Varda: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
mNo edit summary
(93 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Varda Elentári''' is a [[Valar|Valië]], wife of [[Manwë]].
{{Expansion}}
{{Disambig-more|Elbereth|[[Elbereth (disambiguation)]]}}
{{valar infobox
| name=Varda
| image=[[File:Douglas Chaffee - Stars.jpg|250px]]
| pronun=
| othernames=See ''[[#Names and epithets|Names and epithets]]''
| titles=Queen of the [[Valar]], Lady of the Stars
| position=The [[stars]]
| location=[[Ilmarin]], [[Taniquetil]]
| affiliation=[[Ilmarë]] and [[Gandalf|Olórin]]
| language=
| notablefor=
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Manwë]]
| gender=Female
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|O stars that in the Sunless Year<br>With shining hand by her were sown,<br>In Windy fields now bright and clear<br>We see your silver blossom blown!|[[Elven Hymn to Elbereth|Hymn to Elbereth]]}}
'''Varda Elentári''' ([[Quenya|Q]], pron. [[Noldorin|N]] {{IPA|[ˈvarda ˌelenˈtaːri]}}, [[Vanyarin|V]] {{IPA|[ˈβarda ˌelenˈtaːri]}}), known in [[Sindarin]] as '''Elbereth Gilthoniel''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈelbereθ ɡilˈθonjel]}}), was a [[Valar|Valië]], the wife of [[Manwë]] and Queen of the Valar. Elves love and revere her most of all the Valar, and they call upon her in their hours of deepest darkness.


When [[Melkor]] first began to create his discord, Varda saw his mind, and hated him. Melkor fears and hates Varda the most out of the Valar.  
==History==
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Varda and Manwë in Valinor.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Varda and Manwë in Valinor'']]
When [[Morgoth|Melkor]] first began to create his discord, Varda saw his mind, and despised him. Melkor feared and hated Varda the most out of the Valar.  


Varda is said to be too beautiful for words. Within her face radiates the light of [[Iluvatar]]. She resides with [[Manwë]] in [[Valinor]]. Varda created the stars with the dews from the vats of [[Telperion]], the silver of the [[Two Trees]]. Varda is said to be the Vala most loved and revered by the Elves in Middle-earth.
Varda was said to be too beautiful for words. Within her face radiated the light of [[Ilúvatar]]. She resided with [[Manwë]] in [[Valinor]]. Varda created the stars with the dews from the vats of [[Telperion]], the first of the [[Two Trees]]. Varda is said to be the Vala most loved and revered by the [[Elves]] in Middle-earth, she is also believed to be the most beautiful.


The Valar, being divine beings below a greater, more ultimate Creator, [[Ilúvatar]], are thought of as being the [[Middle-earth]] equivalent of saints and angels; it has therefore been suggested that Varda, in her role as the most loved and prayed-to Vala, may be an equivalent of the Virgin Mary in Tolkien's own Catholic faith.
==Etymology==
''Varda'' is a [[Quenya]] name,<ref>{{PE|21}}, p. 82</ref> meaning "sublime" or "lofty", from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''[[baradâ]]'', merged with ''[[barathî]]''.{{fact}}


[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Varda and Manwë in Valinor.jpg|thumb|left|Varda with Manwë in Valinor, by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]
In [[Telerin]] she was called ''[[Baradis]]'', and in [[Sindarin]] ''Elbereth''.  
==Names==
''Varda'' means ''sublime'' or ''lofty'' in [[Quenya]], and ''Elentári'' means ''Star-queen''. An epithet of her is ''Tintalle'' which means ''Star-kindler''.  


In [[Sindarin]] she is also known as '''Elbereth''' (Star-queen), '''[[Gilthoniel]]''' (Starkindler), '''Fanuilos''' (Ever-white), and '''Baráda''' or '''Bridhil''' (the equivalent of ''Varda'' in Sindarin). In [[Telerin]] she is called '''Baradis'''.
All these come from the [[Sundocarmë|Root]] [[BARAT|BARÁD/BARATH]].<ref name=Ety351>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 351</ref>
 
In [[Adûnaic]], her name was adapted rather than translated; it became '''Avradî'''.
 
Some older forms were ''Baráda, Bridhil, Timbridhil'' and ''Tinwetári''.
 
'''''Elbereth''''' derives from ''[[elen]]-[[bereth]]'' meaning "star-queen". It represents evolution of [[Primitive Quendian]] *''[[elen]]-[[barathî]]'' (the final ''-i'' [[i-affection|umlauted]] the word to ''berethi'') > ''elemberethi'' > ''elbereth''.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Donald Swann]], ''[[The Road Goes Ever On (book)|The Road Goes Ever On]]'', "[[A Elbereth Gilthoniel]]"</ref>
 
==Names and epithets==
She was also known as ''[[Elentári]]'' "Star-queen", ''[[Tintallë]]'' "Star-kindler". Another title for Varda was '''''[[Airë]] [[Tári]]''''', the "holy queen".<ref name=Shibb>{{PM|Shibboleth}}, pp. 363-4 (note 45)</ref>
 
In [[Sindarin]] she is also known as '''Gilthoniel''' (Starkindler), '''[[Fanuilos]]''' (Ever-white).
 
In Adûnaic she was also called '''Gimilnitîr''' "starkindler".


She is also referred to by the epithets ''The Kindler'', ''Lady of the Stars'', ''Queen of the Stars'', ''Snow-white''. They are translations of her Elvish names.
She is also referred to by the epithets ''The Kindler'', ''Lady of the Stars'', ''Queen of the Stars'', ''Snow-white''. They are translations of her Elvish names.


In NetHack and some other Roguelike games, the name ''Elbereth'' is used as a protective charm. [http://www.steelypips.org/nethack/elbereth_faq.html]
===Other versions of the legendarium===
In Tolkien's early [[Qenya]], ''Vard-'' was a root referring to royalty. Related words were ''vardar'' "king" and ''vardo'' "prince"; they do not appear in the later inception of Quenya.


{{valar}}
==Inspiration==
The Valar, being divine beings below the ultimate Creator, [[Ilúvatar]], are thought of as being the [[Middle-earth]] equivalent of saints and angels; it has therefore been suggested that Varda, in her role as the most loved and prayed-to Vala, may be an equivalent of the Virgin Mary in Tolkien's own Catholic faith. Another suggestion is the goddess of wisdom, [[Wikipedia:Sophia (wisdom)|Sophia]], also associated with the stars.<ref>Rose Thomas, "Is Varda the Wisdom of Eru?", in ''[[Amon Hen]]'' 245, pp. 15-6</ref>


==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Varda|Images of Varda]]
{{References}}
{{Ainur}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Valar]]
[[Category:Valar]]
[[de:Varda]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/valar/aratar/varda]]
[[fi:Varda]]

Revision as of 20:48, 25 April 2014

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
This article or section needs expansion and/or modification. Please help the wiki by expanding it.
The name Elbereth refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Elbereth (disambiguation).
Varda
Vala
Douglas Chaffee - Stars.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesSee Names and epithets
TitlesQueen of the Valar, Lady of the Stars
PositionThe stars
LocationIlmarin, Taniquetil
AffiliationIlmarë and Olórin
Family
SpouseManwë
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Varda
"O stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sown,
In Windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown!
"
Hymn to Elbereth

Varda Elentári (Q, pron. N [ˈvarda ˌelenˈtaːri], V [ˈβarda ˌelenˈtaːri]), known in Sindarin as Elbereth Gilthoniel (pron. [ˈelbereθ ɡilˈθonjel]), was a Valië, the wife of Manwë and Queen of the Valar. Elves love and revere her most of all the Valar, and they call upon her in their hours of deepest darkness.

History

Ted Nasmith - Varda and Manwë in Valinor

When Melkor first began to create his discord, Varda saw his mind, and despised him. Melkor feared and hated Varda the most out of the Valar.

Varda was said to be too beautiful for words. Within her face radiated the light of Ilúvatar. She resided with Manwë in Valinor. Varda created the stars with the dews from the vats of Telperion, the first of the Two Trees. Varda is said to be the Vala most loved and revered by the Elves in Middle-earth, she is also believed to be the most beautiful.

Etymology

Varda is a Quenya name,[1] meaning "sublime" or "lofty", from Primitive Quendian baradâ, merged with barathî.[source?]

In Telerin she was called Baradis, and in Sindarin Elbereth.

All these come from the Root BARÁD/BARATH.[2]

In Adûnaic, her name was adapted rather than translated; it became Avradî.

Some older forms were Baráda, Bridhil, Timbridhil and Tinwetári.

Elbereth derives from elen-bereth meaning "star-queen". It represents evolution of Primitive Quendian *elen-barathî (the final -i umlauted the word to berethi) > elemberethi > elbereth.[3]

Names and epithets

She was also known as Elentári "Star-queen", Tintallë "Star-kindler". Another title for Varda was Airë Tári, the "holy queen".[4]

In Sindarin she is also known as Gilthoniel (Starkindler), Fanuilos (Ever-white).

In Adûnaic she was also called Gimilnitîr "starkindler".

She is also referred to by the epithets The Kindler, Lady of the Stars, Queen of the Stars, Snow-white. They are translations of her Elvish names.

Other versions of the legendarium

In Tolkien's early Qenya, Vard- was a root referring to royalty. Related words were vardar "king" and vardo "prince"; they do not appear in the later inception of Quenya.

Inspiration

The Valar, being divine beings below the ultimate Creator, Ilúvatar, are thought of as being the Middle-earth equivalent of saints and angels; it has therefore been suggested that Varda, in her role as the most loved and prayed-to Vala, may be an equivalent of the Virgin Mary in Tolkien's own Catholic faith. Another suggestion is the goddess of wisdom, Sophia, also associated with the stars.[5]

See also

References

Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar