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'''Valacirca''' "''[[Sickle of the Valar]]''" | '''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. It was [[Seven Stars|seven stars]] set in the north as a challenge to [[Melkor]].<ref>{{S|3}}</ref> | ||
Valacirca | In {{TA|2941}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> when [[Bilbo Baggins]] came to the [[Long Lake]] (on the [[Nandor|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== | |||
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''. | |||
Other | ==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> | |||
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[[Category:Quenya names]] | |||
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Revision as of 12:37, 28 November 2014
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. It was seven stars set in the north as a challenge to Melkor.[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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Strider"
- ↑ Ursa Major at Wikipedia
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, passim.
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", p. 21
| 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 · Eä · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void |
