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'[[Seven Stars]]', an [[Elvish]] ([[Quenya]]) name of [[Valacirca]] (or the [[Great Bear]]), one of the [[constellations]].
'''Otselen''' "''[[Seven Stars]]''", an [[Elvish]] ([[Quenya]]) name for [[Valacirca]] (or the Great Bear), one of the [[constellations]].<ref>{{HM|LR}}, "[[The Etymologies]]" (but it is not used in any of the stories).</ref>
==Etymology==
The first element of the name is Quenya numeral ''[[otso]]'' ("seven"), and the second Quenya ''[[elen]]'' ("star") and thus refers to the seven stars of [[Valacirca]].


This name-form apparently appears in the [[Etymologies]] s.v. OT- (OTOS, OTOK) ''seven'' (LR 379) but it is not used in any of the stories referring to the constellation. In the same entry is given the [[Noldorin]] equivalent of Otselen, [[Edegil]].
==Cognates==
*[[Noldorin]] ''[[Edegil]]''
==Real-world inspiration==


The first element of the name is Quenya numeral ''otso'' 'seven', and the second Quenya ''elen'' 'star' and thus refers to the seven stars of [[Valacirca]].
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was perhaps inspired by ''otso'', one of the many words for ''karhu'' ('bear') in [[Wikipedia:Finnish|Finnish]]. Karhu is also the name of the [[North Polar Bear]], a frequent character in ''[[The Father Christmas Letters]]'' which Tolkien wrote to his children during the years 1920-1943.<ref>{{HM|AI}}, "Art for Children" (see fig. 66)</ref>


It may be of some interest to remark that ''otso'' means 'bear' in [[Finnish]], which is well known to be one of the models for the Elvish languages created by Tolkien.
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Constellations]]
(NB. [[Karhu]] is another word for 'bear' in Finnish, it is also the name of the [[North Polar Bear]], a frequent character in [[The Father Christmas Letters]] which Tolkien wrote to his children during the years 1920-1943.
[[Category:Quenya names]]
 
 
--Tik 11:52, 12 Jun 2005 (EDT)
[[Category:Stars|Otselen]]

Revision as of 00:34, 25 December 2016

Otselen "Seven Stars", an Elvish (Quenya) name for Valacirca (or the Great Bear), one of the constellations.[1]

Etymology

The first element of the name is Quenya numeral otso ("seven"), and the second Quenya elen ("star") and thus refers to the seven stars of Valacirca.

Cognates

Real-world inspiration

J.R.R. Tolkien was perhaps inspired by otso, one of the many words for karhu ('bear') in Finnish. Karhu is also the name of the North Polar Bear, a frequent character in The Father Christmas Letters which Tolkien wrote to his children during the years 1920-1943.[2]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "The Etymologies" (but it is not used in any of the stories).
  2. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator, "Art for Children" (see fig. 66)
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