Varda

2011-10-06T12:56:58Z

14.99.65.128:

{{expansion}}
{{disambig-more|Elbereth|[[Elbereth (disambiguation)]]}}
{{valar infobox
| name=Varda
| image=[[Image:Anya_Valle_-_Varda_Elentari.jpg|250px]]
| othernames=See ''[[#Names and epithets|Names and epithets]]''
| coming=[[Years of the Lamps]]
| appointment=Queen of the [[Valar]]
| creations=The [[stars]]
| maiar=[[Ilmarë]] and [[Olórin]]
| dwelling=[[Taniquetil]]
| gender=Female
| spouse=[[Manwë]]
| siblings=
| appearance=
| robes=
| hair=
| eyes=
|}}
{{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.

==History==
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Varda and Manwë in Valinor.jpg|thumb|left|''Varda with Manwë in Valinor'', by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]
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 [[Eru|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.

==Inspiration==
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'' means "sublime" or "lofty" in [[Quenya]], from [[PQ]] ''[[baradâ]]'', merged with ''[[barathî]]''

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

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 ''Tinwetari''.

'''''Elbereth''''' derives from ''[[elen]]-[[bereth]]'' meaning "star-queen". It represents evolution of [[Primitive Quendian]] *''[[elen]]-[[barathî]]'' (the final ''-i'' [[wikipedia:Germanic umlaut|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>
===Other versions===
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.

==Names and epithets==
She was also known as ''[[Elentári]]'' "Star-queen", ''[[Tintallë]]'' "Star-kindler".

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.
Hymn to varda:

A Elbereth Gilthoniel! Silivren penna miriel
O menel aglar elenath
Fanuilos! A Gilthoniel Elbereth!

We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees,
The starlight on the Western Seas.

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Varda|Images of Varda]]

{{ainur}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Valar]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[de:Varda]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/valar/aratar/varda]]
[[fi:Varda]]

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Varda