@secondageweek day five | artefacts and symbols | the green bough of return
Here must be told of the custom that when a ship departed from Númenor over the Great Sea to Middle-earth a woman, most often of the captain's kin, should set upon the vessel's prow the Green Bough of Return; and that was cut from the tree oiolairë, that signifies “Ever-summer,” which the Eldar gave to the Númenóreans, saying that they set it upon their own ships in token of friendship with Ossë and Uinen. The leaves of that tree were evergreen, glossy and fragrant; and it throve upon sea-air.
[...] It is recorded that on the prow of Hirilondë [Tar-Aldarion] set no bough of oiolairë, but the image of an eagle with golden beak and jewelled eyes, which was the gift of Círdan. It perched there, by the craft of its maker, as if poised for flight unerring to some far mark that it espied. “This sign shall lead us to our aim,” he said. “For our return let the Valar care - if our deeds do not displease them.”
