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'''Valacirca''' ([[Quenya|Q.]] "''[[Sickle of the Valar]]''") was one of the [[constellations]] set in the heavens by [[Varda]] to enlighten the awakening of the Elves and gathered by Varda from among the ancient stars.<ref>{{S|3}}</ref>
'''Valacirca''' ([[Quenya|Q.]] "''[[Sickle of the Valar]]''") was one of the [[constellations]] set in the heavens by [[Varda]] to enlighten the awakening of the Elves and gathered by Varda from among the ancient stars.<ref>{{S|3}}</ref>


Valacirca is by far the most important constellation in the heavens of Arda. It is also the first to appear in the mythology that [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] begun to develop in the [[1910]]s.<ref>{{HM|LT1}}, passim.</ref>
In {{TA|2941}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> when [[Bilbo Baggins]] came to the [[Long Lake]] (on the [[Wood-elves]]' raft) he noticed the Valacirca twinkling in the north above the entry of the [[River Running]] into the lake.<ref name="Welcome">{{H|Welcome}}</ref>
 
On [[29 September]] {{TA|3018}}<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> [[Frodo Baggins]] looked out of the window in the hobbits' room in [[Bree]] and saw the Valacirca bright above the shoulder of [[Bree-hill]].<ref name="Strider">{{FR|I10}}</ref>


==Other names==
==Other names==
In [[Sindarin]], the name was translated as '''[[Cerch]] [[i]]-[[balan|Mbelain]]'''. The names ''[[Otselen]]'' and ''[[Edegil]]'' were also used in reference to the seven stars of the constellation. [[Hobbits]] called it the ''Burning Briar'' (it was also referred to as the ''Wain'' in ''The Hobbit'')<ref>{{H|Welcome}}</ref>. The constellation is also known as ''the Plough'', a name used in British English to refer to the seven brightest stars in ''Ursa Major'',<ref>{{WP|Ursa Major}}</ref> known in US English as ''Big Dipper''.  
In [[Sindarin]], the name was translated as '''[[Cerch]] [[i]]-[[balan|Mbelain]]'''. The names ''[[Otselen]]'' and ''[[Edegil]]'' were also used in reference to the seven stars of the constellation. [[Hobbits]] called it the ''Burning Briar'' (it was also referred to as the ''Wain'' in ''[[The Hobbit]]''<ref name="Welcome"/> and the ''Sickle'' in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''<ref name="Strider"/>). The constellation is also known as ''the Plough'', a name used in British English to refer to the seven brightest stars in ''Ursa Major'',<ref>{{WP|Ursa Major}}</ref> known in US English as ''Big Dipper''. It is unclear whether the Dwarvish constellation ''[[Durin's Crown]]'', seen in the reflection of [[Mirrormere]],<ref>{{FR|II4}}</ref> is the ''Valacirca''.  
It is unclear whether the Dwarvish constellation ''[[Durin's Crown]]'', seen in the reflection of [[Mirrormere]], is the ''Valacirca''.  
 
==Other Versions of the Legendarium==
Valacirca is by far the most important constellation in the heavens of Arda. It is also the first to appear in the mythology that [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] began to develop in the [[1910]]s.<ref>{{HM|LT1}}, passim.</ref>
 
In the earliest map that Tolkien made for ''The Hobbit'' (referred to as Fimbulfambi's map by [[John D. Rateliff]] in ''[[The History of The Hobbit]]'') the compass rose used a tiny diagram of the Valacirca to indicate "North".<ref>{{HH|Pryftan}}, p. 21</ref>
 
{{references}}
{{cosmology}}
{{cosmology}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Constellations]]
[[Category:Constellations]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]

Revision as of 20:44, 23 June 2012

Valacirca (Q. "Sickle of the Valar") was one of the constellations set in the heavens by Varda to enlighten the awakening of the Elves and gathered by Varda from among the ancient stars.[1]

In T.A. 2941[2] when Bilbo Baggins came to the Long Lake (on the Wood-elves' raft) he noticed the Valacirca twinkling in the north above the entry of the River Running into the lake.[3]

On 29 September T.A. 3018[4] Frodo Baggins looked out of the window in the hobbits' room in Bree and saw the Valacirca bright above the shoulder of Bree-hill.[5]

Other names

In Sindarin, the name was translated as Cerch i-Mbelain. The names Otselen and Edegil were also used in reference to the seven stars of the constellation. Hobbits called it the Burning Briar (it was also referred to as the Wain in The Hobbit[3] and the Sickle in The Fellowship of the Ring[5]). The constellation is also known as the Plough, a name used in British English to refer to the seven brightest stars in Ursa Major,[6] known in US English as Big Dipper. It is unclear whether the Dwarvish constellation Durin's Crown, seen in the reflection of Mirrormere,[7] is the Valacirca.

Other Versions of the Legendarium

Valacirca is by far the most important constellation in the heavens of Arda. It is also the first to appear in the mythology that J.R.R. Tolkien began to develop in the 1910s.[8]

In the earliest map that Tolkien made for The Hobbit (referred to as Fimbulfambi's map by John D. Rateliff in The History of The Hobbit) the compass rose used a tiny diagram of the Valacirca to indicate "North".[9]

References

Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
Stars  Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til 
The Airs  Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista
Narsilion  Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion
See also  Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void