mouth of Mr Asshole. :)   
      
   The only "right and true" name of Sauron that we're aware of is Mairon   
   (The Admirable), which was given to him by the Eldar. It wasn't until he   
   joined with Melkor that the name Sauron was used. But we also know that   
   Sauron called himself Tar-Mairon ("King Excellent") as late as the   
   Second Age when infiltrating Numenor, so it's safe to assume that his   
   objections towards the name Sauron wouldn't have changed over time.   
      
   So, with this in mind, when Aragorn says that Sauron doesn't allow his   
   "right" name to be used, he's probably not in reference to Mairon, since   
   Sauron obivoulsy has no problem using that himself as far as we know.   
   Also, Mairon doesn't start with an "S" that matches the elf-rune they   
   are discussing (unless, of course, Sauron and Mairon begin with the same   
   character when written in Cirth).   
      
   That's why I think Aragorn means "Sauron" when he refers to his "right   
   name". And the Eldar named him Mairon and then changed it to Sauron. So   
   chronologically it's the current "right name". :)   
      
      
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