Vanyar

2009-04-17T23:31:39Z

68.94.125.87:

{{expansion}}{{sources}}
{{race
|image=[[Image:Jenny Dolfen - Fields of Gold.jpg|300px]]
|name=Vanyar.
|dominions=[[Oiolossë]]
|languages=Vanyarin [[Quenya]]
|height=Tall
|length=
|skincolor=Pale
|haircolor=Golden
|feathers=
|distinctions=Most revered of the [[Elves|Elven]] kindreds, loved by [[Manwë]].
|lifespan=Immortal.
|members=[[Ingwë]], [[Indis]], [[Elemmírë (Elf)|Elemmírë]], [[Amarië]], and others.
}}

The '''Vanyar''' are one of the three groups of [[High Elves]], along with the [[Teleri]], and some of the [[Noldor]]. They comprise most of those who did not leave Aman.

== Origins ==

The Vanyar are the highest of the High Elves. According to legend, the clan was founded by [[Imin]], the first [[Elf]] to awake in [[Cuiviénen]], his wife Iminyë, and their twelve companions. However it was [[Ingwë]], the first Vanya to travel with [[Oromë]] to [[Valinor]], who became their king.

Ingwë is called ''High King of the Elves''. He lives on [[Mount Taniquetil]] beneath the halls of [[Manwë]]. All of the Vanyar journeyed to [[Valinor]] before the beginning of the [[First Age]], and remained there. They are said to have the greatest skill in poetry of all the Elves, and Manwë loves them for it.

Another notable Vanya was [[Indis]], the second wife of [[Finwë]] and grandmother of [[Galadriel]]. It is from her Vanyarin blood that Galadriel gained her famous silver-gold hair.

== Description ==

The Vanyar were the first and smallest clan of the Elves. They typically had blonde hair. Few of them were ever seen in [[Middle-earth]], as they only returned for the [[War of Wrath]].

Their smiths were renowned in the crafting of spears. The skill was on par with the sword-smiths of the [[Noldor]] and the bowmakers of the [[Teleri]]{{fact}}

==Etymology==
The name ''Vanyar'' means "the Fair" in [[Quenya]], referring to their golden hair. It seems to be from a [[primitive Elvish]] form ''[[bányâ]]''<ref>[[Etymologies]] p.351</ref><ref>[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]] p. 402</ref> (stem [[BAN]]) but also from ''[[wanjâ]]'' (stem [[WAN]])<ref>[[The War of the Jewels]] p.383</ref>. The Teleri called them [[Baniai]].

The Vanyar called themselves '''''Minyar''''', "the Firsts", their ancient name. Another name was '''''Ingar''''' or '''''Ingwer''''' which means "Chieftains" (etymologically related to the name [[Ingwë]]).

In [[Sindarin]] they were called [[Miniel|Minil]].

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
In the earliest versions of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] [[legendarium]] (see: ''[[The Book of Lost Tales 1]]''), they were called '''''Teleri''''', while the Elves known as [[Teleri]] in the published version of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' were called ''Solosimpi''.
{{references}}
[[category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:High Elves]]
[[Category:Vanyar]]

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Vanyar